Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-06
SUDDENLY EXPIRES
DEATH OF DIR. JAMES A. FREER,
PROMINENT PHYSICIAN.
Believed to Have Take an Overdose OF
Opiate to Relieve Pain in His
Head.

DR.. James A. Freer, prominent physi-
clan and surgeon Of this city. was found
dead upon the floor of a room In the VIII
lows, a suburban inn on Tenleytown roao'
yesterday afternoon. DR.. Freer was forty
six years of age and resided at 1869 kene-
saw avenue northwest. Coroner NEWT
gave a certificate Of death from cerepral
congestion, and a chemical analysis VIII De
performed on the stomach and tissues to-
day to determine the cause OF congestion.
DR.. Freer was native of New York. and
the body will be taken to Gilbertsville in
that state tonight for interment.
Dr. Freer appeared at the Willows about
9 o'clock Saturday evening, after having
responded to the call Of a patient In Tenley-
town. He was at his home on Kenesaw
avenue In the afternoon when the call
came and upon leaving he told Mrs. F,reer
that he would probably get dinner In Ten
leytown. Being tired from overwork ne
said he might not return during the even
ing. He registered at the Willows, which
he had frequented before and where he was
known by the proprietor, under the assum-
ed name Of F. A. James. He stated to the
proprietor that he had walked about half q
mile to the hotel, and desired to stay all
night Before retiring, however. he entered
the dining room and ordered dinner.
When he had finished his dinner he COM
planned of not feeling well and went imme-
diately to his apartment. He was not seen
after that until the door of his room was
opened at 12:45 yesterday afternoon and
the startling discovery Of his death was
made by Proprietor Heurich. The body
was lying on the floor with the head on
pillow. He had removed most of his outer
clothing, and it was noticed that some drug
had been hypodermically injected into the
leg.
Believed to Have Taken Overdose.
Friends of the physician have stated that
he was subject to intense pains in the head.
and it is believed that during one of these
attacks DR.. Freer. in using his customary
remedy, administered an overdose Of the
antidote An autopsy was performed on
the body by Deputy Coroner Glazebrook
He noted congestion of the brain. but fur
Their than this the organs of the body SEEM
ed to be normal. 1t was the opinion that
the overdose injected caused the copges-
ton. To determine this the examination of
the stomach and tissues will be made.
DR.. Freer has been a practfcing physician
in this city for more than twenty years.
He was native of New York and was born
at Gilbertsville in that state forty-six years
ago. His first wife was also a native OF
Gilbertsville. Her death occurred about
two years ago. Last October he married
Miss Elizabeth McCalmont, a daughter of
Judge J. s. McCalmont His wife and three
children by his first wife survive him. 1t
is understood that several relatives Of the
deceased surgeon reside in this city.
Connected With Local Fraternities.
Dr. Freer was a Mason and was also a
member of the Royal Arcanum of this city
He was an active churchlnan and was a
deacon in the New York Avenue Presby-
terrain Church
At the family residence it was stated this
afternoon that arrangements for funeral
ceremonies will be postponed until after the
arrival Of the body in Gilbertsville The re-
mains are to be forwarded to that place at
7:45 o'clock this evening, accompanied by
Mrs. Freer and her three children Mar
garet, Florence and Thomas.