The San Francisco call., 1896-08-12
Delivered a Free Silver Speech
While Going to a
Barbecue.
WAS MISSING FOR FIVE DAYS
A Peculiar Tin Box Addr essed to ;
Dead Man Found in the Sacre.
tary'S Room.

WASHINGTON, D. G., Aug. u.-Work
was suspended at the headquarters of the
National Silver party to-day. The en-
ployes of the National committee were
saddened beyond measure when they read
in this mornings paper an account of the
murder or suicide of A. 81. Pyle of San
Francisco, secretary of the committe, re-
port of which was telegraphed exclusively
to THE CALL. The body of the unfortunate
man was not identified until late last
night, consequently his friends knew
nothing of his death until this morning.
George P. Keeney was in New York and
Hon. Charles Lane of California, chair
man of the committee, had not yet ar
rived.
Mr.. PyIe's successor will not be ap.
pointed until the chairman arrives, Sena-
tor Stewart was especilly saddened when
he learned of his death. He knew him
well and his father before him.
The police were working to-day to try
and clear up the mystery of Pyle's death.
The Coroner held an autopsy. ALI indi-
cations are that the body was in the water
a much longer time than was at first sup
posed. 1t is the belief that there may nave
been foul play. Mr.. Pyle was very much
under the influence of liquor on Tuesday
morning. He said he was going out to
call on Senators Jones and Faulkner
Because of his condition friends urged
him not to go out, and about noon he
started for Falls Church, where barbecue
was being held. Mr.. Pyle continued to
drink heavily and was in jovial spirits.
While in the car en- route to Falls Church
he arose and delivered a free-silver speech,
much to the amusement of his friends.
He returned to the city in the evening
with Mr.. Carruthers of the Silver Knight
and James D. Finch, stenographer. They
left him at the Sixth street station, and
that was the last seen of him alive.
When Mr.. Pyle failed to show up at the
Silver headquarters on Wednesday but
little was thought of it. As days passed,
however, ]. M. Devine and his asso-
ciates at the Office grew apprehensive, and
their fears were realized when they read
the accounts of the finding Of the body.
G. B. Keeney was communicated with as
to what disposition should be made of it.
He replied that the police should take
charge of the effects In Pyle's room and to
await further instructions.
AmOHR OJu0T Iu1lSS III pO1 was IOunu
in PyIe's apartments. A card on it said
to send the box unopened to William @.
Judge. The card bore date of April 4,
1885. Mr.. Judge was leader of the Theo-
sophical Society in America and died
about the time the box was sealed. 1t is
thought Pyle was theosophist, though he
had not allied himself with the society in
this city.
1t was nearly o'clock this afternoon
when DR.. Glasebrook completed his work
over the body. After a brief consultation
the announcement was made that an in
quest would be held over the remains at
II o'clock tomorrow morning at the
morgue. "The Coroner has requested me
to say nothing about the results of my in
vestigatlons until the inquest convenes to-
morrow" said DR.. Glasebrook. 81 will of
course testify before the Coroner's Jury"
The Deputy Coroner refused to say whether
or net he found any indications of foul
play about the remains. The determina-
tion to hold an inquest meets with the
hearty approval of the friends of the dead
man.