New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-05-10
FOUND DEAD IN THEIR Room.
A BOARDING-HOUsE TRAGEDY.

b.
KILLS HIMsELF-TIIE DISCOVERY MADE BY HIS
BROTHBR-IS-LAw-NO CAUSE FOR THE DEED.
T. B. Ames of Bangor, Me-. captain of the ship
l.. J. Morse and his wife, Mary L. Amos, were found
dead last night in their room in the clearinghouse
Of Mrs. f. NJ. Haight at No BOT West Fourteenth
st. Captain Ames lay on the floor with bullet hole
just behind his right ear. Mrs Ames lay In bed
bullet had entered her head through the right ear.
Smith ~ WessOn 80 calibre pistol, with seven
chambers lay upon Captain Amcs's body. Two
of the chambers were empty. Captain Ames and
his wife took rooms with Mrs. Haight. who keeps
three boarding houses at Nos 305, BOT and 800
West Fourteenth-st, three weeks ago. They were
strangers there Nothing unusual was noticed
about their appearance. but Captain Amos seemed
to DO in poor health They occupied we'll
furnished room on the second floor front
On Monday night Mrs Ames went down
to dinner alone, and then returned to her
room. About 0 o'clock one of the servants Freder
lex Francis carried some lemonade up to the cap
tain in obedience TO his call and order. The boy
left Mr.. and Mrs. Ames, both apparently in good
spirits. Yesterday nothing was Of either of
them, and it WAS supposed that they were ill. No
one seems to have gone to the room until G:30
O'clock Last night
At that time L. J. Morse the brother Of Mrs. Ames,
a capitalist and ship-builder well known IN Bangor,
called ut the house and went up to his sisters room
Ho found the door locked Mr. Morse informed
Mrs. Haight of this aud at her request he broke the
door open. He discovered Captain Ames lying upon
his back upon the floor, dead. His head and shout
ders were partly propped against the door pis-
toll lay upon his breast. and the cap
tains right hand was extended at his
side wound behind the right ear showed
where the bullet hal entered the
bo
Ames lay dead in bed. She was reclining on her
left side, and the expression of her face was
peaceful. bullet from the pistol had made a
gaping wound in her right ear. The bedding under
her was saturated with blood. She had evidently
died without a struggle. The expression Of Cap
tain Ames's face showed that he had died
Az easily. The gas was burning low. 1t was
plain that Mr. Anos had killed his wife as she
lay asleep at night, and that he had then put the
pistol to his own head and fired another shot No
sound of shooting had been heard in the house.
however. and nothing had occurred to attract the
attention of the people In the house to the sad oc-
curence. The deed had probably been done soon
after Mrs. Anes retired, as her husband had re-
moved only his coat, waistcoat and shoes
The police were informed, and Coroner Knox. who
was given notice, appeared promptly and took
charge OF the bodies. The statement of Llewellyn
-.
taken. Mr. Morse is q resident Of Ban
gor, man over fifty years Of age lie
is wealthy and has served in the Lower House of
the Maine Legislature. He went from Bangor 10
Boston on Monday, and there teiegraphed 20 Cap
tain Amcs to meet him at the Grand Central Depot
Yesterday morning. On his arrival not seeing Mr..
Ames he went 10 the Office of Benham, Pickering 81
Co.. at No. 81 BrOad-5t-, to whom the cargo OF the
been there. and much surprise was expressed
at this by the members OF the firm, as he was III tho
habit OF calling there daily. 1lr morse Ionnd ms
telegram from Boston there awaiting his brother-in-
law. He then went to No. 3O7 West Fourteenth-st-
at half past last night. 49,
An examination of the trunks and effects of the
deceased persons threw no light on the causes
which led to the tragedy. No papers we're found
to aid i'll determining them. Mr.. Morse could as
poor health The Captain has been in bad health
for time he stated last night. THAT'S thesole
cause that can imagine. Mr.. Ames made money in
his cruises. He owned quarter interest IN the
ship quarter being owned by himself, and the re-
mainder by men IN Bangor. lie and his Wie nVed
happily together, and know there were no domes.
tic or financial reasons to account for this deed
Mr. Morse and Coroner Knox were Of the opinion
that Captain Ames first shot his wife as she slept
viewed by the coroner, were removed 10 an under
takers shop on Elghth-aye.
Captain Ames was born in Lincolnvllle, Maine In,
1888, and was forty-nlne years old. lie began his
seaarng life while boy and followed II up TO the
time OF his death. He married Miss Morse over
twenty wears as.o. lie LETT three children, one of
whom is married q phy sIcian and has recently ~
turned from Europe. He bought quarter interest
I'm the L. j. Morse four years ago and has carried on
traffic with her between this country, Europe,
China, Japan andthe Islands of Oceauica. lie
started out on his last cruise two years ago
from this port. Mrs. Ames accompanied hun. lie
went to Japan thence returning to san Francisco
wear ago, when his wife left him and went back to
Bangor. lie then went to ilayre, France, with a
cargo of grain, thence back to Japan, and then to
the Philippine Islands where he took IN a cargo OF
sugar and hemp lie lett his ship at Cebu
III tho Straits of Sunda in charge OF his mate on
January - and came to this city three weeks ago,
where be was joined by his wife. The l.. }. Morse
came into port after and now lies in the East
River above the Wall Street Ferry Brooklyn.