The Tragedy at Port Angeles

Port Angeles, April 28.—E. T. Thomas, signal service officer at this place, committed suicide this morning by shooting himself. The deed was done with a .41-caliber revolver. The bullet entered about the middle of the forehead and came out near the left ear. He lived about half an hour after the shooting. Mr. Thomas had been unwell for about three months, and had been sustaining himself on stimulants for some time. Domestic troubles also largely contributed to the tragedy. His wife applied for a divorce three or four days ago, and the case was called for 10 o'clock this morning. This act of his wife's preyed on his mind, and in conversation he would continually refer to it. It undoubtedly unbalanced his mind. There is no question that he deliberately planned the deed. He left his office work in perfect order, having taken an observation at 8 o'clock and prepared his anemometer and reports to the minutest detail. Mr. Thomas was born in Grafton, W. Va., thirty-eight years ago, and had been in the employ of the signal service for the past sixteen years. He was married in New York city eight years ago, and three children were the fruits of the union, of whom two boys are alive. Insanity runs in the family, an aunt and uncle having died in an asylum, and his mother also gave unmistakable signs of insanity before her death.