The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-30
JNO. A. MURRAY DEAD.
He Falls a Victim to Yellow
Fever
At Tuxtepec, MexicO-News
Reaches Here by Wire.
DEATH VERY SUDDEN.
A Letter Received From Him
on Saturday,
Saying He Was in the Best OF
Health.
DEATH VERY SUDDEN.


John A. Murray was received in this city
yesterday by his law partner, John '.
Abrahams. The information was by tel
egram from Ellery Murray, dated Tux
tepec, Mexico, yesterday morning. and
merely announced his brothers death by
yellow fever Additional information
will undoubtedly be received today. The
news received yesterday made no refer
ence to the health of other members Of
the colony, and hence it is inferred they
are all we'll. It will be a week before
letters, with a full account, can be re-
ceived here.
No intimation had been received of
his illness, which was probably Of short
duration, and Mrs. Murray was wholly
unprepared for the shock. It was all the
more severe because on the day previous,
Saturday, she had received letter from
her husband dated Tuxtepec, Friday,
July 20, which advised her that he and
all of his companions were in perfect
health.
The Mexican colony company, of
which Mr.. Murray was president and
general manager, was organized for the
purpose of acquiring lands for himself
and friends, upon which coffee and other
tropical products could be grown These
lands were purchased by Mr. Murray and
his company after two months InveStI-
cation by himself; and this investigation
included careful inquiry as to the health
fulness of the tract selected.
The physicians of this locality, as well
as those of other localities, advised him
that Tuxrepec was practically free from
yellow fever. No cases had been known
there for twelve years
Subsequent investigation by other par
ties was also made as to the desirabilIty
of this locality for place of residence.
The information was uniformly to the
effect that it was a healthful locality,
and that nothing need be feared by for
eigners who contemplated settling there.
The exceptionally hot and dry period
through which this portion of Mexico
has Just passed, is undoubtedly the rea-
son for the, extension of yellow fever so
far inland at this time The apparent
safety Of the project, from a health
standpoint, is attested by the fact that Of
all those who have gone there, no one
has expressed the slightest doubt on this
point
John A. Murray was one of the best
known and most highly respected among
the young men in Kansas. He was 33
years old. For the past ten years he has
been a prominent figure in the political
and legal field He was county attorney
of Sumner county in 1884 and in 1886
was elected to the legislature from that
county, and about six years ago removed
from Wellington to Topeka, forming a
law partnership with F. Il Foster. His
reputation as an attorney was more than
state wide He has been prominently
connected with the prosecutions of liquor
cases.
Mr. Murray was best known as being
author Of the Murray law making the
prohibitOry amendment effective. He
was only % years old when he was cleo
ted to the legislature and was made
1 chairman of the committee on temper
ance. 1t was while chairman of this
committee that he drafted the bill which
afterward became a law. 1t provided
for the sale of liquor by the drug stores,
made the nuisance feature of the law
concerning places where liquor is sold
more sweeping and provided for the ex-
animation of witnesses by the county at
torney to secure evidence. 1t was this
latter clause of the bill that was recently
| declared unconstitutional by the SUI
preme court
MIR. Murray was married in 1885 tC
Miss Fannie MikeseIl, a daughter of one
of the prominent residents of Sumner
Four children have been born to them
three boys and one girl. The oldes'
child is eight years Of age and the
youngest but six months The family
| live at $50 Fillmore street.
Mr.. Murray has made three trips tc
Mexico. having left Topeka on his last
trip but six weeks ago. He was a mem
| Der of the First Congrega ational church
of this city and has always been promi
nently identified with church work He
was graduate of the Ann Arbor Law
school
A Memorial Service.
The Topeka bar association held
meeting in the district court this morn