Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-27
HARRY ALLEN SHOOTS
HIMSELF THROUGH HEAD
Commits Suicide at His Boarding
House on 1wcnty-First
Street.
NO CAUSE YET AsCERTAINED
On Returning From Railway Offices
Where He Had Been Employed
Allen Told Household lie Had Re-
ceived Letter From His Sister.

Returning to his boarding house
upon the receipt of a letter from his
sister. Harry Allen. twenty-five years
ola. n clerk in the general offices OF
tho Richmond. Fredericksburg and Po-
tomac Railroad Company. went to
his room at 1902 North Twcnty-first
street shortly before 10 o'clock yes
terday. seated himself on his bed after
removing his coat. and blew off the
top Of his head with shotgun. Death
was instantaneous. The police con-
Quoted an investigation. all evidence
disclosed pointing conclusivcly TO a
clear case of suicide.
Detective Sergeant willy, OF head
quarters. was assigned to the ease inn
mediately after Il report Of the suicide
was made to the police He allowed the
body to be turned over to an under
taker.
Allen had apparently removed his
coat on entering the room. for this
article was found hanging on a chair.
After seating himself on the bed, he
seems TO have placed the barrel OF .he
shotgun I'm his mouth and pulled tho
trigger with his foot. The full force
or the explosion almost completely do
molishcd his face and head, only his
chin remaining. One OF his ears was
blown across tho room. The police
were unable to learn any motive for
his action.
TELLS OF RECEIVING
LETTER FROM SISTER
Leaving his boarding house at tho
usual time yesterday morning. Allen
returned at $50 o'clock, telling SOW
"ral members OF the household that he
had received a letter from his sister
Carrie. At Elk Hill. Goochland Comfy
telling him 10 come home M quickly as
possible. He told them that he was ar
ranging to catch tho 10 o'clock train.
ana went his
pack his grip When he had failed 10
return at $40 O'Clock member OF
the Family called to him. renarllinE
that he had but n short time in which
to get to the railroad station.
Allen is said TO have then remarked
That he had changed his mind and
would travel on freight train lcav-
ing Richmond AT II o'clock. II was
only a moment after the second con
NerSation that members OF the house
hold were startled by the sound OF
a shotgun. single -barrcied weapou
Mrs. L. d. Rausome. with whom he
boarded. and Mrs, j. j. MARKS. another
member Of the household. rushed to
his room. finding Allen stretched across
his bloodsoakcd bed They immcLi-
ately notified the police.
Patrolman j. :. Campodonica, Of the
First District was sent - Tie house
from the station house. and Sergeant
ever. were unable to find any trace "f
the alleged letter from tho young mans
sister. The police learned that a low,
affair might have possibly been re-
sponsible for the suicide. Allen visited
young lady Wednesday, night out
returned to his room before his usual
hour.
The young man had been I'm the en-
ploy OF the ISichmoud. Frederick sburl,
and Potomac railroad Comranv, in Tho
auditors office, since September 1918,
performing miscella ncous clerical du-
ties. lie received permission from tho
chic! clcrk carly yesterday morning
to absent himself from the Office for
short time. but made no mention Of
having received a letter from his sis
ter.
Allen Is survived by his father. Chris
tian Allen. who is tho proprietor Uf
sawmill near Elk Hin. and HIS sister.
His mother ia dead Relatives could
throw no light on the suicide last
night.