The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-13

Mystery still clouds the motive which
led R. G. Porter, a prominent jeweler of
Woodbury., n. j., whose dead body was
found in his room yesterday morning at
the ST. James Hotel. to commit suicide.
No one has the slightest doubt that the
man was a victim of self-destruction, yet
every person interested in him is puzzled
to understand why he committed the act.
No motive can be assigned for the deed
by the police, the hotel people. or friends
of the dead man, who came on from Wood
bury last evening.
E. C. Cattell. of Woodbury., N. j., who
is an uncle of the widow of the dead man,
reached Washington early last evening. He
went TO the home of C. C. Sailer, of
Georgetown, who knew Porter many years
ago. and who yesterday identified the body
of the suicide as that OF former jeweler
of Woodbury., n. J. Mr.. Sailer is related
by marriage to the family of the dead
man. having married the aunt of Mrs Por-
ter. the widow. Cousins also live here, but
Porter called to see none of them while
he in the city
When Cattell reached the home of Mr..
details of the suicide. In brief. Porter
had registered at the st. James Hotel on
Tuesday, and was assigned to a single
room on the third floor. He spent most of
his time in the lobby of the hotel and at
3 o'clock Thursday afternoon called at the
desk and paid his bill to the clerk. E. E.
Wheeler, He said he wanted to hold the
room little longer, as he was not GER
tain he would leave the city.
AT the hotel il pynlainpl that pOr-
ter remained in his room during the night.
In the morning, in accordance with the
custom, when a room Is retained under
similar circumstances, an Office boy was
sent up to see whether the apartment was
still occupied. The boys knock was an
swered by Porter. and the boy reported to
the clerk at the Office. An attache was
afterward sent to the room. He found it
locked. An entrance was effected through
the transom over the door, and Porter was
found lying dead across his bed, with a
terrible wound in his left temple. Beside
Porter lay a cheap, brand new revolver.
with one empty chamber. paper was
found requesting that his body be turned
over TO Mr. Sailer. of Georgetown, or to
Representative Henry c. Loudenslager, of
the First New Jersey District. who had
known the suicide for a long time. Porter
wore a fine watch and chain, and an emer-
aid and diamond charm. In his pockets
were found ticket from New York to San
Jose Cal, $50 in money and receipt for
an express package. which he had sent to
Mrs. Porter at Woodbury..
The body was removed to the morgue
where it was viewed by Coroner Carr. and
a certificate of death by suicide issued.
Messrs. Sailer and Cattell visited the
morgue last night and also went to police
headquarters, where they tried to arrange
to have the body taken to an undertaking
establishment. This cannot be done until
after permit has been issued by the coro-
ner and as he could not be found it was
decided that the body should remain in
the Sixth precinct morgue until this morn
ing, when it will be taken to an undertake
ing establishment to be embalmed The
remains will be shipped to Woodbury. at
early hour today
When seen at police headquarters last
night Mr.. Cattell said:
Mr.. Porter was until recently the lead
ing ieweler of Woodbury.. Until his death
he was a justice of the peace He was
about forty-twO years old and native of
Pennsylvania. He had been engaged in
the jewelry trade for many years and was
well-known about Woodbury. I can as
sign no motive for his act He was tenn
perate, had no business troubles. and do
not think he was mentally unbalanced
When he left home last Monday he was in
good spirits and said he was going to Phil
adelphia to buy pair of shoes Since then
we had heard nothing of him. We did not
know what to think. but presumed that he
had gone to Mexico. Some time ago man
from Mexico tried to persuade him OF the
advantages of that country and since that
time he had been discussing the matter OF
going there.
In view OF the fact that he carried in
his pocket ticket to San Jose. c.. it is
probable that he was en- route to Mexico
The package which Porter shipped to his
home by express from this city several
days ago had reached Woodbury.. 1t con-
tanned about $500 in money private papers
five or six gold watches, and other jewelry
and gems Porter sold out his jewelry
business some time ago to go to Denver.
and the iewelry was probably some of the
stock which he had retained for himself -