Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-15
MURDER OR SUICIDE
Mysterious Death of Census Office
Clerk in Hotel Room.
HORRIBLE DISCOVERY This MORNING
Shots Fired at Midnight and Wo-
man Seen on Fire Escape.
DETECTIVES INVESTIGATING

DETECTIVES INVESTIGATING
James Seymour Ayres. twenty-one years
old, who was employed as a clerk In the
census office and was a resident of Port
Austin, Mich. was found dead in his room
in the Kenmore Hotel on North Capitol
street, near the Capitol, about $50 o'clock
this morning. His body was in cramped
position on the floor near the window, his
head being in pool of clotted blood.
revolver that had been dropped on trunk
near the window contained three empty
shells and as many cartridges. One of the
missing missiles from the cartridge shells
had entered the unfortunate mans left leg
another the left arm and the third one
penetrated his breast in the region of the
heart.
Coroner hewitt examined the body and
concluded, from the nature of the wounds
in the leg and arm, that the shots may
have been fired by some person other than
the victim, and, although the case was re-
ported as one of suicide, he thought il
might develop into one Of murder In ad-
dftion to the location of the wounds men,
toned blood stains were found on the fire
escape in front of the building, and a
neighbor declared he had seen a woman
descend the fire escape shortly after the
shots were fired.
1t is believed to have been about ?
o'clock when the fatal wounds We're re-
ceived, and although several persons in
the hotel heard the reports of the weapon.
and heard the occupant of the room cry
"Help,' none of them went to his assist
ance or followed up the investigation
enough to ascertain that a life had been
taken. About breakfast time the episode
of the early morning was mentioned and
how, pn1i Of ha Stx-tb
cinct was summoned. He found the door
of the Ayres room locked and the key on
the inside. Without waiting to pick the
lock he forced open the door. and the
CHASTITY sight was revealed On the trunk
where the revolver was found there was
an old musket but this weapon did not APP
pear to be loaded.
Theory of Suicide.
Policeman Brady and several guests OF
the hotel felt satisfied that the young man
had committed suicide, although they as
signed no motive. 1t was stated that he
had attended the dental school of Column
bian University and had been considerably
worried about his examination. He was in
excellent spirits when he retired last night,
1t is stated, and those who saw him about
midnight declare he was in no frame Of
mind likely to cause him to take his own
life.
When the doubt was raised to the
young man ndSl1lS committed suicide, RE
cinct Detective Williams was sent for, and
Inspector Boardman detailed a number of
his detectives on the case, among them be
ing Detectives Weldon, Parham, Horne,
F'lather, Peck, Bauer and Trumbo. When
they reached the hotel the body and ef-
fects of the dead man had been removed
from the room on the fourth floor to the
morgue, and the superintendent of the
morgue had taken the weapon with him.
The revolver was sent for by Lieut. Moore,
and examined by the detectives. 1t is a
Harrington & Richardson 32-caliber wea-
pom, the ownership of which is a matter of
interest to the detectives.
The barrel of the weapon was smeared
with blood. while the handle was perfectly
clean. There were also bloodstainS on the
trigger. One of the officers ventured the
opinion that the appearance of the weapon
indicated it had been grabbed by the vic
tim while it was in the hands of another
person, the former having obtained pos
session of 1t after a wound had been in
flicted, and had gotten blood on his hands
Inspector Boardman has the pistol in his
custody at headquarters.
Incidents Preceding the Shooting.
Ayres the detectives learned, did not
turn to his room last night until after mid
night, and his conduct indicated he had
been drinking, although Mr.. James Burns
of the government printing office, who left
him In his room about the hour stated, de-
clares he sober. Mr.. J. V. Virgins Of
Texas, who is clerk in the Treasury De
partment, and who occupies room IN the
hotel, says he was in his room writing let
ters about 1890 o'clock this morning when
he heard Burns AyreS call Hello, Wig
gins!' Mr.. Virgins left his table, and wnen
he reached the door the men were on their
way In the direction of Burns room. Mr..
Virgins is preparing for some litigation over
oil lands in Texas, and he remarked to his
callers: I'm burning midnight OIL" He
told them about the letters he had been
tnC ch0 ittv hay, y,
several times, his callers left.
James Burns says he left Ayres in the
latter's room about 1890 o'clock but Ayras
it is believed, left the room after Burns de-
parted, for he was seen on the ground floor
as late as S'clock.
He had everything to live for" Burns
remarked to the officers. He had passed
his examination and had packed his effects
to move today to club house on l. street.
His trunk and telescope 1t was later
learned, had been but partially packed.
Heard Pistol Shots.
Among the several persons in the house
who heard the reports Of the pistol shots
was Mr.. R. P. Hopkins.
II heard three shots fired in rapid sue
cession," he said to a Star reporter land
I left my room to make inquiries. 1 saw
what 1 thought was mans head on the
fire escape at the window of Ayres room,
but it turned out to be SKULL
and while at the window he called to some
one below him, asking if there was any
thing the matter He repeated the aues-
tion and received the answer:
Il don't see anything here"
The response came in tone which he be-
lieved to be that of woman's voice. Mr.
Hopkins returned to his room and his son.
who occupied a room in the front part of
the building, accompanied him, the latter
afraid to remain in his own room.
A number of young ladies in the hotel
also heard the pistol shots, but they were
afraid to leave their rooms or make an
outcry.
James Mahoney, fireman at the Con-
gressional Library, informed the detectives
that he passed the hotel about ten min
utes past II o'clock and saw several young
men at the door. They were swearing he
said, and seemed to be angry about some
thing.
Regarded as Important Witness.
The most important witness found by the
detectives was Mr.. Thomas NJ Baker,
clerk in the Office of the fish commissioner
who boards at the house of Mrs Lancas-
ter, adjoining the Kenmore.