The Washington herald., 1907-09-06
Mrs. AbercrOmbie Shocked
by Husbands Suicide.
FUNERAL TO BE TOMORROW
Remains VIII Be Inferred at Read
ing, Pa.-NO Motive Ascribed for
Act of Physician Who Ended Life
nt StoneIeigh COurt-SuTered from
Bright's Disease for some Time.

the surgeon and eX-consular officer, who
committed suicide IN his apartments in
stoneleigh Court some time Wednesday
evening, was prostrated last night and
confined to her bed.
The solace Of lifelong friends failed to
comfort her. Mrs. Abercronnbie arrived in
the city shortly before 5 o'clock yesterday
afternoon, in great anxiety to be near
the side of her beloved husband, whom
she thought was only seriously IN. When
told that he was dead by Admiral Henry
T. B. Harris and Miss Harris. her grief
knew no bounds. and after one look at
the body, friendly hands supported her to
her own room. where she has been ever
since
All arrangements for the care Of the
body and its removal 10 Reading, Pa,
where the interment viii take place, were
left in the hands of Admiral Harris and
AIRS. Abercrombie's brother. Samuel Sey-
sert, who arrived in this city from Read
ing last night
Friends Of the deceased were almost as
greatly shocked and grieved as Mrs Aber-.
crombie and they can ascribe no cause
for his taking his life. The married life
Of AIr and Mrs. Abercrombie had been
particularly happy one. and had caused
comment among their friends.
Dr. Abercrombie. however was suffer
ing from an incurable illness, according
10 Admiral Hains. and may have, as an
expere5medical man. realized the hope
lessness Of his case.
''He was often depressed. said the
admiral, when l have been with him.
and very much worried over his condi-
ton He has been i'll of Brights disease
for years, and il has been a source Of
much anxiety and worry, sometimes
bringing on "a depression that was only
dispelled in the presence of bis wife, who
seldom left his side. / can think OF no
other possible reason"
Funeral 20 BE Held Saturday.
Funeral services viii be held at Read
ing, Pa, al Mrs. Abercr0mbie's home, to-
morrow afternoon at o'clock. The ser
vices will be private and Rev DR.. Or
-.ck. Of the Episcopal Church, Of Read
ing. viii preside Detailed arrangements
have not been made, but the remains viii
probably be taken by special car 10 Read
ing this afternoon.
Admiral Harris and other friends. who
were summoned by the maid. upon the
discovery Of the body yesterday morning,
called Mr. Seysert Mrs AbercrOmbie's
brother by long distance telephone, and
acquainted him with the facts Mrs.
Abercrombie was at the home OF her
parents. on a hig country estate IN the
suburbs of Reading She was told by her
brother that her husband had been taken
seriously IN. All too anxious. she made
haste 10 this city only 20 be met with
thu fun import OF the sad blow that had
befallen her.
Her brother followed as soon as possi-
BILE
Airs. Abercrornbie was met at the depot
in this city by Admiral and Miss Davis
who broke the news gently. seeking TO
delay until the end the fact of her hus-
bands death. Mrs Abercrombie grew
fearful with anxiety, and the strain
becoming unbearable she collapsed upon
reaching her apartments.
Planned Trip to Bermuda.
Dr. Abercrombie had been in this city
but short time, having spent the sum
mer with his wife ct Atlantic City.
S-1rtly after arriving here two weeks
ago. Mrs. Abercrombie received a message
AtitlA 44NA A-lDlAhfA was NctliE b-oAS IA ia
Reading, and she left Immediately for
that city. The couple had planned to
spend the winter in Bermuda, and ex-
pected TO leave as soon as Mrs Aber-
crombie returned from Reading
II was first learned that DR. Aber-
crombie had committed suicide about 9
o'clock yesterday morning, when a colored
maid, Emma Z. Jackson, entered the
outer room of the Abercrombie apartment
20 attend TO her usual household duties.
She detected a strong odor Of gas. coming
apparently from Or. Abercrombie's apart
ment and she rushed down stairs and
gave the alarm. A clerk returned with
her, and although the door was unlocked
Il was opened with difficulty as the
cracks had been caulked with absorbent
cotton.
Leaves No Notes.
Or. Abercrombic was found dead on his
bed. dressed in his night clothes. No let
ters or notes Of any kind 10 indicate the
cause Of the deed were found in the room,
everything being IN order. and had it not
been for the cotton caulking there would
have been nothing 10 indicate anything
but accidental death
DR.. AberCrOmbie was a temperate man,
but Wednesday afternoon he called for
some liquor. a bottle OF whisky and some
vichy. These We're found later. however,
but little used
A magazine, opened at an article on
Effects of Mental Fatigue" was found
on the reading table. where the doctor
had evidently been sitting for some time,
and II was at first thought that depres-
sion resulting from the perusal OF this
article had caused him TO take his life, il
being further learned that he was greatly
perturbed when the bellbOy brought the
liquor 10 his room.
Coroner hewitt who was summoned as
soon as the discovery was made, gave a
certificate Of death by suicide. Sergt.
Brown and Policeman Allan were detailed
to guard the apartment until the arrival
Of Mrs Abercr0mbie.
Relatives Out of Town.
The police were informed that the de-
ceased was related to Mrs. Miller and
Mrs. Shoefelt. who live at Eighteenth
street and Jefferson place, and the dead
man was q cousin of Capt Frederick A.
Miller, of 22M Massachusetts avenue
northwest. All these relatives were
found TO be out Of the city.
Or, AbeTcrombie was born in New York
City in lSi5. After attending the public
schools there he went to Hobart College
at Geneva n. y Later he was gradu-
ated from the medical department OF the
New York University IN 1872. From tha;
time until 1850 he practiced medicine In
Jersey City and New York
In 1896 Dr.. Abercrombie was appointed
by President Harrison as consul 10 Ma
gasak, Japan. and held the post for six