Suicide of Hibbard M. THOMAS, Jr. (1918); Philadelphia Co., PA

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Carol Boyd <Cb242@aol.com>

Copyright 2004.  All Rights Reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm
*********************************************************

Philadelphia Public Ledger Published October 19, 1918


PHILADELPHIA MAN
A SUICIDE IN MOBILE

Freed After Arrest in Rural
    Town on Germ-Spread-
               ing Charge


   Hibbard M. Thomas, Jr., of 2524 Dia-
mond street, who committed suicide in
a hotel in Mobile, Ala., Wednesday
night, took his life because of worry
over the accusation that he had been
spreading influenza germs and his ar-
rest:  on that charge, say advices re-
ceived from that city yesterday.
   Haunted by the stigma which he im-
agained had become attached to him
after his arrest on suspicion in the
little town of Andalusia, Ala.  Thomas
who was a traveling salesman, went
to Mobile after he had been released
and engaged a room at a lending hotel.
On Wednesday night he was last seen
alive in the lobby of the hotel.
   He was not seen until the fol-
lowing night, when the manager of 
the hotel broke into his room and
found his body.  He had slashed his
throat and right arm.
    Thomas was the victim of the sus-
picion of the inhabitants of a number
of small Alabama towns through which 
he was traveling.  Being a stranger 
of a reticent disposition, his acts, inno-
cent in themselves, aroused the sus-
picion of policemen.  After being
watched for several days, he was ar-
rested.  He was released but had been
accused of conveying disease germs,
and this stigma followed him to Mo-
bile.
    Thomas has a father and mother
living at the Philadelphia address.
He was thirty-three years old and be-
fore he entered the employ of the Pa-
cific Coast Borax Company, for which
he was traveling when he died, he was 
a hat salesman in a Thirteenth street
store.  He was a member of the Ma-
sonic order.