The evening times., 1899-09-14

ly about sixty years of age, man having
the appearance Of refinement and intelli-
gence, was found this morning at about
1890 O'Clock in his sleeping apartment on
the fifth floor of the Office building at 1919
Street northwest. Life had apparently
been extinct for three or four days. The
coroner gave a certificate of death from
apoplexy.
The dead man was last seen in his room
Sunday morning by Edwin Ward, an old
man who occupies apartments adjoining
those Of the deceased. At first nothing was
thought of his appearance, as he had
lived a more or less secluded life since
he took UP his abode in the building. Tues
day Western Union messenger called at
his rooms with a telegram. He knocked
loudly upon the door but no response was
received. Later in the day and on each
succeeding day until today messengers
came with the telegram.
This morning Mr.. Ward communicated
his fears TO the janitor OF the building, p.
S. Paden, and thought that McRae was
lying i'll in his room. The janitor spoke
to W. Rider Deeble, of the firm Of Deeble
Davis & Co, the real estate agents, in
charge Of the building whose Offices are on
the ground floor, telling him of the sus-
picions OF Mr.. Ward.
Mr.. Deeble concluded that something was
wrong and decided to break open the door
Officer Buckley, of the First precinct who
is stationed at the corner of Fourteenth
and G Streets, was called in and together
with Mr.. Deeble and the janitor forced an
entrance TO the room. Stretched on the
floor at full length was the body of Mr..
McRae, without clothing and covered with
black SCOT which had evidently settled upon
the body from lamp that had been burn
ing. The room which is located on the
fifth floor front, is Immediately under the
roof and bore marked evidences of squalor.
According to the statement OF Edwin
Ward who lives in the adjoining room,
Mr.. McRae had lived in the building about
ten years, during the greater part OF the
time having prepared his OWN food in a
small room adjoining the sleeping apart
mont in which he was found. The cd nan
stated that Mr. McRae was cultured, hay-
ing been very fond OF reading and able to
converse upon Literature in general. Sew
eral volumes OF Dickens works, together
with a volume Of Shakespeare, were in the
room. Ward stated that the deceased
drank a great deal and was at times in
toxicated. He did not know whether Nc
Rae had been drinking Immediately prSced-
ing his death or not.
Sunday morning Ward went to his room,
taking with him a copy of a Saturday
evening paper. McRae asked him what
day it was and upon being informed, said
that he thought it was Friday. lit is
thought from this that McRae had either
been drinking during the latter part OF last
week or had been seriously ill. Ward
knew McRae before he took up his resi-
dence in the building where he died, but
had never known him when he was en-
gagged in any business. The deceased had
told him that at one time he was employed
In one of the Government departments.
He had also told him that he had mar
ried daughter living in Philadelphia who
contributed TO his support
His statement in this respect was verified
by the finding Of about twenty letters in a
washstand drawer from his daughter, Mrs.
A. w. Miller, living at the Sumner, 1916
Lombard Street, Philadelphia. Some of the
letters were from Atlantic City, and num-
Der from Philadelphia. Mrs. Miller's Allan
tic City address was l32 South Carolina
Avenue. The last letter was postmarked
Atlantic City, September 2, and from its
contents il was evident had contained a
check for 50.
An examination of the epistle by the po-
lice showed that they had been written by
person Of education, and all indicated the
deep affection of the writer for her father.
1t was evident from the letters that the wife
of the deceased had died in the spring
Mr.. Decide stated to a Times reporter
that Mr.. Mc2ae was man of education
and refinement who was always courtly in
his manner. According TO Mr.. Deeble's
statement, MIR. McRae was evidently well
connected, and during the residence of the
deceased in the building on several occa-
sions people of good appearance and evil
dent refinement had visited him. Mr..
Deeble thought him TO be an unfortunate
who had been in better circumstances.
The daughter was notified and the re-
mains turned over to William ]. Lee the
undertaken. who will have il in charge
until the arrival of Mrs. Miller. tele-
gram was received from her this morning
asking her father why he did not write.