Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-17
in the case, will appear at the inquest and
conduct the examination of witnesses
DEAD MANS FATHER


DEAD MANS FATHER.
His Views of the Circumstances Sur
rounding the Murder.
Mr. j. S. Ayres, father of James S. Ayres,
| IT. the man murdered at the Hotel Ken
more Tuesday night, arrived here last night
from Grand Rapids, Mich. in response to a
telegram sent to him by Mr.. James Burns,
telling him of the sudden death of his son.
In the telegram Mr.. Burns made no refer
ence to the tragedy and it was not until
Mr. Ayres bought paper on the train and
read an account of the tragedy that he
was aware his son had died violent death.
Mr.. Ayres is siXtythree years old and is
one of the best-known citizens of the state
of Michigan, having served for time as
chairman of the republican county COM
mttee and having made race for Con-
gress in 1890. Although he was defeated
he ran far ahead of the republican state
ticket because of his personal popularity.
His home is at Port Austin but he was at
Grand Rapids business when he re-
CeiVed the sad news.
James Seymour Ayres, jr, the deceased,
was one of four sons all prosperous young
men. Two sisters of the boys died several
years ago. Having read newspa per accounts
of his sons untimely end, MIR. Ayres was
prepared for the terrible ordeal when he
reached here, bearing up well under the
to him and he made the best he could of
the sad conditions. The long journey of
more than 1000 miles had fatigued him and
he retired at the Kenmore shortly after he
returned from the morgue, where he saw
the body of his boy. IL had been little
more than year since he had seen him.
but his features had not changed much.
Mr.. Ayres had anticipated a visit from
his son this summer. They had arranged
to meet at Buffalo, and it was the younger
mans intention to visit his former home in
Michigan. His sudden taking off, however
had changed their plans and the fathers
of the trip to Buffalo. This morning the
father arranged with Undertaken Hines to
prepare the body for shipment to Michigan.
The undertaken embalmed the remains and
MI Ayres expects to start for home next
Monday.
Discusses the Murder.
This calamity is the greatest and most
heartrending that / have experienced dur
ing the siXty-three years of my life Mr..
Ayres said to Star reporter this morning,
land my grief is intensified by the fact
that some newspapers, for the purpose of
being sensational, have slandered the repu-
tat1on and habits of my son. He passed
his twenty-first birthday last December,
and until the past year during his resi-
dence in this city, had seen him contin-
ually and knew that his habits and char
acter were above reproach. He was
young man Of unusual intelligence, energy
and industry. Although so young he had
graduated with high honor from the high
est school of the town in which he was
born, Port Austin was a graduate of the
commercial college at Ypsilanti, Mich; had
passed civil service examination at LanS-
ing and had received an appointment in
the census bureau upon the recommended
ton OF Representative Weeks. While fill
studies in the Columbian University in this
city. In the last letter l received from
him, dated the Sunday previous to his
death, was tnclosed a certificate showing
he had passed all his examinations in the
university to the satisfaction Of the faculty
and to the credit Of himself. This day l
received the letter 1 wrote him, in which 1
returned the university certificate. He
could not receive 1t, poor fellow.
That my son had committed suicide
seems to me perfectly preposterous. All
the circumstances in the case point to the
opposite conclusion That young man
should attempt his life without the least
shadow of motive that would prompt
such course is simply ridiculous. 1 am
well satisfied that he would have defended
tempting to destroy 1t. In his home at
Port Austin, where he lived continuously
for upwards Of eighteen years.. his reputa
ton for morality, good habits and recti-
tude is all that the fond heart Of an affec
tionae father could ask from an obedient
and loving son. Some allowance, perhaps,
ought to be made for a young man just
entering the threshold Of life, separated
more than a thousand miles from his home
and among strangers, with but very few
friends about him. Although l have not
seen him for more than year-not since
l parted with him at Detroit-I have been
in constant communication with him. He
wrote me once week, and sometimes
more frequently, and opened up to me
fully and freely all the secret thoughts of
his heart. l saw no indications In any of his
letters that he had swerved in the least iota
from the correct path he had pursued from
the time of his birth to the time we parted
at Detroit. If he has wavered In the least
from those correct habits which had
marked his course heretofore l believe he
only yielded to some of the temptations
that surround a young, intelligent and at
fect1onate young man.
Some of the Circumstances.
while on this subject 1 cannot desist
from expressing myself somewhat frankly
upon some Of the circumstances surround
ing my sons untinely death. That young
man In his room In hotel should be at
tackled by murderer or murderess and
orutaly murdered. that people in the hotel
and surrounding buildings should hear the
shots, the cries of Help and the agoniz-
Ing appeals in a city Of 100000 inhabitants,
and not go to his rescue or make All outcry
Is beyond my comprehension. If this MUIR
der had been committed in the village of
FORT austin there's not a man, woman or
child OF the 700 Inhabitants but who would
nave raised an alarm and sought to res
cue him from the hands of the assassins."
MI. Ayres visited the room in which the
crime was committed and made a thorough
examination Of the neighboring rooms. He
mas also discussed the question with some
OF the motel guests, and the more he hears
the IN, more disguised he becomes over the
iaiiure to apprehend his sons slayer. He
ialis TO realize how such crime could
nave been committed and no investigation
made for so many hours.
Mr.. E: r. Ayres Of No. IS West 32d
street, New York city. an uncle Of the de-
ceased arrived here this morning and reg
istered at the Shoreham. He visited the
kenmore during the day and learned what
ne could about the tragedy.
Hutidtng Permits Issued.
Building permits were issued today as
follows:
Washington Sanitary Improvement Com
Dany, nfteen C-Storv brick flats 30S tO