Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-10-16

DEATH OF MAJOR PATRICK II. KING FROM
sCFroeATIoN.
Yesterday afternoon about half past three
O'Clock Major Patrick H. King and BeR iamin
Cooley, both well-known residents eff this city,
were found in q room of the Central House
formerly the sold Rye House, )" on street be-
tween tn and Sth streets, the first nan ed being
dead and Cooley inseNsible from nhaling es-
Gaping Illuminating gas. The body OF King
was taken TO his mothers residence. corner Of
h and 9Th streets, and Br. oh uson Elliot sum
mOned 10 attend Mr.. Cooley, who was-fnalIy re-
stored TO consciousness and pronounced sat of
danger. Ii appears that about three O'Clock
yesterday morning King and Cooley retired to-
gesther 81 the Ceatral House, and it IL supposed
that, as the gas pipe in the room is provided
Win double cocks, in turning of one the other
was unlntentons.fy t1rr Ell on, thus permi ting
the gas to escape. Considering the time during
which the gas was flowing into the room the
escape OF Mr.. Cooley from death is indeed mi
raculous.
AT 10 O'Clock this morning, Coroner Patterson
held an inc Gest on the body OF Major King, at
his late residence, corner OF 9Th and X streets,
anu after \ jury had been eEpaRneled, John
Williams, clerk in one OF the government de-
Iartmeuts, testified that between and 1 O'Clock
T. m Yesterday he found both men senseless,
and thought they were both dead; went imme-
stately Tor physician; Cooley could not speak;
was in COOley's room the night before when
they prepared 70 retire. King had been dEinL
Itg. az dId not appear very drunk. The gas
was still burning family when he found them in
the afternoon.
Benjamin Cooley testified that thew both
retired 70 bed betgeeu and o'clock a. III. day
before yesterday. de was sober, and King pro-
posed TO STAY with him; they laid dawn and
spread nIc oyeCcoats over them; net long
afterwards King got Up and went tO an a.join-
ing room TO get something TO drink. Wien he
returned he turned OF the gas, ami must have
turned II On on the burner next to the one he
turned of. Knew nOfElng more OF what hap
pened' a. he went 20 sleep at once.
CCToner.-'W Were You both well and In posses
sion of your faculties
COOly-''We were, and both went Oft to s eep
about the same time No conversation took
place after King returned 10 bed. Mr. King
bad been IN the habit Gt sleeping there, and OF
drinking there. When he came there on the
night an question be appeared sober, and did
not drink at all until he GET 2p from the bed as
stated, but witness did net know whether he
drank water or whisky.
danes Cook, colOred, aR& Charles Barton,
eolOred, testified that they knew nothing of any
ditlculbE between deceased and MckeRny, the
keeper or the house.
DR.. q. 4. Hartigan testified to the autopsy of
the tody; Ceath was caused By SOW suffucation
BY cOG4 gas. Deceased was not z perfect type
OF "A Bsaltliy man, and bis drinking habits no
doubt lad great deal 10 do with the effect of
the gas.
THE VERDICT.
The jury SOOa after returned the following
verdict: THAT the said Patrick II. Eng came
TO his death between the hours of a, m and
o'clock L. on the 18th day of October, 1872
at the house no. .QS T. street northwest, in the
CITY and county of Washington, from slow sufo.
cation by coal gas, and they further find that a
Tar as they know the cause Of its escape was en-
tTely accidental