Last Bath

Director General of Internal Revenue Alfredo Rioseco came home from his office at Santiago one night last week, ascended to his bedroom, took off his clothes, climbed into his bathtub, began to soak. . . . Beside the tub he had prudently laid out an automatic pistol--for times are strenuous in Chile (see below). Soon Senor Rioseco stood up and lathered himself. At that moment a soldier's gun butt crashed against the door. . . . Tough, the door held. The soldiers demanded of Senor Rioseco that he come out and submit to arrest. They shouted that he had embezzled 3,000,000 pesos ($360,000). "Open the door in the name of the law! . . ." Within the bathroom the pistol spat lead. Six shots ripped through the door, made the soldiers quiet, wounded one. Then with his last shot, Senor Rioseco committed suicide, slumped down into the soapy water.