Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-03-12
Sheriff Whalen Shoots Himself.

B. Peyton Whalen, Sheriff of this county,
attempted suicide in his office in the Court
House here last Saturday afternoon. While
talking with Deputy Sheriff Gingell, Mr.
Whalen placed the muzzle of .32-caliber
revolver in his mouth and discharged the
weapon, the bullet crashing through the
roof of his mouth and lodging near the
front of the left temple.
The wounded man was rushed to George
town University Hospital, where surgeons
said he had an even chance for life. Ill
health and dependency brought about by
worry over the duties of his office are be-
lieved 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 Gineell. Asking the deputy
to close the Office door, the Sheriff took
the weapon from drawer of the his desk
AS the door was closed Deputy Sheriff
Gingell turned just in time to see the Sher-
iff place the muzzle of the revolver in his
mouth and fire.
The deputy at once summoned several
physicians, DR.. j. W. Bird, of Sandy Spring,
was the first to respond to the call for help.
DIR, Frederick N. Henderson and DR.. o. M.
Linthicum. 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 hasty examination showed the seri-
BUSINESS of Sheriff Whalen's wound, and
he was placed in an ambulance and re-
moved to the Georgetown University Hos
pital, DIR. Henderson and Mr. Garrett ac-
companying him. 1t was not thought the
wounded man would live to reach the hos
pital, although he was partly conscious
during the trip of nearly fourteen miles,
and several times expressed desire to die
On reaching the hospital more thor
oueh examination was made and the bull
let was found lodged in the skull near the
left temple. DIR. Henderson and Dr. Mould
n, of Friendship Heights, operated and
removed the bullet. Just before the opera
ton, Sheriff Whalen said he was sorry he
had made the attempt to end his life and
that he wanted to live.
Friends Of the injured man and members
of his family say that he has been in i'll
health for several months. and that he had
in thot tima onfcarad eavaraI,, f.o,,, hooI
aches. for the relief of which he had taken
large quantities Of a proprietary remedy.
He had also, it is stated, worried greatly
over official matters. Recently he suffered
an attack of grip which kept him at home
for several days.
Friends with whom he talked noticed
that he appeared to be downcast and i'll.
To one or two persons he said, supposedly
in joking way. that he meant to end his
troubles, but little heed was given to the
remarks
He took an electric car for GEORGETOWN
about 2 o'clock. after repeating to Attor-
ney Garrett the statement that he intended
to commit suicide. After he left Rockville.
Mr., Garrett and Others, thinking he might
try to put his threats into execution, tele-
phoned to the power house of the electric
line and asked that word be sent down the
line to stop the car and send Sheriff Whal-
en- back to Rockville on the pretext that
important official business required his
presence here. The Sheriff returned about
3 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 instructed
to see that he did himself no harm.
1t was learned that before leaving home
the day before the attempt to destroy his
life, Sheriff Whalen told his wife and his
mother that he meant to end his life, and
asked them to attend to certain financial
matters for him. Little attention was paid
to the threat, however. as during fits of
dependency in recent months he had
made several such threats
He is married and has one child, boy
about five years old. His wife is daughter
of Mr.. Jedd Cuttings. whose home is at
Bethesda
Inquiry 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 end his life.
The Sheriff continues to improve and is
able to talk. So far no indications of seri-
GUS complications have been manifest One
of his deputies will serve in his place at
the March Term of Court. beginning next
Monday.