Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-26
consul GENERAL SHAW'S DEATH.
Killed Himself Under Assumed
Name in PhfladelpI,in.


w. Irving Shaw, formerly of HoutZdale,
Pa. whose appointment as consul general
to Singapore was confirmed by the Senate
just after the beginning of the present ses-
sion, committed suicide some time between
Monday evening and yesterday morning in
the Windsor Hotel, in Philadelphia.
According to the Inquirer, Saturday, the
Sth of December, he sailed from New York
to Barranquilla, Colombia, where he had
formerly filled the post of consul His sis
ter, Mrs. William Shewell of 511 Queen
lane, Germantown, received a letter from
him. dated at sea.
How Mr.. Shaw was able to sail from
New York two weeks ago for Barranquilla,
write letter at and mail it from
steamer and then get back into Phadel
phia in little more than two weeks remains
to be discovered. One thing is sure, and
that is that he only reached Philadelphia
Monday. He may have taken a steamer
direct to Liverpool, and on landing imme-
diately sailed back to New York.
To the proprietor of the Windsor and his
employees the fact that a United States Of
fetal had died there on Christmas eve or
Christmas morning was unknown. They
did know that man came Into the
hotel Monday morning about 10 o'clock and
registered az S. R. Jones of New York He
took his valise with him to his room, and
his demeanor was not out of the ordinary.
At II o'clock yesterday morning Annie
Farrell a chambermaid of the hotel found
the door Of Mr.. Jones' " room open. She
walked in, and was Mortified to find the
cupant dead in bed. razor was clutched
in his hand. Blood flowed from half a
dozen wounds in his body. He had disem-
boweled himself, cut his throat and slashed
the blood vessel of his left wrist The hor-
ror-stricken servant notified the office and
Detective Campbell of the house sent word
to the coroner'S office.
Consul Shaw, according to the statements
made by the night clerk and employees of
the Windsor Hotel, had plenty of money
when he came to the hotel at 10 o'clock In
the morning, and paid his bill in advance.
He spent the day about the hotel, and
seemed to have no acquaintances. How
ever. he was out of the building several
visiting friends He came to the desk
shortly after o'clock in the evening. ask
ed for his key and went to his room. That
was the last seen or heard Of him until he
was found dead at II O'clock yesterday
morning.
There is but one motive suggested for
Mr.. ShaW's suicide-that of brain dis
order, caused by three years service as
consul to Barranquilla, United States of
Colombia.
The State Department officials are deeply
concerned over the reported suicide at Phil
adelphia Of W. 1. Shaw, late consul at Bar
ranquilla, and recently appointed consul
general to Singapore. Mr.. Shaw was in
Washington last week arranging to secure
Transportation 10 singapore, ana appeared
to be perfectly satisfied with his prospects.
It is said at the department that otherwise
he could easily have arranged to return to
BarranQuilla.
Assistant Secretary Hill, who was acting
today as Secretary of State, because Secre-
tary Hay was confined to his home by a
slight indisposition. sent a telegram of con-
dolence to the late consul's widow at her
home in Pennsylvania.
Heat. fevers and the arduous duties of
his office undermined his health and he
asked for and obtained leave of absence
early last August. His dislike for the post
increased and he sought another appoint
ment, and was successful in his quest for
q now station, and . month ago was named
consul general at 6inGapore.