Evening star., 1915-03-07
SHERIFF WHALEN
SHOOTS HIMSELF
Montgomery County Official
Attempts Suicide in Rock
vile Courthouse.
PLACES GUN IN MOUTH,
THEN PULLS TRIGGER
Had Told Relatives ard Friends Of
Intention-Rushed to George
town Hospital and May Live.

Peyton Whalen, sheriff of Montgom-
cry county, Md, attempted suicide in his
office in the courthouse at Rockville late
Yesterday afternoon While talking with
Deputy Sheriff Gingell, Mr.. Whalen placed
the muzzle of 3S-caliber revolver in his
mouth and pulled the trigger. the bullet
crashing through the roof of his mouth
and lodging near the left temple.
The wounded man was rushed to
Georgetown University Hospital, where
surgeons said last night he had an even
chance for life. Ill health and despond-
ency brought about by worry over the
duties of his office are believed to have
caused Sheriff Whalen to try to end his
own life.
The sheriff was in his Office shortly be-
fore o'clock discussing official matters
with Deputy GingeIl. Asking the deputy
to close the office door, the sheriff took
the weapon from a drawer of his desk
AS the door was closed Deputy Sheriff
Gingell turned just in time to see the
sheriff place the muzzle of the revolver In
his mouth and fire. Sheriff Whalen, after
firing the shot, placed the revolver in the
chair under him.
Summons Physicians.
The deputy at once summoned several
physicians. DR.. ]. w. Bird of Brooke
willie, who happened to be in the court
house, being the first to respond to the
calls for help. DIR. Frederick NJ. Hen
derson and DR.. o. M Lithicum. both Of
Rockville, reached the sheriff's Office
in few minutes, and John A. Garrett,
Sheriff Whalen's attorney. who was
summoned. also hurried to the office.
A brief examination showed the seri-
BUSINESS of Sheriff Whalen's wound,
and he was placed in an ambulance and
removed to the Georgetown University
Hospital, DR.. Henderson and Mr.. Gar
rett accompanying him. 1t was not
thought the wounded man would live
partly conscious during the trip of
nearly fourteen miles, and several
times expressed desire to die.
Bullet Is Removed.
On reaching the hospital a more
thorough examination was made and
the bullet was found lodged in the skull
near the left temple. Dr.. Henderson
and DR.. Moulden of Friendship Heights
operated and removed the bullet. Just
before the operation, Sheriff Whalen
said he was sorry he had made the at
tempt to end his life and that he want
ed to live.
In Ill Health for Months.
Friends Of the injured man and men,
bers OF his family say that he has been
in ill health for several months, and
that he had in that time suffered Sc
verely from headaches. for the relief Of
which he had taken large quantities OF
a proprietary remedy. He had also, 1t
is stated. worried greatly. over official
matters. Recently he suffered an at
tack of grip which kept him at home
for several days.
Friends with whom he talked no.
ticed that he appeared to be downcast
and i'll. To one or two persons he said.
supposedly in a joking way, that he
meant to end his troubles. but little
heed was given to the remarks.
He took an electric car for this city
about o'clock, after repeating to At
intended to commit suicide. After he
left Rockville Mr.. Garrett and others,
thinking he might try to put his
threats into execution, telephoned to
the power house of the electric line and
asked that word be sent down the line
to stop the car and send Sheriff Whalen
back to Rockville on the pretext that
important official business required his
about o'clock and went to his office,
where he learned that the call was
merely an excuse to get him back.
He was finally left in his Office with
Deputy Gingell. who had been instruct
ed to see that he did himself no harm.
Told Family Of Intention.
1t was learned that before leaving
home yesterday morning Sheriff Wha-
len told his wife and his mother that
he meant to end his life, and asked
them to attend to certain financial mat
ters for him. Little attention was paid
to the threat. however, as during fits
of dependency in recent months he
had made several such threats
Sheriff Whalen, who Is about thirty
six years old, was elected to the Office
ago last fall. Prior to that time he
sheriff.
He is married and has one child. a
son about five years old. His wife is a
daughter of Jed Cuttings. former man
ager of the Knox Transfer Company
of this city, and now in the employ of
the Merchants Pransfer and Storage
Company. His home is near Bethesda
| in the lower part of Montgomery
county, where he owns a farm of con-
siderable size.
Inquiry late last night showed that
| Sheriff Whalen's financial affairs are
| in excellent condition, and that there
was no possibility that troubles of this
character involving either his private
| or official business caused him to make
| the attempt to end his life.