John S. Parker – Private, United States Army

SUICIDE IN THE POTOMAC

WASHINGTON, December 22, 1889 – John S. Parker, a Grand Army man, and formerly a well-to-do real estate dealer in Kansas City, Missouri, committed suicide last night by jumping into the Potomac River from a float of a boathouse moored near the Washington Monument.

The details of the tragedy show that Parker took his life with unusual deliberation.  Before drowning himself he neatly folded his handsome overcoat, placed his hat upon it and laid both articles carefully on the riverbank, putting a clean stone on the hat to keep it from blowing away. Pinned to the overcoat was a note giving his name and former and present residences.  In his pockets were several letters, making disposition of what propery was left out of his former estate, and requesting that the Grand Army take charge of his body and have it buried in Arlington. This request will be complied with, the body having been recovered this afternoon. The letters also asked that it be stated that neither wine, women or cards had anythingto do with the deed.

Parker came to this city several weeks ago. At one time he had considerable real estate in Kansas City, which he sold and gave the proceeds to his brother-in-law in New York City to invest. The failure of these investments is supposed to have caused the suicide.

PARKER, JOHN S
PVT 2 NY ARTY

• DATE OF DEATH: 12/21/1889
• BURIED AT:   SITE 13713
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard