The morning call., 1893-06-10
CUT HIS THROAT.
Suicide of an Officer at
Mare Island.
DETERMINED NOT TO LIVE.
Lieutenant Ray While Temporarily
Insane Ends His Life With
Small Penknife.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

VALLEJO, June 9.-Leutenant William
P. Ray. United States navy commander
of the coast survey steamer M Arthur,
committed suicide at the Mare Island Hos
pital this noon by cutting his throat with
penknife, the last chapter of his life taking
place in the hospital bathroom, adjacent to
that occupied by him. in a fit of despond-
ency.
Lieutenant Ray was examined by the
board of naval medical officers on board
of the Macarthur in Oakland Creek a short
time ago, which resulted in his transfer to
the naval hospital at Mare Island for
treatment of nervous prostration. On re-
moval to Mare Island Ray was assigned
room in the hospital suitab bic to his all
ment, and from the time of admission up to
Wednesday his attending physician re-
ported his condition as improving, every
hope being entertained for speedy recov-
cry and return to the command of his
ship. Yesterday morning S. St. John,
who has charge of hospital patients, no.
ticed a change in the demeanor of Lieuten-
ant Ray. yet not of sufficient significance
to be alarming.
Early this morning Lieutenant Ray arose
as usual. and Immediately following his
promenade. remaining over an hour. AS
the hour OF visiting the sick approached,
Lieutenant Ray was called to his room to
await the coming of the hospital surgeons.
His mental condition was noticeably
changed at this time, though like the pre-
viOus day was not deemed significant. For
neary'a an hour after the surgeons had Wis
tied him he roamed amlessly about the
hoe ito1 I'd
the hospital bath and toilet-room. AS this
was not out of order, no significance was
attached to his absence until he had been
in the bathroom over twenty minutes,
when his absence was reported to the
nurse in charge, who recorded the same
and reported the fact to the wardmaster
Both attendants went TO the room and de-
manded admttance, but received no re-
sponse.
The situation was reported to Steward
st. John, who ordered the room broken
open to ascertain the cause of Rays
silence. On breaking down the door the
lieutenant was found seated in chair with
razor in his right hand and blood run
ming from a wound in the left side of his
neck.
Surgical aid was summoned, DR.. Woods
responding. The patient being removed
to a room. an examination showed that
the wound was not OF serious nature,
only the fatty substances of the neck being
cut The wound was dressed and a watch
placed over the patient
During the noon hour Nurse James Price
had occasion to quit the room to stow
away some soiled linen, and as he was
leaving the room the lieutenant jumped
from his bed and rushing over to the door
slammed it close, locking the nurse out.
Depositing the clothes Price endeavored
to gain admittance, and falling rang the
alarm-bell. The door of the commanders
room was forced open, and to the horror OF
all he lay on the floor with his throat cut
from ear to ear, while by his side lay a
small penknife. Surgical aid was again
called, but as Dr. Woods arrived the man
was breathing his last.
The wound in the neck was exceedingly
jagged. as though hacked away by score
of thrusts and cuts, the windpipe and all
the arteries being cut to pieces, from
which blood flowed in profusion.
The cause of the rash act is said to be
due from family troubles interlinked with
the sinking and subsequent loss of the pro-
pellers of the Macarthur while cruising il
northern waters on her last cruise, and
concerning Which an investigation is now
pending. Lieutenant Ray was recently di-
vorced from his wife, who now resides in
San Francisco.
The deceased was native of Anderson,
Ind, &c years of age. entering the service
in 1866 and assigned TO command the Nc
Arthur November 5. 1890. Lieutenant
Ray was an extremely popular and most
efficient officer and his death deprives the
service of most worthy officer. Coroner
Trull viewed the remains tonight and rem
dered verdict in accordance with the
facts. The deceased will be buried in the
Mare Island naval cemetery.