The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-12-09
ONE CONGRESSMAN LESS.
The Fourth Member Of the FOrB.slxlh Con.
gress Dies Yestsrday-A Sketch
Of His uis-Aotlon Of
the House.

WASHlSaToN, December s.-Congresi :
man Alfred N. Lay, Of the Seventh Mil.
souri, District, died suddenly at the Nat.
ional Hotel, at fifteen minutes OF ten
o'clock this morning. He has been in
feeble health for some time. The lmme-
date cause Of death was paralysis, this
being his second attack. His wife is here
with him. Congressman Lay is tho fourth
member elect to the Forty.sixth Congress
who has died. The others were Smith,
ot New York, who died on the night Of the
election; Schleicher, OF Texas, who died
just before the close OF the FOrty.nfth Con.
gressi and Clark, Of Iowa, who died dur.
ing the extra session. Lay was In feeble
health when elected, and came on to at.
tend the extra session at great personal
risk, having had previously one stroke OF
paralysis. The excitement OF coming on
at this time and the opening OF Congress
were too much for him.
He was born in Lewis County, Missouri,
May 20, 1896, and in 1912 went with his
parents TO Benton County, where he re-.
ceived preliminary education in private
schools. His higher education he received
at Bethany College, Virginia, ftomN which
he graduated in 1856. He then stuffed
law ioc year in the office Of the Attorney
General OF the State, and was admitted to |
the bar In Jefferson City. He was ap.
pointed Federal attorney for the Western |
District Of his State by President Buch. |
AMMAN, and resigned the office in 1861,
when he enlisted as q private in General
John B. Clark's division OF the Confeder.
ate Missouri State Guard, soon after being
promoted TO the rank OF Major. When
the division was disbanded he returned
home, was arrested and imprisoned at al.
ton, Illinois; was exchanged in 1852 and
re-entered the Confederate service, in
which he served to the close Of the war.
He then resumed his law practice in JET.
terson City, and in 1875 was member OF
the Constitutional Convention. lie was
elected to the Forty.sixth Congress rs
Democrat by 1890 votes, against 7l7O
votes for A. Underwood, Republican, and
$50 for James Boyd, Greenbacker.
ACTION OF THE HOUSE.
In his prayer in the House this morn.
ing, the Chaplain alluded feelingly to the
death OF Congressman Lay. There was
an unusually large number OF members
present at the opening, AMI ali seemed
particularly solemn and devotional. As
soon as Thursday's journal had been read
in the House, Mr.. CLARK, OF Missouri, an.
nounced MIR. Lays death and moved the
OF committee to make ar.
rangements for the funeral and 10 escort
the remains TO Missouri. The resolutions
were adopted and the Speaker appointed
Messrs. Clark, Of Missouri, Morrison, Of
Illinois, Hill, Of Ohio, Bingham, oil Penn
sYlvania, Chalmers. OF Mississippi, Calk-
ms, Of Indiana, and Ryan, OF kansas.
The House then, Us further mark OF re-
spect to the deceased, at 1910 adjourned.
ACTION OF THE MISSOURI DELEGATION.
The Missouri Congressional delegation
this afternoon held II ee,ing for the pur-
pose Of taking appropriate action concern
ing the death Of their colleague, Mr.. Lay,
Representative Wells presided, and the
following resolutions, prepared by the
committee, consisting OF Messrs. B1ckncr
and Frost, were adopted:
Rcs0lred, BY the Representatives and
Senators OF the State OF Missouri in the
Forty-sixth Congress, that in the untimely
death OF their colleague, the Hon. A. N.
Lay, they have lost an amiable and re-
spected friend and coadjutor, his State, a
talented and faithful representative and
his family beloved and loving husband
and father; that they offer TO his afflicted
tamily the most sincere and heartfelt sym.
pathy in the unexpected bereavement
which thus deprives them OF their guar
dian and protector.
lteso!rei, That copy Of these resolu.
tons be presented to the family of the
departed, and that the same be published
in the public press,