Evening star., 1901-12-25
George Klingler and a Woman Found
Dead in a Hotel Room.
THE APARTMENT FILLED WITH GAS
kIingIer IdentifiedbyLetts Found
in His Possession.
ACTION OF THE CORONER

Coroner Nevitt was summoned to the
Lyons Hotel. at No. eOe Pennsyivanla ave-
nue. northwest, about Z o'clock last night to
view two dead forms in q room on the
fourth floor Of the building. One was the
body Of George A. Klfngler, coach painter,
who came here q few weeks ago from
Schenectady, N. T.; the other was that of
@ woman well known about the city, but
whose real name the police were unable to
recall when they visited the hotel last
night. The deaths had been caused by
asphyxiation, and the poisonous gas was
still pouring from jet which had been
open for hours. 1t Is believed that the two
unfortunates had long been dead, probably
for twenty-four hours. The general con-
dition Of things about the room indicated
that the couple had been imbibing rather
freely, and it is supposed that one of them
failed to properly adjust the gas fixture
when extinguishing the light.
William Klngler, a brother of the dead
man, who lives at 1853 Clinton street. Sche-
nectady, n. Y, was notified Of the death,
after message had been received from
William L. Campbell. chief Of police Of that
city, telling that the mother, sister and
brother Of the deceased, lived there. The
message from the brother requested that
the body be shipped there to Undertakers
TimeSon and Frank.
1t Is learned that Klingler came here
about three weeks ago and found employ
ment at McDermott Bros carriage fac
tory For short time he occupied room
with another man at a house on Missouri
avenue, and after few days he went to a
d street hotel, where a fellow workman
boarded. Sunday night he decided to move,
and went to the Lyons Hotel, paying for
his room in advance. AS the hotel register
had been left in the bar over Saturday
night Klingler was unable to record his
name When he went to his room he re-
quested that liquor be served. and when
informed that the Sunday law would not
be violated there, he went elsewhere for a
supply.
Nothing Known of Subsequent Move
ments.
When he returned to the room is not
known, and. so far as the police have been
able to ascertain, nobody about the house
saw him after he left to buy liquor Sunday
night. Monday the room door was tried by
a colored servant, but it was locked and
the odor Of gas was not then detected.
Having been unable to get in the room
since Sunday. the colored man became
Lyons. The latter went to the fourth floor,
and when she discovered that gas was
escaping from the room she summoned Po-
licemen Owens and Leavell who forced
open the door. Lying on the floor, with his
face down. was the body of the man, and
the woman's body was on the bed. Both
were clad In underclothes only. The swol-
len and discolored conditions Of the bodies
made 1t apparent that all signs Of life had
departed many hours before the door was
forced.
After the flow of gas had been stopped
and the window opened the door was closed
and nothing was touched until the arrival
of the coroner, who later announced that
he was satisfied the deaths were the result
Of an accident. He had the bodies sent to
the morgue, in order that he might make
a more thorough investigation.
1t was stated to the police that Klingler
had been drinking heavily for more than a
week. Where he met the woman or when
he took her to his room the police have not
apartment heard a slight noise In Klingler's
room, but paid no attention to it.
Letters in His Possession.
Klingler's identity was made known by
two letters found in his room. One was
from his brother William and the other
was from his sister Lena. In the letter
from the former the unfortunate man was
admonished about his inebriety and was
told that he would be welcomed home and
given employment. His sister also advised
him Of the hearty welcome which was in
store for him. She told of family reunion
to be held New Year day, and concluded
by wishing him a merry Christmas.
Inquest Not Necessary.
Klingler was about thirty-eight years
old. The woman, it is believed, was nearly
twelve years his senior. Coroner hewitt
decided this afternoon that he would not
hold an inquest in the case. Certificates
showing that the deaths resulted from an
accident were given.
The woman was short and stout. Her
clothing consisted of plaid jacket, which
had evidently been worn beneath a red
waist a black skirt and black hat trim
med with black feathers. At late hour
this afternoon her body had not been iden-
tilted.