Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-12-26
Bone Disease
Held Cause Of
Erwin Suicide
Note Asks Friend
To Tell Mother End
Came Naturally

failed to respond to treatment, Rep
resentative Joe w. Erwin, A, Demo-
crat, of North Carolina, who had
been in Congress a little more than
a year, ended his life Christmas eve
by asphyxiation and was found yes
terday at his home, 34l6 Garrison
street NV.
He left a note asking that his
aged mother not be informed Of
the circumstances but rather be told
he died of heart attack.
Coroner A. Magruder Macdonald,
who issued a certificate Of suicide,
said Mr.. Erwin was found slumped
in a chair in a gaS-filled kitchen, a
pistol and straight razor clutched
in his hand and with coin in his
lap.
Friend Discovers Body.
The discovery was made by Theron
L. Caudle, Assistant Attorney Cen
eral and close friend of the legis-
lator, who had dropped by with his
son to invite Mr.. Erwin to Christ
mas dinner.
A note, left on the doorstep,
warned the finder that the house
was filled with gas fumes and re-
quested that Mr.. Ervin's mother be
given the least possible shock.
Mr.. Caudle said he and his son
called on Mr.. Erwin about lis
pm. He said the kitchen door was
stuffed with blankets, window
shades were down and the radio was
playing soft music. In the sink
were several glasses, Mr.. CaudleI
told police, and partially emptied
whisky bottle.
No Answer on Telephone.
The Justice Department official
originally had planned to call for
the Representative in the morning,
but was unable to contact him by
telephone.
Mr.. Erwin, according to brother,
DR.. John W. Erwin, who is in Wash
ington, had suffered from the bone
disease for several years. Mr.. Erwin
had fallen outside his home several
days ago, reinjuring leg which had
undergone five previous operations
for osteomyelitis. Mr.. Caudle told
reporters he had spent 80 minutes
with Mr.. Erwin on Christmas eve,
that he then complained of his
injury and mentioned recent heart
trouble"
Two other notes were found on the
dining room table of the Erwin home,
police reported. One was addressed
to his wife, Susan, who is visiting in
Morganton, N. c., over the holidays
the other to his brother, Samuel
Erwin, former Superior Court judge
at Morganton He also left will.
Contents of the notes were not dis
closed by police.
Apologies for Action.
Mr.. Erwin, native of Morganton,
was to have accompanied his wife
there. the Justice Department off,
cial said, but was prevented from
making the trip by the injury for
which he was treated at Walter
Reed Hospital.
The note to Mr. Caudle asked him
to make funeral arrangements, not.
to get an expensive casket and to see
that the death got as little publicity
as possible. The body will be sent
to Morganton tonight, according to
the Hysong funeral home. 1900 N
street NV, which is handling ar
rangements.
Mr. Erwin said in his note he was
sorry for what he planned to do and
apologized for the difficult task he
was giving his friend. Mr.. Caudle
said.
Gan erroneous report was cir
culated yesterday that it was for
mer Senator Reynolds of North
Carolina who was found dead.
Mr.. Reynolds is in Palm Beach,
Fla, according to the Associated
Press0
House Membership Cut.
Mr.. Ervin's death leaves the House
lineup at 240 Democrats, 100 Re-
publicans, two minor party members
and three vacancies. Four Demo-
crats-Dickstein of New York,
Ramspeck of Georgia, Weiss of
Pennsylvania and Woodrum of Vir-
ginia-have announced their resig-
nations to be effective at the years
end
Mr. Erwin was graduated from the
University of North Carolina with
an ABB. degree and later studied law
there. He had lived in Charlotte,
N. C, since 1925 where he practiced
law. He was solicitor of the Char
lotte City Recorders Court and later
attorney for Mecklenburg County.
He entered the House in Novem-
Der. 1914.
His widow is the former Miss
Susan Graham Erwin. In addition
to his widow, mother and brother,
he is survived by another brother,
Hugh Tate Erwin, civil engineer of
Morganton, and three sisters, Mrs.
Laura Hall of Richmond, Va; Miss
Eunice Wood Erwin of Morganton
and Prof. Jane Conyers Erwin of the
University of Missouri.
Funeral FIR Mre Knyn