The evening times., 1897-12-17

of the well-known millionaire, died at an
early hour yesterday in his room at the
Baltusroi Golf Club, near Short Hills, n. j.,
from the effects OF an overdose OF chlorai.
The drug Tad been prescribed by physi-
clan to whom Ward and a friend had a;-
piled for sonnet hing to steady Ward S nerves.
The young man was suffering from the
effects of drink and in advising the use Of
the drug the physician gave careful Ill
rections as To the quantity to be used at a
time. Ward, who was also on the verge of
delirium tremens took an overdose, but not
with the intention Of killing himself.
story that the young man Committed
suicide through grief at the announcement
of the engagement of young woman of
this city with whom he was in love, is
positively denied by both the young wom-
ans friends and Wards intimates. The
inside story is roundly denounced by those
who knew and were with him during the
last few days of his life. He remained in
possession of the choral that had heen pre-
scribed fol him, only because he refused
to give 1t up o. to allow any one else to
minister to his n eeds. There was, In fact,
a fight over the Possession of the drug AMI
and the man who attempted to take IL
from him was roughly handled. His friends
believed 1T that time, however. that he was
capable OF taking care of himself.
Two years aGp Wara drank a ir,at deal.
and was TO lie found almost any night
around hotels aud cfuLs with other young
men OF wealthy families He was popu-
lar in society, and his drinking habits
Were not regarded as extraordinary. He
had only recently been graduated from
Columbia College, and WAS supposed 10 De
sowing his Wild oats. 1t was about two
years ago that he surprised everybody by
giving up his ast life and his fast fri-n.is,
and devouIg himself to business. He
gave this up after n short experience. hut
continued To conduct hinself soberly. II
vas runored that he was going to DC mar
ri.d, but those who knew him say hat he
was not any more assiduous in hts ?tten-
tons to one woman than to another. Dur
ing all OF those two years he never touched
liquor. What started him drinking. again
no one seems to know. 1t was in he after
part OF November, during horse show
week. that he Ee-an again, anu it is said
that from that time until the tire If iis
death he never drew softer breath. The
story of his spree was told today by !, ne Of
the young men who started IN it.
1t is remarkable tale of half
dozen young society men, each one inde-
pendentiy rich, with nothing to DO but
amuse themselves. making compact,
doubtless IL. fun. TO get drunk and stay
drunk from the night OF the closing or
the horse show until Christmas. Ward
was one OF the party; another was julius
j. Chamberlain, sou of Daniel II. Chamber
present a lawyer in this city. The m.n
were drinking constantly. and last Tues
day night with several others they We're
drunk In tbs. cafe of the Astoria. Ward
was particularly demonstrative and made
seeral Suggestions about trips out OF
town. non. or which seemed to meet with
the approval OF his companions. Suddenly
he rose to his feet and said:
Boys. I'm going to finish this drunk at
Short Hills ! invite You all to he my
guests a. the faltusrol Cldb. Who Will
comer''
None but Chamberlain would accept his
invitation, So Ward and Chamberlain vent
alone The two men continued drinking
at the club. They played a little golf,
but resumed drinking afterward. Accord
ing to several OF the Club members, Ward
was wreck from his excesses. Finally
Ward collapsed utterly. Chamberlain,
thoroughly alarmed, drove him to the
house Of DR.. Campbell. The latter heard
Chamherlain's story, and after examining
Ward said the young man was in very
bad shape ard must stop drinking at once
He gave Ward prescription, warming
him that there was choral in the Inetii-
Cine and tLat he must be careful hos he
used it.
If il had been taken according to orders
it would have been harmless, but it was n
dangerous mi xture 10 take reckIessIy.
Ward and Chamberlain drove to a drug
store, where ward had the prescription
filled. Chamberlain asked ward 10 give
the medicine to him for safe-Sceping, but
Ward refused. In a struggle for the posses
sion of the bottle. Ward oyercamr hissIiehter
They returned and dined t
the clubhouse and then Chamberlain took
Ward to his room, seeing that he took a
proper dose OF the medicine and left lin
there little later he went 20 bed, too.
Shortly after 6 O'Clock yesterday Cham
berlain got up and went into Wards rgoms
to see If be was all right. Ward was an
parently asleep. Chamberlain oticed |
that considerable of the medicine vas
gone and tried to rouse ward He seceiyed |
no response. Chamberlain could detect |
ne pulse. 4 suspicion of the truth Flashed |
across him and he rushed down s,airs |
shouting for help. When a doctor alrived |
he said Ward ha d been dead for some time. |
When lie saw the half-emptied medicine |
oottle he said death was undoubtedly due |
% choral poisoning.