East New Market

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Baltimore Sun

31 March 1919 - Depressed, He Drinks Acid

Hugh H. Smith, of East New Market, Commits Suicide.  Depressed over the separation of his wife and himself, and believed to have been temporarily insane from the effect of drink, Hugh H. Smith, 40 years old, of East New Market, Md. committed suicide shortly after noon yesterday in his room on the second floor of the boarding house at 2320 Pennsylvania avenue, by drinking a quantity of carbolic acid.  He was discovered by one of his daughters.  Dr. Paul Brown, 1837 Pennsylvania avenue, was summoned and pronounced him dead.  Coroner James G. Wiltshire, of the Northwestern district, is investigating.

According to Mrs. Mary E. Rose, the boarding house mistress, and his three children, Mrs. Sadre A. Price, May and Clarence Smith.  Smith left his wife, Mrs. Susie Smith, who is said to be living at 127 South Register street, some time ago.

Yesterday morning Smith did not come down to breakfast as usual, and, according to Mrs. Rose, was drinking heavily in his room.  His 14 year old daughter May, went past her father's room and heard him groaning.  Several patrolmen responded to a telephone call received at the Northwestern Police Station and found Smith unconscious.  A bottle labeled carbolic acid was found by his side.

Besides his widow and three children, Smith is survived by several brothers and sisters, who reside in East New Market.