The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-09-25

The Golden Eagle Hotel. corner Of
New Jersey Avenue and D Street north
west, was completely wrecked by dyna-
mite at a few minutes past I O'Clock
this morning az the deliberate work OF
Frank G. Mckee, who has resided at
The Hotel for several years. Mckee com
mitted suicide Immediately after he set
OF the dynamite charge by shooting
himself in the right temple with a re
volver.
The force OF 4 explosion was 50
great that It reduced a portion Of the
building into a pile OF ruins. Mr.. Louis
Brandt. the proprietor OF the hotel. and
his wife were hurled from their bed on
the second floor and precipitated to the
floor below amidst the debris Both
we're painfully. although not seriously.
injured They were removed 10 the
Emergency Hospital. George Hober, a
guest. was also badly cut about the face
and body He, however, was able to 90
to physician and receive medical at
tentioR.
a. 7
The huge timbers and some Of the fur
niture caught fire Immediately after the
explosion and the IRE department Ia
bored for several hours in extinguishing
the flames The police and hremen res
cued the score OF more OF guests from
the structure. including the family OF
the proprietor. M Brandt.
Coroner hewitt reached the hotel
shortly after the explosion, and after
considerable dimcuIty tha body Of the
suicide and dynamiter. Mckee, was
found lying in a peoI Of bleed in his
room. HIS body was resting against the
door.
The man WIS dressed in his under
clothing. pants. shoes and shirt Death
was instantaneous in the opinion of the
physicians. After making a partial in
vestigation Coroner hewitt ordered the
body to the morEue. where it now re
poses. II was announced by that Official
late this afternoon thai no inquest
would be held. This action was taken
BY the Coroner upon the Information
obtained by him fren the police. who
are positive, after having made an ex-
l.
that Mckee was the guilty party. The
Coroner issued certificate OF death
by suicide.
Relatives of Mckee
The police are now endeavoring TO 10
cate the dead mans relatives. some Of
whom are in Philadelphia, while others
are IN Chicago Captain Boardman has
detailed Detective sergeants Hartigan
and Horne on the matter with insuuc-
tions 10 find 0Jsi4t - much as possible re
garding the dead mans antecedents. a
brother Of Mckee, John Mckee. who
is employed as a baggageman on the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, has been
located at 512 West Lee Street, Phiia-
delphia a dispatch has been sent to
him acquainting him with the details CT
the crime. and asking that he take
charge OF the body,
The explosion was heard for some dis
tance about the city. and Il shattered
the glass in numerous houses IN the vi
ciuity OF the wrecked hotel. Thousands
Of citizens scantiIy clad rushed 10 the
building and gazed awe-ztricken at the
sight. IN fact. all day the street in
front Of the battered hosiery has been
crowded with curious persons and IT be-
came necessary early in the day for
Lieutenant Moore, Of the Sixth precinct.
10 detail his reserve force under Ser
geant GOss 10 keep them from obstrlIet-
ing the passageway- No estimate can be
given a. yet as TO the loss by the exDIo-
sion. although ii is certain it viii run %
into the thousands.
Motive for the Crime.
The motive of the dead man in de-
stroying the building and afterward tax
Ing bis life viii never be known. in all
probability. The police aIIege that he
was infatuated with Miss Sophie Brandt
The pretty sixteeu-year-oId daughter Of
the proprietor. The members OF the
Brandt family. however. including father.
mother son. and others deny emDhari-
csuy this statement
Good looking. strong. and intelligent.
the dead man was exceedingly popular
With his fellow -boarders and IH facf
even with The Brandt family themselves
His act was an astonishing surprise 10
all who were acquainted with him
The former big hotel presented a de-
cidedIy battered appearance when morn
ing broke. The streets were covered
with pieces Of furniture Of all descrip-
tfon7 windows crashed the entire sec
ond floor eaved in and q portion OF the
roof gone
The interior was an even worse
wreck The carpeted stairways were
ankle deep with mortar and bricks.
flung IN every direction by the force
Of The collision. Heavy beams were in
termingled here and there with parlor