Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-20
Senator Hunt
Kills Self With
Rifle in Office
Two Operations Fail;
Concern Over Health
Cited as Reason

Senator Lester c. Hunt, 81,
Democrat. of Wyoming. took his
own life yesterday by putting a
% caliber rifle bullet through
his head while seated in his
Senate Office.
He died three and half hours
later at Casualty Hospital after
two operations had failed to
save his life District Coroner A.
Magruder Macdonald issued q
certificate of suicide.
Senator Hunts action came IL
days after he had announced
that he would not run for re-
election next November because
of i'll health.
Kidney Ailment Cited.
His administrative assistant,
Mike ManatoS. explained that
apparently he suffered from a
kidney affection which had given
him great cause for concern"
Also. Mr.. Manatos said, the
Senator had been undergoing
extensive medical examinations
at the Bethesda Naval Hospital
throughout June and for some
time before"
President Eisenhower and fell
low Senators Immediately voiced
their grief at the death of the
popular Wyoming lawmaker.
Senate Recess Tomorrow.
Senate Majority Leader Know
land, Republican, of California,
announced the Senate will recess
Monday out of respect to Sena-
tor Hunt.
In that chamber, the death
strips the Democratic Party of a
one-man majority. Senator Hunt
is expected to be replaced by a
Republican, which would give an
actual majority of votes to the
party which technically controls
the Senate.
A spokesman for the family
said last night that funeral plans
would not be made until the ar
rival by air of the Senator's son
and daughter. The body was
taken to the District morgue
pending transfer to Gawler'S
funeral home. 1855 Pennsylvania
avenue NV. It will lie in state
at the Chapel there from noon
today until 10 pm.
The son, Lester Galloway
Hunt. jr.. student at the Uni
yerSity Of Chicago, was expected
to arrive late last night.
The daughter, Mrs. Russell H.
W. Chadwick of Spokane, Wash,
was due today.
Wife Is Stricken.
Senator Hunts wife of SO
years, the former Emily N. Hig-
by. who was in an adjoining
room at the hospital when he
died at 1882 pm, retired to
their home at 5105 Linnean
avenue NV, stricken with
shock.
That was the home he left
yesterday morning for the last
time. The elevator operator who
took him to the third floor of the
Senate Office Building at $50
am. said he noticed the butt Of
a rifle protruding from Senator
Hunts coat.
Although the Senator had
several priced pistols in his office
and a high-powered rifle, his
assistant said he had never seen
the gun used in the shooting.
Leaves Four Notes.
Senator Hunt left four notes.
police said, and it was these
which led to discovery of his
body.
They were addressed to Mrs.
Hunt; to Percy Spencer. presi.
dent of the Sinclair Oil Corp,
in New York: to Mr.. Manatos.
jointly with Ira Whitlock, the
Senator's secretary: and to Miss
Betty Phelan, the Senator's con-
f1dential secretary, police said.
Mr.. ManatoS, however, said
there we're only three-those to
Mrs. Hunt and the staff. He
found them on his desk, he re-
lated, when he arrived at the
Office at 8::55 am, about 10 min
uteS later than Mr.. Whitlock.
The door into the Senator's
private Office. usually open. was
closed, Mr.. ManatoS said. To-
gether. he added, he and Mr..
Whitlock entered and found SEN
ator Hunt wounded in his chair
with the gun lying beside him.
He said he called Dr.. George w.
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