The Washington herald., 1907-05-30
dies AT A WEDDING
John Pryor Stricken with
Heart Disease at Church.
NEWS HELD FROM THE BRIDE
Days Record on the Police BIOtter
shows Five Victims of Accidents
and Sudden FatnIIties-CoIoredM Man
browns I'm RiVer-Henry Becker
Expires While Working Mt Barn.

The record on the police hlotter at head
quarters yesterday shows a long chapter
of accidents and violent deaths.
Five persons died suddenly, one by in
haling Illuminating gas with suicidal in
tent. one by inhaling Illuminating gas by
accident. one by drowning. and two
dropped dead of affections of the heart.
John Pryor, forty-five years old. of 80
Tenth street southeast. while standing
on the steps Of St Marks Episcopal
Church, Third and A streets southeast,
where he had gone to attend the wedding
Of Miss Gertrude Marcy, clutched his
breast and fell heavily to the sidewalk.
just as the church organ struck up the
familiar notes Of the Lohengrin Wedding
March"
When Pryor suddenly fell, a hurry call
was sent for a physician and for an am
bulance. Life was extinct, however. when
both the Casualty Hospital ambulance
and the Fifth precinct patrol arrived, and
the remains were sent to the morgue.
DR.. William Levering Devries, the Of
fciating clergyman. asked all aware of
the sad occurrence TO keep the fact from
the bride and groom, and the happy
couple departed on their honeymoon OBJ
livious Of the fact that grim death stood
at the church door during the wedding
ceremony.
Coroner hewitt, after viewing the re-
mains. issued a certificate Of death from
valvular disease of the heart. Mr.. Pryor
had been suffering from the disease for
some time and had been under the care
Of DR.. Friedrich
Born in Philadelphia.
He was born in Philadelphia and came
70 this city fifteen years ago, obtaining
employment in the Government Printing
Office His wife and daughter. Mrs
Bowling, Of Pittsburg, Pa. survive him.
No funeral arrangements have yet been
made, but It was said last night inter-
ment will probably be made Saturday.
Henry Becker, ffty-fve years old, of
rs Seventh street northwest. an employe
of the Capital Traction Company. dropped
dead in the car barns. at Fourteenth and
Park streets northwest, about 5I5 o'clock
while about his daily work. The corouer's
Office was notified, and the remains taken
TO the m0rgue.
certificate OF death from natural
causes was given.
Charles Barnes, colored, thirty years
old. OF Sl4 Twenty-flrst street northwest.
fell into the river at the foot of jefferson
street northwest about 7,20 o'clock last
night and was drowned. The police were
notified. and friends made a futile en-
deavor TO recover the body. Il was re-
covered by the harbor police and sent TO
the morgue. The coroner viii hold an In
quest this morning.
other Deaths Reported.
Distracted because he could not effect
a reconciliation with his wife, from whom
he had recently become estranged. Will
lam W. Skinner, seventy years old. who
served in Stonewall Jackson's brigade
during the civil war. committed suicide
early yesterday morning. His body was
discovered by Mrs. +. W. Feltner. the
landlady Of a lodging house at 3ol Z
street northwest, where he had gone after
Third street northwest
Mr. Skinner had become eStranged from
his wife several times previously. but
each time r reconciliation had been
II is said that Skinner was fond
OF strong drink. and that protractei
sprees were the cause Of frequent separa-
tons.
Frederick SteigeIman, sixty-three. a res
ident Of Yicksburg, Miss, was also found
dead early yesterday morning at the
home Of +. j. Frank. 1122 Twenty-ffth
street northwest. Death was due to
asphyxiauon by Illuminating gas. Coro-
rer Nevitt gave q certificate Of accidental
death.
Mr.. Steigelman. IL was stated. was
large planter and was in this city on bus
mess. Suicide Is not suspected
Frank Kane, a blacksmith, nineteen
years ole, was found unconscious yester-
day morning. in his room on the third
floor of the building at GIG r street north
west He was taken 10 the Emergency
and regained consciousness in
about an hour. He will recover. Kane
could not account for the gas being
turned on and il is thought the affair was
accidental.