The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-12-17
WRITES TO WIFE.
THEN ENDS LIFE
Suicide OF w. \. Fries, Prominent
Contractor, Attributed
TO III Health.
CHURCH NEARS COMPLETION
Easter Services TO BE Held in
New Ejihce-Special Sermon
on Universal Peace.
SPECIAL 10 The Times-Dispatch. J


Raleigh. y G. December lev. ~
Fries. a well known contractor and
builder. OF Greensboro. committed sui
eide early this morning in Hotel
Giersch by cutting his jugular vein
on the left side Of his throat with "A
dull penknife. the blade used being
less than an inch and d half In length.
He was in the employ Of the State
Building Commission rs secretary 10
the commission. and as expert builder.
having supervision OF the work Of the
construction or the quarter million dol
lar hreproof state building that is now
nearing completion.
Mr. Fries leaves wife and children
AT Greensboro. and he left the follow
ing unsigned note 10 Mrs. Fries.
TO Ny Dear Wife.
Il am accused OF ugly charges that
cannot entirely disprove. Therefore.
good BY. love. / take my own life
hoping you collect the life Insurance,
as II runs for some time. Have one
Security Life annuity for $4,000 and
one Mutual Life Of New York for So
600. Amounts are due on each one.
which will reduce this some. Good
b.. love have never been what
ought 10 you. Hope you and the chill
dren will yet be happy"
This note was unsigned and written
on his business letter head, and was
open on the dresser. not even torn from
the pad Mr. Fries received a salary
OF 5000 per month from the state
Building Commission.
He returned TO the city last night.
after an absence Of several days. and
was shown 10 his room about mid
night.
room dead. His body was lying be-
tween the bed and the door. and he
had evidently crawled about the room
on his hands and knees as his lies
blood was ebbing away He had on
only his undersuit AMI top shirt
Mr.. Fries was about forty-fiVe years
old, and was a builder OF recognized
ability He had in coat pocket a
letter 20 Colonel Ashley Horne. as
chairman OF the safe Building Com
mission. telling him that he had been
sick week or more. and would re-
turn to his work in Raleigh at once.
The suicide is attributed 10 III heait.
as much as TO anything else. He had
been drinking considerably. but suf-
fered from asthma and other troubles
that greatly interfered with his sleep
at night The remains will be taken
The statement was made from tho
chancel Of the Church of the Good
she pherd on Sunday that the contract
has been signed for the completion OF
the splendid granite church on Hills
boro Street. near Capitol square. by
July J. 1t was fourteen years ago that
this house Of worship was started II
is expected 10 have il in condition for
holding the Eastr services in the
church, but u Will not De completed
before July II will be one of the very
handsomest churches in the State.
Now the fighting is done BY the
men. but We can't tell whas the conji-
tons will be in ten years if the women
vote and hold Office. l don't see but
that as a natural sequence they can
not avoid assuming the other duties az
citizenship. including going 20 war.
declared DR.. T. NICK. Pittinger. rector
OF the Church Of the Good Shepherd
on Sunday in a special sermon on
Universal Peace The sermon was
based on the Scripture. IF x be pos
sible. forasmuch as lieth in you. live
peaceably with all men" He declared
that much progress is being made to-
ward universal peace. in spite Of the
several great wars thac have arisen
since the world peace mOvemert was
started lie mentioned especially the
Spanish american War and the present
Balkan states war against the Turks
as blood shed for noble purposes that
fully met his approval The failure OF
the United States Senate TO adopt the
arbitration treaty sent to the Senate |
by President TAFT al the last session |
was declared 70 have been a great dis |
appointment. and the minister eX- !
pressed the hope that there may - be 1
a ratification of this or some yet more
advantageous treaty looking 10 the /
elimination OF war