Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-07
INQUIRY INTO DEATH
WASHINGTONIAN FOUND DEAD
IN BALTIMORE.
James ]. Bateman Said to Have Taken
Carbolic Acid Yesterday With
Suicidal Intent.



BALTIMORE. Md, June THE inquest
over the remains of James ]. Bateman of
Washington. who was found dead in his
room at 215 Barre street. will be held by
Coroner Rheinhardt last this afternoon at
southern police station. An empty bottle
which contained carbolic acid was found
under the washstand this morning in the
room which Bateman occupied. The re-
mains have been removed to the morgue.
The police are endeavoring to ascertain
what became of the large amount of money
the unfortunate man was known to have
had Saturday night When his effects were
searched only fourty-four cents found.
Bateman engaged a room at the boarding
house kept by Mrs. NJ. A. Bell on Sunday
evening. At the time he appeared to have
been drinking heavily He paid for board
and room in advance and retired early. He
went out Monday morning and when he
returned yesterday noon said he had been
to Washington twice to get his tools, which
he had left at that place.
Bateman was carpenter by trade
and lived with his wife and two chill
dren at 1874 9th street northwest He
went away Saturday without telling his
fe mily where he was going and Mrs. Bate
man was shocked when she received word
from Baltimore last night that he was
dead. Bateman died In the boarding house
of Mrs NJ. A Bell, 215 West Barre street.
about $50 O'Clock yesterday Sunday af-
ternoon he appeared at the boarding house
with another man end engaged board for
week, for which he paid in advance. AT
the time he paid Mrs Bell the money he
displayed to pocket books, which seemed
we'll filled with greenbacks. Bateman COM
mented on the amount of money he had,
and said he had more than he wanted. Mrs
Bell saw that some of the bills were of
large denomination The new boarder said
he had come to Baltimore to go to work
His companion left him at the house Of
Mrs Bell and later Bateman went out. He
was slightly intoxicated when he returned
about $50 o'clock, but was able to go to
his room without assistance. Yesterday
morning he left the house early, saying he
was going to work. 1t was shortly after
the noon hour when he returned and went
to his room. He said he did not want to
be called for dinner, he going to
take nap. Mrs. Bell sent her little niece
TO his room shortly after o o'clock to tell
her Washington boarder that supper was
ready. A knock on the door brought no
response, and the child opened the door,
when she detected the odor of carbolic acid
coming from the room. Bateman, partly
dressed. was lying on the bed, and the
sight frightened the child An antidote
was administered soon as a physician
resched the house, but the man died in a
short time Coroner Rheinhardt directed
the removal of the body to the morgue and
started an investigation. The bills that
Bateman had been seen to have when he
apr cared at the house the day before could
not be found Forty-four cents was all the
money that was found in his room. The
coroner deferred reaching a conclusion in
the case because of the failure to find the
bottle that had contained the acid.
II Is said that Bateman had been drink
ing before he left this city Saturday. He
had fall some years ago, II is stated, and
could not stand much in the nature of
stimulants since his recovery. His body
will be brought here for interment when
the investigation in Baltimore is concluded.