Suicide of Hibbard M. THOMAS, Jr. (1918); Philadelphia Co., PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Carol Boyd 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.