Evening star., 1926-04-20
SUICIDE
TO END PAIN AFTER
PARK AUTO WRECK
w. F. Best, in Agony as Re.
suit of Plunge Down Bluff,
SIaSheS Wrist.

Behind an amazing story of how a
manned motorist. lying helpless and
crushed below the entertainments OF
Snake Hill. in Rock Creek Park. after
his car had careened over a sharp
curve, chose suicide to the creeping
death that rode on the wings OF the
freezing gale last night and dellber-
ately SlaShed his wrists to end the tor
ture he could no longer endure, lie
some mystifying circumstances.
William Franklin Best, 36 years old.
of 172 INLAND terrace is the victim.
He was found, covered with blood, $50
feet down a steep bluff bordering the
twisting roadway by George Tinker
colored employe of the park, shortly
before 9 o'clock this morning. Possl-
bly, so feet away stood his car, it's en-
gine pushed through the dashboard
and it's body a bent wreck.
An hour later Best told his strange
story to a reporter for The Star, as he
lay between life and death on a cot in
Emergency Hospital. 1t was story
of intense torture and human forti
tude, worn out by the cold wind and
open wounds, with hope of rescue
gone But it was story that was not
borne out in details by mute evidence
police later found at the scene OF the
neartragedy.
Thought He Saw Turn.
Best said he was travelling down
Snake Hill at a leisurely speed. short
lv after s o'clock last night. In the
darkness his headlights picked up
what he thought was sharp curve,
and he swerved his wheel sharply. A
second later he found himself tumb-
ling down a steep embankment at
right angles to the road. At dizzy
speed the car shot into big oak tree,
the impact driving the motor clear
back into the car.
The tree prevented the car from
turning over and Best said he was
hurled possibly three feet to the
ground. He must have been knocked
unconscious fol awhile, he said, for
he seemed to awake and find him.
self unable to move. His leg was
broken and .his body was soaked with
blood. In vain he shouted to the
cars he heard passing on the road
above. Best said, but his voice was
only lost in the wind.
Then, unable longer to withstand
the torture that racked his body. and
confident that he would certainly
freeze to death before morning would
bring help from passers-by. Best said
he managed to get penknife from
his pocket and deliberately slashed
his wrist. He had hoped he would
bleed to death within a few minutes,
but fate had another ending planned.
Police Give First Aid.
When Tinker found the man he
promptly summoned Park Policemen
Croissant and Jenkins. They sum-
moned the ambulance from Emer-
gency Hospital and then applied re-
storatives to the still conscious man
until the physicians arrived. DIR. n.
w. Potter, responding with the ambu-
lance, gave first aid on the way to the
hospital BY the time the accident
ward was reached Best had revived suf-
ficiently to tell this story. But he was
unable to explain a deep cash in his
throat, dangerously close to the jugu-
lar vein.
Further examination at the scene
of the accident revealed other appar-
ent discrepancies. The spot where
Best was found was fully so feet
from the wrecked car, and the knife
Best said he had used in his vain
attempt to destroy himself was founa,
not on the ground within reach but
on the running board of the automo-
bile. Because of Best's serious con-
dition, police have not yet questioned
him on the points that vary from his
own story. but they are pursuing a
searching investigation in the mean
time.
Best's whereabouts during the night
could not be ascertained by police who
visited his home and talked to Mrs.
Best. They did learn, however, that
late yesterday afternoon he had been
at the home of A. +. Cissell. 3108
Thirty eighth street. Had he sought a
short cut to his own home from that
address the route would have taken
him through the park and probably
down the road where the crash oc
Cured. Best is the father of two chill
dren. He is proprietor of the Best
Printshop at 81 II street northeast
and is a clerk in the Labor Depart
ment