The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-27
FOUND DEAD IN HIS ROOM
HIS NAME Is w. f. RIPLEY, OF
NEW YORK.
OPIUM AND AlcofoL DID THE ,olK
He Came to This City OF a Drunken Spree
tuesday Night. Has Been Here Fre-
qusntly. His Mother viii
Arrive 70 day.

1t was a sad sight Mt the Branson
man lay dead upon the floor of his
room, having died during the night from
the effects of a drunken dehauch. Later
in the day it was learned that his name
was NJ. Farwel Ripley, of Buffaloe,
New York, who was n law student at
Wake Forest.
The young man left Wake Forest
Tuesday night about 8 o'clock and came
to Raleigh He made his appearance
ut the Branson House at > o'clock the
next morning and applied for ROOM
\ Mr.. White, the proprietor, informed him
that his rooms were all taken. The
young man was then under the influence
Of liquor He asked if he could stay
for the night in the sitting room. This
Mr.. White agreed to and the young man
went there. Early in the morning he
knocked at the door of Mr. Josiah Tur-
ner's room, which led into the sitting
room, and asked to be admitted, stating
that he had been up all night. Mr..
Turner, IN the kindness of his heart
turned him in. He then asked to be
allowed to occupy the bed, and he was
told that he could do so. He stated
To Mr.. Turner that he was from New
York and had lived III Oxford and Hen
derson and that at present he was talk
ing n law course ut Wake Forest. Mr.
Turner, as he left the room in the
morning. told the young man that he
would send him up breakfast. He
stated that he did not have any money
to pay for it. nor money to get home:
that he had lost his yalise, which con-
tanned few dollars. Mr. Turner told
him TO give himself no uneasiness OH
that score and gave him money to pay
for his meals and to buy a ticket 10
Wake Forest. He ate light breakfast
and dinner and slept during the day.
He went out about 4 o'clock and re-
turned in about an hour in. an intoxicated
condition. AT 10 o'clock at night Mr..
Turner gave him money to buy his
ticket and left him in his room to re-
main till the 2;16 train should pass
through on which he was to leave for
Wake Forest.
About four o'clock in the morning
yesterday Mr.. Turner, who had remain
ed up writing in the parlor, knocked
ON the door and received no reply.
About daybreak he again knocked and
still there was no reply. He found both
doors to the room locked. Mr.. Turner
then made his way out on the balcony
and looked through the window. but
could not see the young man and con-
cluded he had taken the train. He
entered the room through the window
and found the young man lying under
the bed with his feet projecting.
He Immediately telephoned for DIR.
Hines. but before DIR. Hines arrived
DIR. Jones, who was stopping at the
house. came up to the room and upon
examination, found him dead.
Some notes AND letters were found on
his person. one was from his mother.
who lives in Buffalo, \. Y, stating
that she had forwarded some money.
Ii was very affectionate letter and
referred TO the bad habits which aiflict-
cd the young man. An unfinished note
was found addressed to Mr.. Utley.
stating his embarrassed condition. A
ticket to Wake Forest was also found.
The dead man. it was learned, was
addicted TO the use of cocaine, opium
and strong drink, as we'll as being what
is termed cigarette fiend." He was a
pale-faced, slender person, about 30
years of age. He was poorly dressed
and had general don tcare expression.
He had n bruise on the left temple
which was received by fall at the
Park Hotel.
The body was removed to Undertaken
Browns about 8 O'Clock. where it was
cmbalmed and made ready for burial.
kilograms were sent to Wake For
est and to his mother. Two students
from Wake Forest. Messrs. n. III.
s.ho,,bo.1 ond w Il FRY cauna in nm