The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-12-15
LEWIS B. FREY
KILLS HIMSELF
HIS CLOTHES WITH
WHIskEY AND THEN SET THEM
ON FIRE DYING IN TERRIBLE
AGoNN-HousE WAS SET ON
FIRE AND WAS SAVED WITH
DIFFICULTY.

HSlEFtSSENIs
WHEELING, w. Va, December IS.
Lewis B. Frey, former MoundsytlIa
saloon keeper, ended his life in a
sensational manner in T. B. Dolan's sa-
loon, at Benwood Junction, about mid
night Friday, his dead body, burn.
ed to a crisp. Squire" Lilly, a bar.
tender, who was aroused by smoke
from the blaze which was rapidly eat.
ing into the floor and would soon have
had the entire building in mass Of
flames,
The dead man is supposed to have
fred his clothes after saturattng them
with whiskey, and then lay down on
the bed, where he died, apparently in
terrible agony.
Had Been Drinking.
Frey came to Benwood Junction
early in the evening, and visited a
number Of saloons. He is said to have
been drinking heavily. He had occu.
pied a room on the third floor of the
hotel, run in connection with the sa.
loon a number of times previously, and
unoknoEn to any Of the attaches Of the
place went through the hall and up
stairs to the room. It Is thought he
entered the room about II o'clock.
Short after midnight the bartender,
who had occasion to visit room in
the upstairs portion of the building,
detected the smell of smoke and made
an investigation. Shortly before he
reached the room occupied by Frey he
met Mr.. Dolan. the proprietor, who
occupied room nearby, and who had
also been attracted by the smell OF
smoke.
Together they made their way into
the room, which was literally packed
with smoke. The fire was communi.
eating with one of the walls of the
room and blazing merrily.
Dead Body in Bed.
They found Frey laying stretched
out on the bed. A glance showed that
he was dead, his clothing being burned
off and the flesh burned to a crisp.
Other inmates of the house were
aroused, aud by this time they sue
ceeded in extinguishlng the FIRE.
A physician was summoned, and
upon examination stated that the men
was doubtless dead some time before
he was discovered. The body was re-
moved to the undertaking parlors OF
Becker & Son, at Benwood, Coroner
McCombs, OF MoundsviIle, was sum
moned, and made arrangements to
hold an inquest this morning.
Had Narrow Escape.
Peter Dolau, the aged father OF the
proprietor of the place, Occupied room
adjoining the one occupied by the dead
man, and when found was almost COM
pletely overcome by the smoke. Had
the fire gained much more headway the
entire building would soon have been
in a mass Of flames and 1t would have
been almost an impossiblllty for all OF
the inmates to have made their escape
without injury. The building is a
frame structure, and, with practically
no fre.fghting equipment It would
have burned down in short time.
Officer Press Matthews, Of the Ben
wood police force, arrived soon after
the body was discovered and stated
early this morning that the case was
evidently suicide.
Was Well Known.
Deceased formerly conducted a sa'
loon on Jefferson avenue, near the
corner OF Third street, Moupdsyille,
His place was one Of the finest in the
city. Since the "drys" have been in
the majority Mr.. Frey has been en-
gagged principally in horse racing. He
owned two fast animals which were
run on number of tracks throughout
the State and valley during the sum.
mer and fall
He resides at No. 7Os Eighth street,
Moundsvllle. He was in comfortable
circumstances and his friends are at
loss as to the motive Of his deed,
unless 1t was despondency from drink.
He is survived by his widow and
three children. Mr.. Frey was well
known throughout this vicinity.
Frey was well known here. For a
long time he was manager Of the Fair
mont Brewing Company. Henry Gil
more, Of this city, was partner with
him in his business at Benwood. Mr..
Gilmore left here this morning and
win look after matters there.