Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1916-06-26
FUNERAL OF VICTIM
OF ACADEMY TRAGEDY
Body of Midshipman Durkin is
Taken to His Home for Burial
"A Probable Suicide.
JUMPED FROM WINDOW.
Young Man Had Been Acting Strangely
for Few Days---A Probable Victim
Of Homesickness- --Entire Class
With Naval Academy Band
Formed Funeral Cortepe.

just in the midst of the sermons at
the various churches in the vicinity OF
the station, the several congregations
were starteled by the sound of rife
shots, in quick succession, and that
rang out sharp on the still Sabbath
air. Then there was waited church
ward that dolefuf ,sound-fTaps"-
and the curtain was rung down on the
tragedy that snuffed out the life OF
Midshipman Walter Durkin who on
Saturday morning jumped from a
at the Naval Academy.
There il no doubt the young man
committed suicide, as it is impossible
for anyone to fall from thess wiBlows
which are protected with steel bars, for
this very reason. He must have either
crawled over them or have squeezed
through the bars,the latter being high
ly improbable if not impossible. He
certainly could not fall out 1t is said
he left a note, but this cannot be
confirmed officially. Certain it is,
however the young midshipman, who
had only been admitted three days ago
was homesick and Respondent
Y 1t is said he did not want to enter
the navy, and take up the career of a
mhlshipman but was persuaded by his
family to- do SO against his will. He
had been acting strangelyssince his en-
trance, and could not be induced by his
roommate to leave his room during
recreation periods and mingle with
the others of his class. He had alb
scented himself from drills. and. it is
said, officers had decided to have ply
sicans investigate his case.
At the time he jumped or fell" from
the window, he was alone in his room
and roll was being called in front of
Bancroft He'll The midshipman call
ing the roll is said to have been the
only one who saw him fall, and he was
almost stunned by the sight. The dis
lance young Durkin fell was about
sixty feet. A thorough examination
male by the surgeons revealed con-
cussion of the brain, Commissions about
the head and face, fracture of the
arm and bruises about the body. That
his body was not more severely man
gled was remarkable, as it fell on an
asphalt pavement directly beneath the
window. The fall of the young MILDLY
attracted the attention of workmen
nearby, and the hospital ambulance
was hurriedly summoned.
The accident occurred shortly after
10 O'Clock. and he died in the afternoon.
Durkin was eighteen years and four
months old and entered tho Academy
last Wednesday. He was accompanied
here by his father, T. A. Durkin- who
lives at Montgomery street, West
Piston, Pa. The parents were notified.
The authorities of the Academy con-
Quoted an investigation of the affair
and Commander c.. w. Laws, acting
superintendent, issued a statement,
which said young Durkin was alone at
the time of the occurrence and no one
actually saw the manner in which he
fell from the window.
The entire fourth class accompanied
the remains to the train yesterday at
noon, headed by the Naval Academy
band. At the station three vollevs
were fired over the casket and buglel
sounder taps. The body was taken to
his some at Pittston Pa.