Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-01
Extraordinary Precautions Taken to
Insure Death.
SENSATION at TIE ARLINGTON HOTEL
A New York Man Who Came Here
to Die.
CONCEALING HIS IDENTITY

w. 7. Loper, clerk In the offices OF the
United Press, New York city, committed
suicide in the Arlington Hotel last night
by inhaling gas from burner in the bath
room adjoining room 256. He reached the
city shortly after o'clock and went di-
rectly to the Arlington Hotel. where he reg
istered as Theodore Williams New York"
He left note in the Office, addressed to
Mr.. P. v. De Graw. Washington manager
Of the United Press, and another for Pro-
prietoi Roessle. He then went to his room,
and was not seen again until his body was
discovered, between I and 8 o'clock this
morning. About I o'clock a report was re-
ceived in the office of the hotel that there
was a strong smell of gas in the corridors
in the vicinity of this room, and, upon ex-
animation, it was traced to No. 256 One
of the bell men looked over the transon.
but could see nothing unusual Complaint
being made at that time by the occupant
of the room adjoining that the smell of gas
was becoming very strong in his apart
ment, it was thought that perhaps the
burner in the bath room 256 might be open.
The doors were then opened and the body
of Loper was discovered.
Careful Arrangements.
He had evidently been dead for some
hours, and had made preparations for his
suicide with the greatest care. A new piece
of rubber tubing had been slipped over one
of the two gas jets in the room from which
he had removed the burner. He had placed
the pillows of the bed in the larger room
on the floor by the bath tub, and then
placed the free eid of the tube in his
mouth. and tied it firmly with string
around his head, so that it could not fall
from his mouth. He had apparently then
turned on both jets, and, lying with his
head on the pillows, had wadded towel
about his face so that as little as possible
of the gas could escape.
Coroner Hammett was Immediately no.
titled Of the discovery of the body. and the
note addressed to Mr.. De Graw was sent
to him, in accordance with request con-
tanned in the note for Mr.. Roessle. When
he arrived at the hotel Mr.. De Graw identi-
fled the body as that of Mr.. Loper, and
gave directions for its disposition when the
coroner should have viewed it. DR.. Ham,
NETT reached the hotel at about IL o'clock,
and glance at the body and the prepara-
tions that the dead man had made to insure
his death convinced him that 1t was de-
liberate case of suicide beyond any possible
question. He communicated with Mr.. De
Graw and later issued certificate. The
body was then taken to an undertaking
establishment and embalmed. 1t will be
held subject to the orders of Loper's family.
some of whom are in New York.
No Cause known.
dressed to him threw absolutely no light
whatever upon the reasons for the suicide
Mr.. Lcper, he said, was man about forty
five years of age, and apparently in the
best of health. He had been telegrapher
for many years, and had been connected
with the press associations of the country
for a long time. About ten years ago he
was employed by the then New York As
soctated Press as Senate reporter, and
after one season here he returned to New
York and. had of late been employed in
the general offices of the United Press.
He was unmarried. 1t is understood in
his note to Mr. De Graw Loper asked that
hts rame be withheld, but this of course
was not possible after the case had passed
Into the hands of the coroner
Eoper was at work yesterday in New
York and apparently came straight to
Washington after the close Of business
hours with the deliberate intention of end
ing his life. He had probably secured the
piece of rubber tubing before he came
here. Coroner Hammett said he had never
seen a case where such extraordinary pre-
cautions had been taken to insure death
and to conceal identity. There was moth
irg whatever in the pockets or about the
clothes Of the dead man to reveal his
name beyond an - worked into the tab
of his shirt. He had apparently cleaned
his pockets Of everything that might give
clew to his real individuality. There
was some money in his pockets, and only
the merest necessities of travel in his
satchel.