National Republican., 1884-02-25
ACCIDENTAL DEATH.
Mr.. Robert s. Graham Found Dead In
His Bed Saturday Morning.

So" DNu
Robert S. Graham, clerk in the gem
eral land office, was found dead in bed at 622
Pennsylvania avenue northwest on Satur-
day night about o'clock.
From the evidence submitted to tho coro-
ner's jury ut tho inquest held yesterday at
1880 O'clock it appears that on Friday MORN
ing ho received a letter Of invitation to at
tend the anniversary of the Jonadabs in Balti-
more on that evening, but he said to his
family that he hardly thought he would 60,
os he did not feel we'll Ho left home, the
residence of his stopfathor, Gen. S. s. Bur-
dette, in the morning for the Office, an d rs
he did not return that evening, it was sup
posed ho had changed his mind and had gone
TO Baltimore.
1t appears that on Friday morning. about
II o'clock. he went to Mr.. Brinkmans G22
Pennsylvania avenue, and engaged and paid
for room in which to sleep, asking to be
called at . o'clock p. IN. Ho came down at 4,
however, saying he was disturbed by parties in
the adjoining room. He went out and camo
back about o'clock and asked to be walked at
10 y. M, which was done. He then went out
again for few minutes; then came back and
re-engaged the room and went to bed. At 8
n. M. Saturday he came down, tried to borrow
an umbrella for few minutes, went out and
a.
was heard to call, and pounded upon the door,
and lady In the house responded and found
that the knob of the door had fallen outside,
so that he could not open it. She replaced
the knob, opened the door. when he remarked
that it was a troublesome lock, and asked if
there was any one TO do an errand for him.
AS he smiled pleasantly aud spoke ration
ally, the lady promised to send her little
brother to him, which sho did in about ten
minutes. The boy soon returned saying that
the man said no and was lying ON the bed.
He left the door ainr, and rs Mrs. Brinkman
passed several times during tho day she
noticed him each time in the same position,
and Mt last began to think something was
wrong, and, as he had not stirred at o'clock,
asked her husband and Mr. Thomas Maxwell
to 30 up and SEQ him. They did SO and found
hlm dead. They Immediately reported the
case at police headquarters and officers took
charge of the body. His watch and money
were found upon his person, which was lying
ON the right side, face buried in towel and
bottle with little chlorotOrm lying by his
side. In the stove were found TWO other
bottles, both empty.
A jury was mpaneled at about 1890 yester-
day, consisting of Messrs. John NJ. Shomo, A.
7. Langley, Il. X. Brownor, l.. j. Young, Il. Il.
Woodward, and John q. Hammond the cor
Oner. DR.. Patterson his assistant, DIR. Ilarti-
gan, DR.. Edelin, and DIR. Dobson being pres
ent.
1t was ascertained that he had been a great
sufferer from an injury to his right eye, caus-
ing eHcruciating neuralgia pain, and that he
often resorted to inhalations of ChlorofOrm to
induce sleep so as to drive away the pain,
and that he was not addicted to Intoxicating
liquors, but was, on the contrary, n promi-
nent Jonabab, and the grand commander of
The United Order Of tho Golden Cross, an
other temperance organization.
In accordance with the above facts the
jury rendered the following verdict: THAT
the said Robert 5. Graham came to his death
accidentally on the twenty-third day of Feb
ruary, 1854, at 622 Pennsylvania avenue
northwest, from an overdose OF chloroform
self administered for the purpose of relieving
evere neuralgia pain, from which he had
Uttered for many years"