The times., 1899-09-14

~ about sixty years OF age, man having
the appearance of refinement and intelli-
gence, was found this morning at about
lO. 80 O'Clock in his sleeping apartment on
the fifth ioor 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. st first nothing was
thought Of his non-appearance. as be had
lived a more or less secluded life since
De took up his abode in the building. Tues
day Western Union messenger called al
his rooms with 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 MIR Ward communicated
his fears TO the janitor of the building, p.
S. Paden, and thought that McRae was
lying III in his room. The janitor spoke
TO W. Rider Deeble, of the firm Of Decide,
Davis a. 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 10 break open the door.
Officer Buckley. OF the First precinct, who
is stationed az the corner CT Fourteenth
and G Streets. was called il and together
with Mr.. Deeble and the janitor forced an
entrance TO the room. Stretched on the
floor at fun length was the body of Mr.
MeRae. without clothing and covered with
black SCOT which had evidently settled upon
the body from a 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 10 the statement OF Edwin
Ward, who lives in the adjoining room
Mr. Mef2ae had lived in the building abolt
ten years, during the greater part OF the
time having prepared his own food in
small room adjoining the sleeping apart
mcnt in which he was found. The o.d man
stated that Mr.. McRae was cultured, hav-
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 al times in
toxica;ed. He did not know whether Nc
Rae had been drinking Immediately pr-ced-
ing his death or not.
Sunday morning Ward went TO his room
taking with him copy of a Saturday
evening paper. McRae asked him what
day il was and upon being informed said
that ne thought ii was Friday. 1t 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 be died, but
had never known him when he was en-
gagged in any business. The deceased had
told him that al one time he was employed
In one OF the Government departs nents.
He had also told him that he had a mar
ried daughter living in Philadelphia who
contributed 10 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. ". Miller. living at the Sumner, 1916
Lombard Street, Philadelphia Some of the
letters were from Atlantic City, and a num-
ber from Philadelphia Mrs. Miller's Allan
tic City address was 1S2 South Carolina
Avenue. The last letter was pos1marked
Atlantic City, September >, and from its
contents il was evident had contained
check Tor s..
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
Ii was evident from The letters that The wife
OF the deceased had died il the spring.
Mr.. Deeble stated 10 a Times reporter
that Mr. McIaae was z man Of education
and refinement who was always courtly in
his manner. According to Mr. Deeble's
statement Mr.. McRae was evidently well
connected, and during the residence Of the
deceased in the building on several occa-
sions people Of good appearance and eyi-
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 J. Lee the
undertaken who will have It in charge
until the arrival OF Mrs Miller. tele-
gram was received from her this morning
asking her father why he did not write