The Washington Times

SUICIDE IS SUSPECTED.

Body of Col. B. B. Richard, of This City, Found in Maryland.

A dispatch was received at police headquarters yesterday afternoon from L. P. Coombs of Valley Postoffice, St Mary's county, Maryland, stating that a body supposed to be that of Col B. B. Richards of this city, was found in the Potomac near that point, last Wednesday. Several letters, pawn tickets from the office of H. K. Fulton of this city, and a small amount of money were found in his clothes. The body was buried in the sand along the river, and the tickets and letters were turned over to the magistrate, who is also county coroner. Detective Morris Quinlan was assigned to investigate the case, and succeeded in finding several places at which Col Richards lived when in the city. During the months of June and July of last year he lived with Mr E. L. Turner at No. 921 G street northwest, and when he went away he left his satchel valise, filled with letters, cards and documents of all descriptions. Mr Turner says that Richards was a civil engineer and very seldom remained in the city long at one time. He frequently spoke, both in this city and other places, of a son living in the South, and Mr. Quinlan is now endeavoring to ascertain if such a relative exists. At Fulton's pawn shop Richards was well-known, having pawned articles there at various times for the past three years. There were no marks of violence on the body when it was found and the circumstances point strongly towards suicide. Mr Turner stated at headquarters yesterday that Richards was of a very despondent nature. The body was well dressed, and had evidently been in the water from three to six days.