The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-09-05
DR.. William A. Aber-
crOmbie Dead in
StOneleigh Court.
Room Made Air Tight
And Two Gas Jets
Running.
Body Found by Maid
Long After Death
Came.

DR.. William A. Abercrombie, for
merly United States consul to Nag
asaki. was found dead in bed about
$3.50 o'clock this morning in his
apartments in Stoneleigh Court.
Gas was flowing from two jets
which had been turned on full head.
both windows in the room were
closed and the cracks around the
door had been caulked with absorb
ent cotton. After viewing the re-
mains Coroner Nevitt gave a GER
tifcate Of death by suicide.
He was found by Emma F. Jack
son, a colored maid, who notified the
clerk in charge of TIE apartment
house DR.. W. l. Masterson, who
has his Office and living apartments
in Stoneleigh Court, was summoned
Immediately, and after examining
the body said that life had been ex-
tinct for several hours.
Last Seen Twenty-four Hours Ago.
DR.. Abercomble was last seen alive
by hts maid yesterday morning. she
prepared his breakfast about 3 O'Clock.
and after putting the apartment fl or
der. left for the day. returning this
morning. About o'clock yesterday az
ternOon he summoned a beIIboy and
ordered q bottle OF whisky and a siphon
That was the last time he was seen
alive
Coroner hewitt found the physician
lying IN bed dressed in his night cloth
ing His right hand was resting on
he had died IN pain. The bedroom Is
separated, from the rest OF the apart
ment by a short hallway. In this hall
way is a wall jet. which Was turned
chandelier in the bedroom was vide
open.
Had Read and Smoked.
On the table was a quart bottle OF
whisky nearly full. and only about a
quarter OF the siphon had been used.
There were several cigar stumpS and
books on the table, and It was evident
| tnat the doctor had smoked and read
| for some time before c0mTaitting sui
| eide A medical magazine opened To an
article on Effects OF Mental Faugue'
/ was on q small stand near a large chair.
| a lead pencil
All OF Dr. Abercrombie's street clothes
| had been carefully folded and hung up
| Just as II ne was retiring for the night.
| There were no notes or anything that
would indicate a motive for his act, eX-
| cept the fact that he had not been n the
| best OF health for some time.
Shrouded in Mystery.
The case Is shrouded in considerable
| an late hour
afternoon the police had failed 70 To-
cate any OF the dead mans relatives or
| friends. Although he had lived at
| Stoneleigh Court since the building was
| erected four years ago, very little was
| known about him b. persons living IN
the apartment house
He is said 10 be a relative OF a Mrs.
Miller ana Mrs. Shoefelt, who for
| merly lived at Eighteenth street and
| Jefferson place Both OF these women
| left the city early in the spring and
| other persons living at the house did
not know him. He is also said 10 be
! a cousin Of Capt Frederick A. Miller,
| L. S. N, retired, who lives at 230l
! Massachusetts avenue. The police
| learned that Captain Miller is out OF
| the city for the summer
hrs. Abercrombie Notified.
DR.. and Mrs. Abercrombie had spent
/ the summer at Atlantic City and re-
| turned TO Washington about two weeks
| ago. shortly after arriving IN the city,
/ Mrs Abercombie received a message
! that her mother was dangerously i'll
/ IN Reading, Pa Mrs. Abercrombie left
! Immediately for Reading. She was no
titled of her husbands death BY tel
egraph, but no answer has been received
TO the message. Sergeant Brown and
Policeman Allen. Of the Third precinct
are IN charge OF tie body until word
| is received from Mrs. AbercrOmbie.
| DR.. Abercrombie anu his wife had
planned to spend the winter in Ber-
muda. and lad expected to leave as
| soon as Mrs. Abercombie returned from
| Reading
DR.. Abercrombie was born IN New
| York State IN 1916 He was educated at
! Hobart College, IN Geneva, N Y After
| graduating in medicine. he practiced his
| profession in New York and Jersey City,
and IN 1890 was appointed consul to
| Nagasakt by President Harrison He
remained in the consular service until
! the election OF President Mckinley, IN
1896.
Stree 1897 he had lived in Washington,
/ but had not been engaged in active
! practice. At Stoneleigh Court It was
generally supposed that DR.. Abercrom-
/ bic was a retired naval officer, and oTJ-
posite his name in the city directory are
/ the letters L. ;. y. At the Navy De-
partment. however IL was said that he
had never been in that branch Of the
| Government service. His name does
not appear in any OF the navy registers
or on the retired list.