Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-15
TREASURY OFFICIAL,
dead OF MONOX|DE
GAS, HELD SUICIDE
Body Found SIumped Over
Wheel of Car Running in
Closed Garage.
R. G. HAND HAD BEEN ILL
OF NERVES TWO MONTHS
Threatened Death, Doctor Says.
Family Insists 1t Was
Accident.

Robert Godfrey Hand, So years old,
commissioner Of accounts and deposits
of the Treasury Department, was found
dead of monoxide gas in his garage
early today, slumped over the steering
wheel of his automobile, the motor rum
ming. MI. Hand was clothed only in
pajamss. The doors and windows of
the garage were tightly closed.
Coroner j. Ramsay hewitt, summoned
by the police, issued = certificate OF
suicide after talking to Or. william NJ
Sprigg, 1901 street, who said he had
been treating MT. Hand for two months
for a nervous ailment. He said Hand
had talked several times Of ending his
life in the manner in which he died.
However, members Of the family and o
representative of the Treasury who
called at the house soon after MI.
Hands body was found insisted that
his death was accidental.
Employe Summons Family.
DR.. Sprigg pronounced Hand dead
soon after John Lambert, colored en-
ploye. came to the house, 1881 GaNatin
street, about $50 O'Clock this morning
and heard the motor Of the automobile
running. He summoned members OF
the family, who found the Treasury Of
ficial in the car.
Members of the family said Commits
sioner Hand had virtually retired from
the department two months ago to re-
cover from the effects Of overwork.
They said he had worked 10 and IL
hours . day continuously for years and
that his health had broken down. Since
he left the department, however, they
said, he had returned to work for sew
cral days at time, but was forced to
come home early due to exhaustion.
Hand, who entered the Treasury In
1900, came here from Shubata, Miss.
where his family was wealthy and prom
inent socially. Starting as q clerk In
the ONCE OF the auditor for the War
Department at q salary of $3.50 @ year,
he had built up an enviable reputation
in the intervening years IS . fiScAl
expert.
Directed Government Moneys.
AS commissioner Of accounts and de-
posits he Kept the accounts Of incom-
ing and outgoing money and directed
the deposit of receipts and disburse-
ment of Government moneys through
various branches and Federal Reserve
banks.
His estimates as to the income Of the
Government and its expenditures were
accepted by the Treasury and as the
base upon which 1t made its plans fo1
the future.
During the last year Hand had been
direct representative of the Secretary
and Undersecretary. His figures on con-
dition Of the Treasury were on their
desks every day.
During the war Hand served in the
War Loan Office and as assistant treas
urer. He was appointed commissioner
of accounts and deposits in January,
1920.
Two Children Survive.
Hand married another native Of Shu-
bata, Miss Ruby Woolverton. here, june
H. 1907 They had two children, Rob-
ert, now 10 years old, and Frances
now 20, who, with the widow, survive
Hand was o graduate Of Mississippi
Agricultural and Mechanical College
A brother, DR.. William Hand, is now
professor of chemistry at the college.
Funeral services will be held Friday
with burial in Cedar Hill Cemetery. DR.
Hand, a sister, Mrs. Fannie Beck OF
Charleston. S. c., wife Of Henry L
Beck, head OF the Atlantic Coast light
house division, and a brother-in law
william Woolverton, Birmingham, Ala.
attorney, are expected here for the
funeral.