Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-05
Dead Hours When Found.

Ut AberCromble was found lying dead
on his bed, dressed in Lis night clothes,
with a coverlet drawn partly over him.
Gas was issuing from one jet of the bed
room chandelier and from jet In a little
hallway connecting with the bathroom. The
windows OF the bedroom and bathroom were
closed tightly.
DIR. w L. Masterson. who lives at Stone-
Ielgh court, was summoned. He hastened
10 the apartment, and after an examina-
tion of the body, declared that Dr. Aber-
crombfe had been dead for several hours
No letters or notes of any kind, to indi-
cate the cause of the deed. were found in
the room, and everything was in place. Had
II not been for the cotton stuffed in the
door cracks there would have been every
indication of accidental death The room
was in perfect order. DR.. Abercrombe had
taken off his clothes. to prepare for going
TO bed. and they were i'll order on chairs
in tn room. His watch and other jewelry
were lying on a bureau in the room.
Yesterday afternoon DIR. Abercrombie
called )fOr some liquor, and bottle of
whisky and some vichy. of which Little had
been used. were found a table in the
bedroom where he took his life. Those
around the apartment say DR.. Abercrombie
was a temperate man, and his order for
the liquor was regarded as unusual
Nobody Knows the Reason.
Mental depression has been suggested as
the cause of the deed. upon the table in
the room was found magazine article
which the doctor had evidently been read
ing. on the subject Effects of Mental
Fatigue" There were several books and
papers the same table. indicating that
the man spent much time in study yester-
day; and the article on mental fatigue was
the last, apparently, that he had read
Another fact indicating the same cause
was DIR. Abercrombie's perturbed con-
dition of mind when the liquor was deliv-
cred to him yesterday. The bell boy who
delivered II found DIR. Abercrombie walking
up and down the apartment wringng his
hands and apparently much excited.
DR.. AbercrOmbie was born in New York
city In iS45. After attending the public
schools there he went to Hobart College at
Geneva, y. Y. Later he was graduated
from the medical department OF the New
York University in 1872 From that time
until 1890 he practjced medicine in Jersey
City and New York.
In 1870 DR.. Abercrombe was appointed by
President Harrison consul to Nagasaki,
Japan. and held the post for six years.
until the change of administration. He
was then possessed of cons ldera BILE wealth
and retired from active work. Four years
ago he moved to Stoneleigh Court.
Just Come Back to Town.
DR.. AberCrOmbie married some years ago.
and his wife survives him. After spending
the summer with his wife at Atlantic City
the doctor came on to Washington. while
Mrs Abercromb!e went to Reading, Pa, to
care for her SEX mother. She has been
notified of her husbands death and is on
her way to Washington.
The police and coroner were notified of
the suicide about clock this morning,
and Scrgt. Brown and Policeman Allan of
the third precinct went to the Connecticut
avenue apartments and took charge.
The police were informed that the de-
ceased was related to Mrs. Miller and Mrs.
Shoefelt, who live at 18th street and Jeffer-
son place, and the dead man is a cousin of
capt Frederick A Miller of 22Ol Massa-
chusetts avenue northwest. But all these
relatives were found to be out of the city
when the police went TO notify them.
Member of Local Club.
Or. Abercrombie was member of the
Metropolitan Club. having been elected to
membership January I. 1S99 and was a
frequent visitor at the cubrooms. at II
street and Vermont avenue northwest.
The news of the suicide of DR.. Abercrom-
bic was great shock 10 the members of
the club when 1t became generally known
this afternoon, and II was the topic of gen
eral conversation.
Il was talking with him a day or so age
here and he seemed to be In good health
and fine spirits" stated a member of the
club to a Star reportY this afternoon. u
am much surprised at his rash deed"
In his apartment was found handsome
umbrella, upon which 1t was stated that it
was presented to lfr. Abercrombie by the
Metropolitan Club. This Is indication
OF the high regard with which he was held
BY the members Of the club
DIR. Abercrombie was known about the
Stonele!gh Court apartments a retired
surgeon of the United States Navy; and in
the city directory the letters u. S. N" fol-
low his name. But the records OF the Navy
Department after being searched this
morning. revealed such officer or sur
geon In that service 1t was known that
he was a physician and had retired from
the government service, and this is be-
heved to have led TO the confusion.