Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-08-05
From The Journal Of Commerce.
'F' w W.T. u ~OHItIIcINVs
Manslaughter at the St. Nicholas Hotel.

Mansiaughter at the St. Nicholas HoteI.
Shortly after o'clock, Yesterday morning. q
fatal and most lamentable ARRAY occurred at
the st. Nicholas Hotel, in which COL Charles
Loring, of California, was run through the body
with sword-cane by DR.. X. II. Graham, OF
New Orleans ard fatally wounded. Both, with
their families, were boarders at the hotel, and
yesterday morning, about o'clock, DR.. Ora
ham, who had been out drinking most Of the
previous night came home almost crazy from
the effects OF liquor. He became quite disor-
derry by continually ringing the bells in the
hall, near his apartments, and calling loudly
for the servants, greatly to the annoyance oil
some of the boarders in that section Of the
house. Col. Loring came out of his room,
which was nearly adjoining that of Dr. g., and
politely asked him to desist from making so
much noise, saying that the servants were in
bed, and that he could not find any at that hour.
The doctor answered that he had been ringing
the bell in his own room for two hours, but had
not got an answer. In making this statement,
he swore considerably.
Col. Loring then closed the door and went to
bed, and moment afterwards the hall bell was
rung furiously again. He again got up and
opening the door second time, said to DR..
Graham " would be much obliged to you,
sir, if you would not ring the bell so furiously,
as my wife is quite unwel" He also advised
the doctor to put on his pantaloons for if he
wanted the maid to answer the bell, he was
not in a condition to be seen by her. DIR.
Graham then said he did not care d for
maids, or any women in the house, and would
dress as he pleased. The doctor used other
violent language, and the Colonel told him if
he repeated it, he would break his head with a
stick. Colonel Loring then again went to bed,
and soon afterwards the bell rang violently
about 30 times. He then got up, put on his
pantaloons and slippers, and put one arm in
his coat sleeve. He then opened the door and
stepped out; and told the doctor that he would
go to the office and see whether he could find
servant. Mrs. Loring then jumped out of
bed to beg her husband not to go ont. He re-
quested her to stay in the room. The doctor
at this time had nothing but his shirt on. Mrs.
Loring went back to her room and dressed.
In the meantime the husband was absent, and
she becoming alarmed, went in search of him,
and found him lying dead at the extreme end
of the hall, weltering in his own blood.
The scene which followed was truly frightful;
and for some time the greatest CONSERVATION
prevailed throughout the house. Two of the
walters witnessed the ARRAY which resulted in
the death of Colonel Loring. The parties dis.
puted in the hall while moving towards one
end Of it, about DR.. Graham's ringing the bell,
and making noise to the annoyance Of his
wife. In the course of this dispute. DR.. Ora.
ham called Col. i. liar. The Colonel, in re-
turn, slapped Graham in the face, when the
latter, who had sword-cane in his hand, made
blow at him with the cane. Loring took hold
OF the cane, and in an instant DIR. Graham
drew the sword from the stick, and stabbed his
for cf IL tAa I'LL
entered the left side six inches from the spine,
and twelve inches below the shoulder-biade,
penetrating the lower part of the left lobe of
the lungs, and coming in contact with the bones
of the breast, when it bent nearly double, and
produced instant death. The only words the
deceased uttered were, am stabbed" ~ am
killed" Graham did not attempt TO touch his
victim after he had iaficted the fatal wound
but threw his sword into the pantry, and walked
up and down the hail. apparently much agi-
tated. lie was Immediately arrested by the
9Th ward police, and held to await the action
Of the coroner
About ii O'Clock Coroner O'Donnell pro-
ceeded to the hotel and instituted an investi-
cation, when the above facts were elected
The jury, after a brief elaboration, rendered
the following verdict: "That Charles Loring
came to his death by wound inflicted on his
person by means Of sword cane in the hands
of Robert NJ. Graham"
On the rendition of this verdict the coroner
committed Graham to the Tombs, to await ex-
animation. Colonel Loring had recently re.
turned from California, where he held an office
under the government. The prisoner is about
forty years Of age; he, it appears, had been
going about the streets of the 9Th ward during
most of Tuesday night, visiting porterhouses and
other resorts. His disorderly conduct attracted
the attention of the police, and they were
about arresting him, when some of his friends
promised to take him to the hotel and keep
him there. They did conduct him to the hotel,
but 1t seems he got out again during the night
and became considerably intoxicated, and it
was shortly after his return that the fatal deed
was committed. The painful affair created a
gloom among the boarders of the hotel during
the day