Evening star., 1895-01-04
THEY INHALED GAS
Two More Deaths Were Reported
This Morning.
FRIEND OF MR. FHURBER'S s
Two Young Men Found Suffocated
in Their Rooms.
@ A s Z OF I'D A S q 7
ASE OF I'D A SU I T

Two deaths which resulted from the in
halation of illuminating gas We're investi-
gated by the coroner today. One OF the
victims was John Marshall, young man
employed liz the recorders Office as copy
isl, AMI who is said to be an intimate friend
of Private Secretary Thurber. In the other
case the victim was William Mcmahon,
bartender at McDoralds saloon, No. SS H
street northeast.
Marshall was found dead in his room at
No. 32i IL street northwest by the pro-
prietor of the boarding house. Very little
was known about him at the house. He
went there to board about the middle OF
August having come here from Detroit,
Mich and people in the house say he was
a steady and apparently hard-working
man. Yesterday he did not go 10 work.
and although he was probably drinking, II
was stated at the house today that he
showed no signs last night of having been
under the influence of liquor.
The keeper of the boarding polse saw
him in his room last evening, and accord
ing to her statement he was perfectly So
Der and in good spirits.
But everything he did after she saw him
she, Of course, does not know, and this
morning wnen he failed to appear down
stairs inquiry at his room was made. The
odor of gas was strong. and when the door
seen stretched on the floor. In the room
was a bottle of whisky and an empty flask
The gas was turned on. and there was no
way FOR it to escape, as the windows and
door were closed
Marshall had not removed any of his
clothing, and the police think he probably
committed suicide, although, on the othec
hand, it is thought that he was under the
influence of liquor, and either blew out the
gus or was unable to tell just when it was
turned off. and left the key open.
Deceased was apparently about thirty
five years old.
The Other Victim.
William McMahon. the other victim, was
only nineteen years old. Just one week
ago Re was employed by Mcdonald, and
although he dispensed the intoxicants. he
did not drink them. He occupied the front
hall room on the third floor, and or. account
of being in the bar so late at night he had
been in the habit of sleeping late in the
morning. Mcdonald his employer, went to
his room this morning and called him, but
failed to receive response. Then he rat
tied the door, and even this did not arouse
the supposed sleeper. Opening the door, the
saloor keeper detected the odor of gas and
to his horror he discovered that Nc Mahon
was Cead.
The young man had left his clothing on
a chair beside his bed. and in the cold room
he probably was in such a hurry that he
he turned off the gas The key to the gas
jet is so near the wall that it was neces-
sary to tear away little of the plaster in
order to manipulate it.
Mr.. Thurber Affected.
Private Secretary Thurber was Informed
of tho death of Mr.. Marshall by Star re-
porter this afternoon, and he was visibly
affected by the intelligence. He said that
he was well acquainted with the deceased,
and had interested himself in securing him
some employment. Marshall was a grand
nephew of Chief Justice Marshall. He was
a native of Fauquier county, Va, and his
people still reside there. He resided in De-
troit, Mich, for many years. and was a
student in the law Office of Dickinson,
Thurher & Co., in Detroit for short time,
while Mr.. Thurber was in Europe.
Soon after this Mr.. Marshal secured a
position as deputy county clerk. and sub
sequet.tly losing it came to Washington
in hopes of obtaining employment here.
He was tempora rily employed as com
parer'' in the office of the recorder of
deeds. and at the time of his death had
excellent prospects Of securing perma-
nent and much better position in the gov
errmtnt service. Mr.. Thurber has taken
personal interest in his case and when
informed of his death he gave instructions
that his remains should receive proper care
and attention and that his parents be noti-
fed.
The Suit Case.
In the case of the woman Ida Suit, who
was found dead In the house of Belle
White, on street southwest, yesterday,as
published in yesterdays Star, the autopsy
showed that death resulted from the in
halation of gas. Coroner Hammett de-
cided that an inquest was unnecessary
and gave a certificate of death.
In The cases of Marshall and Mcmahon
the coroner will, in all probability. give
certificates of accidental death.