The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-01
DIED BY HIS OWN HAND.
James ID. Gray, OIL Syndicate Pro-
moter, 4 Suicide

james d. Gray, forty years OF age, took
his own life at the Chicago Ho el, S45
Pennsylvania Avenue northwest, yesterday
afternoon. Chloroform inhaled from a
small vial purchased at an Avenue drug
! store caused Gray's death, and his re-
mains now rest at the District morgue.
Acting Coroner Glazebrook has been noti-
fed of the suicide, and he will view the
remains this morning. Mrs. Gray, wife OF
the deceased, learned of the affair shortly
after the death of her husband. She visited
the morgue, and today will arrange for the
( funeral.
Gray was a native OF Pennsylvania. For
! Several years he has lived at Industry, W.
/ Va, and has frequently visited this city.
/ He was connected with an oil syndicate,
/ styled the big Injun Sand Oil Syndicate, -
J. w. Bum, President, and C. D. SWEET,
! Secretary, with main Offices in Philadsl-
/ phia.
! Gray and his wife came to Washington
from Philadelphia late Monday afternoon.
That evening the couple visited one of the
suburban resorts and returned to the city
about 10 o'clock. 1t had been their custom
when here to lodge at Mades' Hotel, corner
of Pennsylvania Avenue and Third Street
northwest and there Mrs. Gray went for
the night. For some reason Gray deter
mined TO lodge elsewhere, and he regis
tered at the Chicago Hotel. almost opposite
Mades'. After a brief time spent in the
bar Of the house. Gray went to his apart
ment, a small room at the retr = the
building on the second floor. Ee mme-
diately retired, and yesterday MOI ning ap-
peared downstairs at an early hour. Soon
he left the hotel, but returned toward
noon, spoke to the clerk, and went TO his
room.
Shortly after / O'Clock Gray rang his bell.
j. T. Connors, the proprietor, went to his
room In response TO a call, and Gray coolly
informed him that he contemplated suicide,
requesting that his wife be called with
whom, he said, he had ;uarreled the pre-
yious night. Connors believed the matter
only n Jest. and soon retired. An hour
later. however. he again went to Gray's
room. He Immediately discovered some
thing wrong. Gray was unconscious. the
vial containing chloroform was beside him,
partially used, and ConnoIs, becoming
alarmed hastily called for the police. A
physician was called also, but nothing
could be done for the unfortunate man.
He died in a few minutes. Later the .e-
mains were taken to the morgue.
Mrs. Gray was notified of her husband s
death. and went at once to the morgue.
She told a reporter that her husband had
been drinking quite heavily for a week
past. She denied that family matters had
caused the suicide. She stated that she
had been compelled to refuse Gray money
Monday night, beyond that necessary for
actual expenses, because of his condition.
From the police Mrs. Gray learned that her
husband had pawned his watch yesterday
morning. thus obtaining funds. She went
to the Chicago House and took charge of
his effects there, including valise. Two
certificates of stock. one for five shares, the
other for fifty shares. IN the Sand Oil Syn
dicate, were also found.
Last night Gray's remains were removed
to Lees undertaking establishment and
prepared for burial.