Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-07-01

sad reru,fnatiOn Of well 4hnowu Cit+
ten OF Nashville at the 50. Charles


! s.,I ,re-,,fnatiOn of q eII-ltnowm Cla+
,1en ~ nashville at the 81. Charles
Hotel.
The ST Charles Hotel, on Market street,
YESTERDAY was the scene Of sad, strange
and nnzcoountabie affair. John G. Ray, a
tailor Well-known throughout Middle Ten
nessee. was found dead in bis bed, without
apy resson given for the rash act Mr..
Fay had, until the FIRST Of March last, been
employed as cutter and filter in the house
Of John Browne, Merchant Tailor, corner
Of the Square and Deaderick street On
the 9Th Of March he Ieft Nashville and
went to st. Louis, Missouri, in search Of
better employment failing to obtain il, he
returned 70 Nashville but did not remain
here Eng, going the second time beyond
St. Louis, to some of the towns in Kansas.
Il seemed, though, that an evil genius at
tended him on every hand, he failed again
and made his last return TO Nashville about
ten days since. He stopped at the CONNER
cial Hotel for the frat few days after bis re-
turn, and had only been boarding. at the St.
Charles since Sunday night last. He was
in the store Of Mr.. Browne as late "a seven
o'clock Monday evening, and while there
asked for some letter-paper, and wrote q
letter. He retired to his bed about four
o'clOcll Monday night. On yesterday morn
ing the porter at the ST. Charles went
up 10 his room to wake him for breakfast,
Il l., L 4
see him from the outside window, and he
was apparently sound asleep. At dinner
time the porter happened to be passing the
window observed his position unchanged
and knocked at the door, but elected no
response. He at once reported the strange
occurrence TO the proprietor, Mr.. N. b.
Hamilton, who went Immediately to his
room and found him wrapt in the cold en-
brace Of death. The charred remains of
letter, with the half extingished words Of
"dear wife - and surprised" together
with portion ola St. Louis pawn brokers
bond with the name Of "Walker" and the
"lOth Of July" upon the only remaining
bits, were picked up in the fireplace. No
money or papers to show why he had re-
sorted to such a tragic resolution, were
found on bis person. Coroner George w.
Norvell was sent for and summoned the
following jury: w. +. Moore, VIM. Stock
ell, w. X. Dobson, Leroy Armstrong,
George w. Owens, A. C.. March aad J. A.
Burton, who after hearing the state
ment Of DIR. II. NJ. Compton who
held his post mortem examination,
in the presence Of Messrs. J. Browne, N.
B. Hamilton and Peter G. Duffer, reterned
verdict that he came TO his death by an
overdose Of some opiate, supposed to be
morphine. His body Wasproperly attend
ed to, and awaits the arrival Of his wife or
her relations from Murfreesboro.
Mr. Ray was aged about fortyeight
years; was married 10 daughter of Jere-
miah Pritchett Esq, of Murfreesboro.
Previous to the war be was merchant
tailor at that place and in good circum
stances. he leaves q wife and one child
little boy of twelve or fourteen years, who
will be remembered by many Of ourreaders
as Johnnie Ray, of the McKendree Sun
day School, a bright little fellow and Of
great promise. The unfortunate occurrence
is sad at best, and the bereaved family
should have the sympathy Of every one.