Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-31
SUICIDE PACT SEEN
AS GAS KILLS MAN
Brother, Cripple, Uncon.
scious at Hospital, Is
Expected to Die.

One of two brothers Is dead and the
other was conceded but a slight chance
to. live today from the effects of gas, to
which they subjected themselves last
night after entering into suicide pact
because of dependency over some OBJ
scure trouble.
Lawrence r. Dorsey, ~, had been
dead for six hours when neighbors
broke into the apartment at IS M street
shortly after 8 o'clock last evening. His
brother, John Edward Dorsey, As, Is still
unconscious in Casualty Hospital. Physi-
clans hold little hope for his recovery.
Motive Seen in letter.
Police are inclined to the belief that
their motive for suicide Is written be-
tween the lines of the following note
which the younger brother penned to a
sister in Indiana just before his death:
Dear Sis:
please try to forgive me for the
great sorrow have brought on you.
My nerves are in such condition I am
not able to defend myself or think
clearly in the confusion that has been
stirred up. Thank Doc for, his loyalty
to me. The strain has been so great
can stand it no longer. AS always,
your loving brother, LAWRENCE"
Lawrence Dorsey was an engraver at
the Government Printing Office. His
employers said his work had been salts
factory, and so far as they knew, he
was not involved in difficulties.
John Dorsey, cripple, was supported,
in part at least, by his brother. He was
not seriously i'll, however, and there
was nothing to indicate that his physi-
cal condition was responsible for the
suicide pact.
Although they had lived at the M
street address for a year, they were vir-
tual strangers to their neighbors. The
occupants OF the two adjoining apart
ments said they seldom saw the
brothers and had never spoken to them.
Second precinct police went through
their personal effects last night, but
failed to find anything, other than the
one note, that might be construed as
an explanation of their dependency.
Police and physicians also are unable
to explain the strange fact that Law
renee had been dead for hours when
the apartment door was forced open,
while John, the invalid, was still alive
There Is every reason to believe, they
said, that both men exposed themselves
to the deadly gas at the same time.
Neither brother had been seen since
Sunday. Last night j. D. Byers, preSi-
dent Of the corporation which owns
the apartment house, smelled gas and
notified the manager, r. G. Hunter
They called the janitor and opened the
door,
The brothers were lying in the bed
room, facing each other. Gas was how-
ing from an open Jet In the stove
Coroner j. Ramsay hewitt issued a GER
tificate of suicide
The older brother also left note to
the sister, Mrs. W. G. Duddenhausen
SIG South Third street, Evansville, Ind
He wrote:
Dear Sis: -.s...
What hurts us most is the unhap-
piness and distress 1t will be for you
We ask you to please try and forgive
We appreciate doctors loyalty and de-
votion to you and feel he will always
take care of you.
Thanking you and him for the many
kindnesses AS always,
your loving mrother, ED"
A notation was found requesting that
DR.. w. c. Duddenhausen be notified.
DR.. Duddenhausen wired police today
| to spare no expense in caring for the
survivor, and notified them he would
be here at noon tomorrow to care fol-
| the body.