The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-05-15
SHOT THROUGH THE HEART
James :. Ayers, Jr., Found Dead In
His Room This Morning.
The Police Believe He Was Murder
ed and are TnycstiEating-A WOm-
m Reported 10 HAVE Been Seen
Escaping From the Apartment.

| the Agricultural Division Of the Census
Bureau, was found dead. with a bullet
hole through his heart. in his room in the
Kenmore Hotel, on North Capitol Street.
beween 3 and c streets, at an early hour
this morning The police authorities are
/ inclined to believe that he was murdered
They are investigating the case, which is
| shrouded in mystery Mr. Ayers, who
passed his twenry-ffrst birthday three
months ago. came to Washington last
June to accept a position in the Census Of
fee His father, who is a wsIl-to-do in
surance agent at Grand Rapids, Mich,
has been notified Of his death. Young
Ayers formerly lived at Fort Austin.
Mich
People in the hotel and occupants of
| adjoining houses heard three shots. fired
/ in rapid succession about 2 o'clock this
/ morning Cries for help followed the re-
ports, but a thorough investigation was
not made until after o'clock when the
/ police were notified and the door Of Ayers
room broken open. Lying on the floor
! beside an open window was the body Of
Ayers with bullet wound over mis- heart.
An examination disclosed two more
wounds, one in the thigh and another in
the left arm.
The police have been notified that a
woman was seen TO leave the room by a
window opening on the dre-escape about
three minutes after the shots were fred.
It is said that the woman descended from
the fourth floor, on which Mr. Ayers room
was located, to the second, where she en-
tered an open window, and disappeared.
Along the line Of the route she is sup
posed to have Travelled are many blood
marks, and the police contend that these
tend TO substantiate the statements made
concerning the appearance Of the woman
descending the ffre-escape. An day long
the hotel has been filled with detectives,
policemen, and reporters, and every pos
sibIe clue is being followed.
Ayers friends have been questioned as
to any possible female alliances that he
might have had. but no satisfactory IN
formation has been obtained as yet.
Ayers had been stopping at the hotel for
some time. and had been occupying u room
on the fourth floor He had arranged to
leave the house today, and had packed all
| Of his belongings, preparatory to having
| them moved TO the Fiat Society, on L
Street, near Ninth Street northwest. where
| a number Of acquaintance had arranged
| to live on the cooperative plan
Ayers had been studying dentistry at
the Dental College Of the Columbian Uni
versity and the theory was advanced that
dependency over a supposed failure to
pass 4 recent examination might have
caused him to commit suicide. but this
theory was afterward exploded Ayers
attended a dance in the Kenmore Hotel
last night and appeared to be in a good
humor. giving no evidences of being de-
| sDondent It is said He danced with
several Of the ladies and he is said not
to have taken anything to drink during
the evening.
About L O'Clock he left the dancing
hall, in company with James Burns, who
is employed in the Government Urinting
Office and stopped at the rooms Of sew
eraI friends on the second floor Of the
hotel Ayers is said to have talked pleas
! antly to NJ. Hogan, and remarked that
he hoped that Mr.. Hogan had passed his
examination. Mr.. Hogan said today that
Ayers was always deeply interested in his
studies and that it was impossible to car
~ on any considerable conversation with
him without his reverting to them.
According to the information at hand.
Ayers after talking to Mr.. Hogan, went
to the room Of J Y Virgins. on the same
floor of the house. but did not stop. as
Mr. Virgins was busy writing. Ayers
then went to his own room. it is said, in
company with James Burns About this
time James Mahaney, who is employed
at the Congressional Library. passed the
hotel and saw the @our men standing in
front Of the entrance quarreIing. This
disturbance was also heard BY several
other persons Burns says he. in
company with Ayers. went direct to the
latter's room on leaving Virgins. room.
and that he GUrns) remained with Ayers
until about 1880 O'Clock, when he retired
TO his room. which is in the annex. about
twenty yards away on the same floor.
What occurred after that Burns saws he
does not know. The room to the north
Of Ayers, room is occupied by Miss Kate
Lawlus, who is employed at the Bureau
Of Engraving and Printing, while the
room on the other side is occupied by
Miss Mary Minas, an empIoye of the Cen
sus Office.
Miss Lawlus was not awakened during
the night, but Miss Mfnas says she dis
tinctIy heart three shots fired in rapid
succession about 2:30 o'clock this morn
ing, and that she also heard a call for
help She was too frightened to respond
to the call, she declares, and remained fr
her room until shortly after s O'Clock this
morning. when she reported the matter
at the Office
R P Hopkins. whose room is on the
floor above that on which Mr.. Ayers
room was located, also heard the noise.
and fearing fire, he ran ont on the stair
way and called down to know what was
the matter. He declares he received an
answer, in a female voice. the reply be
ing:
L don't see anything
Mr. Hopkins says he then went back
to bed He declares atfcalIv that Fs