The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-03
FOUND DEAD IN HIS BED.
A Carpet Manufacturer Accidentally
Appropriated Mt Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. flames W.
Priestly, founder Of the carpet mills bear
ing that name. was asphyxiated by illumi-
mating gas at the home of his son. John
w. Priestly, 1902 North Broad Street, last
night. He was found dead in his bed this
morning by his son, and gas was flowing
from a burner which Mr. Priestly had evil
IDENTIFY turned on when retiring. Charles
Priestly, a grandson, was also overcome
by the gas. but through the timely min
istrations of physician his life was saved
Mr.. Priestly had been dead for several
hours when found by his son.
Mr. Priestly was eighty-two years old,
and the attendant feebleness made it nee
essary for members of his family to watch
him closely. He slept In a room next to
one occupied by his grandson, a boy Of
sixteen years, on the third floor. Each
morning Mr.. Priestly or his son would
dress their aged relative and minister TO
his needs. Usually they looked into his
room after he had retired, but the for
mality was not observed last night. Mr..
Priestly stayed downstairs until after 8
o'clock, chatting with his son and seemed
unusually active because of his having
lived to see the twentieth century ushered
in.
He refused the offer OF his son to &C
company him to his room, saying he was
as hearty as a boy, and did not need any
one to look after him. Bidding the family
coed night and wishing them a happy New
Year the grandfather tottered upstairs his
face beaming with good nature. Young
Priestly had gone up A minute or so ahead
Of his grandparent and the aged man called
to him to hurry or he would catch him.
Shortly after Q o'clock this morning Mr.
Priestly went to his fathers room to dress
him. He was almost overpowered by the
smell of gas in the hallway and hurriedly
called to his sen, thinking the young man
had been tampering with the burners.
There was no response to his call and he
went TO his fathers room. Mr.. Priestly
was lying in bed undressed
On window sill near the open burner
was half-burned match. From this fact
1t is supposed the grandfather had at
tempted to light the gas, but the match
burned out before he had succeeded. In
the mean time he had turned the gas on
and neglected TO turn il off.
Mr.. Priestly hurried TO the front room
to arouse his son. The door was locked.
and not receiving any reply to his knock
ing. Mr.. Priestly threatened to kick the
door down and do a few other things to
his son. The door was opened by young
Priesuy. whose face was ghostly white.
He was about to fall to the floor when his
father caught him and carried him down
stairs 4 physician was summoned. and
he brought the boy around and sent him
out to get some fresh air. He could do
nothing for the aged man. however and
tho police were informed OF the accident.
Mr. Priestly was born in Yorkshire,
England, and came TO this country when
q young man. He engaged in the manu-
facture of ingram carpets before the war
and later established the Pricstly Mills
at 1910 Lawrence Street, following the
business closely until about ten years ago,
when he retired. He is survived by two
sons, John w and Edward who succeeded
him as operatives of the mill