The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-11-25
Z D I HERS
FOUND
DEAD
Coroner Reports Mrs. Lillian D.
StahI Suicide by Unusual
Method.

M0InOO.
A case Of self-destruction by a
means employed but once or twice
IN the history Of the District was
affirmed today when Coroner J.
Ramsey hewitt, after viewing the
body Of Mrs. Lillian Dougherty
Stahl, issued a certificate Of sui
eide and setting forth the cause as
drowning. From evidence present
ed to the coroner it was deduced
that Mrs. Dougherty deliberately
submerged her head in a filled
bath-tub in her home, 232 Twelfth
street southeast, and :breathed
water into her lungs.
Two Other Cases.
This was but one of three cases
of sudden death which DIR. hewitt
is called upon to investigate today.
George Thomas Mcdonald, aged
thirty, until recently a night watch
man at the Veterans Bureau, of
1881 K street, was found lifeless
2124 H street. An overdose of alco-
hol is thought. to have caused
death.
Miss Ladd Brooks. thirty, an EN-
ploye of the Treasury Department,
failed to answer knocks at her
sleeping room door in NO build
ing of the Government Hotels, and
was discovered dead.
DIR. hewitt will not ascribe ex-
act causes for these fatalities until
further investigation.
Going to an Asylum.
With her removal to st. Eliza
beth's but q few hours off. Mrs.
Stahl was found drowned at &
o'clock this morning in the second
floor bathtub at her home.
She was discovered by her hus-
band, Hugo Alvin Stahl, civil en-
gineer employed by the District gov
eminent, with her head damned un-
der the flowing fawcet, and life was
pronounced extinct by DR.. McDon.
ough, who was hurriedly summoned
from Casualty Hospital.
Was Once In Hospital.
Two months ago Mrs. Stahl was
discharged from the psycopathic
ward Of Johns Hopkins Hospital,
Baltimore. She went to visit rela-
tives in Virginia and returned to
her Washington home only a few
days ago. On Wednesday she was
examined by Drs. Kenneth w,
Kenny. 1878 Columbia road, and r.
X. Foxwell, 1929 Vermont avenue,
who stated their opinion, according
to the police, that the woman was
Of unsound mind and signed papers
by which she was to have been ad.
mitted to st. Elizabeth's
She knew Of her impending com.
mitment, It is said, and brooded
over It.
Mr.. and Mrs. Stahl, the latter now
fhirty-six years old, were married
three years ago at Hackensack, N.
J. They have one child, Edward,
ared two. While Mrs. Stahl had
been deeply depressed. her husband
said, she had never at any time
appeared to entertain suicidal no.
tions.
Mcdonald, war veteran with n dis
tinguished record of service in
France and Germany, whose body
was found following an alleged
liouor party last night, was a VIC
Inn Oh diCOhOiStis ~ was oeoeVu Wy
Coroner j. Ramsay hewitt, follow
ing a preliminary examination.
Mcdonald had been on sick leave
for the past week.
Called on Friend.
Last night, In company with vii.
liam Joseph Sullivan, 1926 Twenty
second street northwest, and an.
other friend, Mcdonald called on
John Dunn. fifty-nihe years old,
roomer at 2141 II street. This police
declare that the men went to
Dunn's room and that liquor passed
freely.
About midnight, Dunn said, Nc
Donald stretched out on a cot in the
roc,n and went to sleep. Sullivan
and the other friend went out and
sullivan, was arrested by Officer II.
n. strong, OF the Third precinct,
while wandering on the street at 8
o'clock this morning. He was locked
an at the Third precinct charged
with being drunk and disorder1y and
resisting arrest.
Dunn, at o'clock this morning.
found that the veteran was dead
and notified the police.
Miss Brooks went to bed last
night apparently free Of any serious
eiiment. A companion, summoning
her for >ork this morning. received
no answer and broke Into the room,
where the woman lay apparently
.siaan Closer Investigation showed