The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-24
NET DEATH IN LONDON
Q. c. Ciafin Shoots Himself in a
Hotel on the Strand.
Believed to BE the Son of an opticfan
of This City-Was on His Way to
the Paris Exposition-No Cause As
signed for the Suicide - Efforts
to Have the Body Identified.

LONDON, June 23-E. E. Claflin, an
American, believed to have been of good
Washington family, shot himself at hotel
on the Strand this morning. He took a
room at this place three days ago with ]
friend of the name of Muirhead. The lat
ter started for Paris on Thursday.
Letters found on the body of the deceased
referred to his leaving college, and coz
graduated him on his escape from a ter
rible fire. One of the letters expressed the
hope that the recipient would not do any
thing rash.
1t is supposed that the Claflin referred
TO in the despatch was a son of Price c.
Clafiin, the Street optician. copy OF
the despatch was shown Mr.. Claf1in yes
terday afternoon by a Times reporter.
Mr.. Claf1in at first appeared TO be in
doubt concerning the identity Of the sui
eide. He did not know of his son having
gone abroad, and stated that he had heard
from him on June IL, from Ithaca, N. Y.
where he had been stationed as the private
secretary of his uncle, Prof. II. H. Powers
Superintendent OF the Cornell Bureau Of
Universal Travel.
Prof Powers left this country several
weeks ago to conduct party on Euro
pean tour and left young Claflin in his
Office at Ithaca. The young man wrote
to his father on June II that he pro-
posed to go to New York to seek posi-
ton as a stenographer and typewriter and
said nothing of a proposed trip abroad,
although he had repeatedly told his father
that he was anxious 10 go to Paris LOT
the Exposition.
MY son is like a great many boys of
his age" said Mr.. Clafiin- He has
been quite wayward, and / de- not
think he liked my refusing 20 allow him
to go to Paris. He had sufficient money
to admit of his going abroad if he chose
to do so, and it was not at all necessary
for him to write to me for funds.
II was rather doubtful about its being
my son until l saw the reference in the
despatch 10 his having letters in his pocket
showing that he had had narrow escape
from fire. He was caught in burning
building IN Ithaca where he was boarding
some time ago, and had a very narrow
escape.
Il can assign no reason for his COM
hitting suicide, and his being abroad.
cannot understand it. l went TO the State
Department this afternoon immediatel,
after reading the press despatch and go
them to cable to London at once for
more complete Identification, which l an
anxiously awaiting, although l have bu
little doubt that it is my son. There are
some birth marks on his body that viii
completely identify him"
Mr. Clafin stated tha. he had been -erJ
anxious to have his son, who was only
nineteen years old, take course at Cor
nell University, but that the boy did moi
appear TO be very fond of study. His son
he said was an expert stenographer ant
typewriter, and had very little trouble il
securing positions in that line.
Mr.. Claflin said that he would make
arrangements to have the body of his sor
brought back to this country for :nter-
ment. Mrs. Clafiin, the mother of the
boy, is at present in Germany, having
but recently reached Berlin for a visit
1t is more than likely that she will q
at once TO London for the purpose of full,
identifying the body and arranging for it:
return to the United States.