Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-19
FOUR END LIVES
IN 24-HO.UR PERIOD
Prisoner Hangs Self in Cell.
Woman Dies by Gas-Par-
aIytic Shoots Self.

With the death last night of woman
by gas and man by hanging, the days
toll OF suicides here was brought to
four.
With letter beside her in which a
message of affection trailed off into an
unintolligible scribble as she lapsed into
unconsciousness. Evelyn Tomlin of 1o9
Eighth street northeast, 3l-year-old
waitress, was found suffocated by
Illuminating gas in her bedroom by her
two brothers about 10:40 o'clock.
Duius Desmond Coffman, 80 years
old, OF 1851 S street, barber, hanged
himself, using his shirt as a moose. in
Gel at the fifth precinct station,
where he was being held on a charge
OF 1ntoxication.
Windows Are Closed.
Harry and Louis Tomlin of ITO Rob-
lnson street southwest. who were calling
upon their sister. broke down the door
OF her room when they detected the
odnr OF gas and found her lying across
her bed. clothed in a night dress. The
Fire Department rescue squad and the
Casualty Hospital ambulance were sum-
moned, but it was too late.
The windows and door Of the room
where she was found were tightly
closed. The woman apparently had
written until she lost consciousness,
when she fell across the bed.
The letter was addressed to a man
who, police say, had recently become
reconciled with his wife and with whom
she was in love. The woman came to
this city several years ago from her
nome in Mlllville, N. J. Since then she
had been employed in several cafes and
restaurants. Coroner hewitt said he had
been informed the woman had been
married, but was separated from her
husband.
The body of coffman was found
dangling from the upper bars Of his
cell. with his toes just touching the
floor. The arms of the shirt had been
knotted around his neck. He was dis
covered by Policeman L. A. Craig. who
told his superiors that he had visited
the cellroom IS minutes previously to
give another prisoner drink Of water
and that Coffman then had made no
attempt to end his life.
Arrested on Sisters Request.
According to Lieut.. Richard Mans
field Of the fifth precinct. Coffman was
arrested on complaint of his sister, Mrs.
southeast. Mrs. Stump Is said to have
informed the police that she wanted
her brother arrested to keep him out
of trouble while he was intoxicated.
Before lodging Coffman in the cell
his belt and necktie were removed, as
Is customary as precautionary meas
ure. The hanging was performed so
silently that none of the prisoners in
adjacent cells knew what had happened.
The Casualty Hospital ambulance
was summoned. DR.. p. A. Stebbins of the
hospital staff pronounced him dead
Carl Stump, brother-in-law of the dead
man, told police that Coffman is sur
vived by one son, Jack Coffman- Of ST.
Augustine. Fla.
ParaIytic Kills Himself.
Hopelessly paralyzed for the past two
years, william Stanley Ray, So years
old, of .4212 Thirty-seventh street YES
terday afternoon carried out threats of
suicide by sending bullet through his
right temple.
The other case was that Of Ella Viz
ginia Hudnall.
Inquests resulted in suicide verdicts
in the Hudnall and Coffman deaths,
while the coroner issued certificates in
the other cases.