Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-11-27
Thanh s;iytng Dinner to the Press the
nj

n
ineton, aud at thatearly period 10 our h.story-
about the beginning OF the present century
George'owR was ne city and tue Uuiou was
ne motel OF the District OF Columbia. Whine
iao0rers were telling trees and opening streets
~ washington, foreign Ambassadors Cabnet
ministers and mrmbers OF Congress mad their
homes IN oar sister city on tn other side OF
hoek creek. The eminent bankers and phi
!anloplsts. George Peabody, Elisha Riggs and
W. w; Corcoran, all were once in business in
| tnat place; Philip Francis Key, author Of the
| star Spangled Banner, and Benz. Stoddard.
the nrst Secretary Of the Navy, resided there;
and among the distinguished men who dined
| and wined at the Union Hotel In the olden
time may be mentioned such foreigners Of note
| as Baron Humboldt, Count EoIney, Talley-
| rand, Jerome Bonaparte and Pechion. INA
| poleons ambassador to receive the Louis ma
purchase P money and such Americans as
| Gen. George Washington, John Randolph of
| Roanoke, Washington Irving, and many others
| not unknown to fame.
While Georgetown is about to try by rail.
| roads, turnpikes, bridges, and other I'm prove
| ments, 10 recover somewhat Of her ancient fame
| as a commercial center, which was fast slip
ping away from her, one Of her largest minded
| most liberal, and enterprising citizens, Mr..
| Riley Shinn, has purchased, remodeled and
| almost rebuilt the old Union Hotel, with the
| view Of restoring its prestige, in which under
| taking he has already gone very far towards
| achieving success. Yesterday afternoon he gave
| complimentary dinner to Tie press of Wash
| ington aud Georgetown, which was every
respect one of the most enjoyable affairs it b as
! been our good fortune TO attend. The table was
tastefully decorated. the dinner was we'll cooked
and quietly served. the " ines were of exquisite
| flavor, aud the company was sociahle
| The host Riley A. Shnn, was At end OF
| the table, while the genial Judge jams w.
Moore, OF kentucky, presided at the other, and
| with his jolly face Illuminating tue board, and
his good natured though pun gent comments on
men and 'hings, did his share to make every
one feel at home. Among those present we
noticed Col Jones and Mr. Spencer, of the Sec
| rotary of the Senate's Office, (both well known
BY those having business at the Capitol as
clay, the worthy Journal Clerk Of the House
OF Representatives, no has held that position
LOT twenty years past; Mr.. Fowler, President
Mr.. Macfarland. Washington CORES DO udent
and several Representatives of the District
press. Numerous toasts were drunk to
General Grant, Vice President elect Colfax
mayor Bowen. the press Of Washington and
ents, to the host, the Union Hotel, &C., and
were briefly responded to by Judge Moore, COL
Jones, Messrs. ShInn, Barclay, Macfarland,
Collins, and others.
Mr.. Shinn made very happy response to
one OF the numerous toasts In favor of his
honor. in which he said that he had proved his
ability "to keep a hoteln two years, during
which time the house was closed and not pay
lng,) and now he was going to try to make IL
keep him. HE can't do ii if he sets such a
table every day.l
A letter from Mayor Bowen was read say
your kind invitation to be present at the Com.
plimentary Thanksgiving dinner given by You
TO the members Of the Press OF this city and
Georgetown. We have made preparations for
our family relatives to dine with us to day,
and must. OF course, be with them. Wishing
you all a joyous and happy time. L am, dear
~r' truly and sincerely your friend
The guests of the house were enthusiastic IN
praise of MIR. Shinn and his manager fMr
William, formerly of the Parker House, B9s-
TONI and that our readers may see how they
live in Georgetown, we append the bill OF
fare yesterday, which does not tell the
whole story, beca use itsays nothing of the ex.
sellence and abundance OF the Champagne,
sherry, and other wines and liquors, and the
choice cigars, which were as freely distributed
as though Cuba was already annexed.
BiN Of FGre.-Uysters on shell. Soup-Con-
somme OF chicken a la royal. Fish-Boiled
bass, cream sauce. Remoyes-Boiied capon.
celery sauce roast saddle of venlson, Jelly
sauce; roast turkey, with cranberry sauce roast
mongrel goose. Cold Dishes-Boned turkey en-
belleveau au tru0le; mayonaise Of chicken
Entrees-Sweet Breads, larded with French
peas; hlet OF beef, with mushrooms; lamb cut.
lef, win olives; oyster patties. Pastry-Eng-
hsh plum pudding, cognac sauce; mince pie;
cranberry tarts; charlotte russo. Dessert
Almonds, Madeira nuts, raisins, olives MALAGA
grapes, vanilla ice cream, coffee.
SCDDEN DKATH oP A GOVERNMENT CLERK
Al trerdose Of AOTyhtf.e TIE CduSe.-Yasterday
morning Mr.. Howard Harlan, a clerk IN the
Second Auditors Office and a citizen of Mar
snail, ILLINOIS, was found dead his bed, in
room No 81, Dyer's Hotel, corner of Indiana
avenue and I'd street. The body was not cold
when MIR. Cook, the proprietor, was Informed
OF the fact, and he Immediately seut for an Off.
Ger and physician. DIR. Todd immed lately
responded, and on examination pronounced
him dead. DR.. w. w. Potter, the Coronerwas
sent for, and at noon held an inquest. Tue
body was found partially dressed, shirt nan
falcons, and vest being on,) with oae arm hang.
ing outside the bed and head on the edge of IT,
Two liquor TASKS were found on q char, and
under his side was found a bottle of sulphate
OF morphine (one-eight OF an ounce in which
there was about ten grains An envelope
make morphine was also found on the ureau
Ire following witnesses were sworn: James
NJ Cook, James A. Cook, ElsaIah Wade, (col-
ored,) Mary Jones, (Colore1,) James Mscxell
MIS-. Marcia w. Cook, Arthur Nattans, Dr >
J. Todd, ana DIR. Edward Beutly and from
The evidence II appeared that deceased came 10
the hotel about three weeks previous as a
transient guest; thai he was very que, and re-
uripg In his dispos tion: would sit IN chair
and 60 10 sleep; that on Sunday he sent one OF
the servants to Nattan's drug store for NOR.
phine, al d Mr.. N. sent y or X Of a grain, and
told the servant to return in a little time, which
ne did, and be sent the bottle; that Mr. Cook
had his fears about sending ii TO the room,
and retained it until his son got up and
he sent 1t to the room by has son. who
meantime seen MIR. Nattans; that the son
(Mr. James A G. ok, gave deceased the drug
after being satisfied that he (deceas d) kne its
QUANTITIES and had stated tha' ne had baan using
II for years; that h. was IN his room ali day
e:day until four IN the afternoon; that
yesterday morning he rang his bell about *
IL.
but ne did not SPEAK 10 him, (the seryant,) b..
ing apparently dying az the time, and In a
snort time was dead. DR.. Todd fled that
the amount OF morphine used from the bottle
(about 10 or So Rrains) would cause the death
OF any ordinary man, and alcoholic stimuiauts
would add TO the certainty. Dr. Edward Bent
ley testified that he had made a post mortsm
examination of the deceased and found the
eyes open and pupils distended. On opening
the thorax he had found the left lung healthy.
out ON the right lung there were strong ad-
heSioEs, and the middle lone was remarka.
bly, infiamed. as is the case in pneumonia
or lung fever that the enlargement and
softening of the liver showed that ne
was an old and habitual drinker; thar
the appearance Of the spleen and kidueys
indicated the same; that the brain was not dis.
eased, and he concludes from the examination
that he came to his death by excessive dose
OF narcotic stimulsnLs, that the superabundance
Of the dose was taken probably because of tn
pain he was in, he having been able to take in
but little or any air in the right lung, and he
did not believe that liquor had any connection
with bis death.
The jury returned a verdict thar the de.
ceased came 10 his death from an excessive
dose OF narcotic slim uiants, taken, they believe
to relieve the pain caused by the diseased con.
dltion OF the right lung, as testified to by DR..
Bentley.
The deceased is a son OF Judge Harlan How.
ard, of Illinois, and Il distant relative OF Hon.
James Harlan, Senator from Iowa, and for the
past ten months has been employed IN the of.