Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-17

r. Ross Perry. for many years a
leader of the District bar. shot himself
in the head shortly after noon today,
while sitting alone in his Office in the
Fendall building. at the corner of John
Marshall place and D street.
He was rushed to the Emergency
Hospital, where he died at lis O'Clock
this afternoon.
The bullet from the revolver used by
Mr.. Perry crashed through the right
side of his head near the ear and shat
tered his skull on the left side. the
bullet probably penetrating the brain.
Ill-Health Probable Cause.
ul-health is believed to have caused
Mr.. Perry to take his life.
He had been suffering from nervous
ness for some weeks, it is said. Not
long ago Mr.. Perry fell on the steps of
the Fendall building and injured an
ankle, and it is only three or four
weeks since he recovered sufficiently
to go to his Office again.
R. Ross Perry. jr.. son of Mr.. Perry.
had left his fathers Office only few
minutes before the shot was fired in
order to get the automobile which was
to carry him and his father uptown.
Mr.. Perry said that his father appear
ed no more nervous today than he had
yesterday.
Rushed to the Hospital.
Immediately after Mr.. Perry shot him.
self DR.. Noble p Barnes, who happened
to be in the building. attempted to rem
der Arst aid. Detective Smith of the
third police precinct, who also was in
the building. sent in hurry call for the
Emergency Hospital ambulance.
Mr.. Perry was rushed to the hospital
as quickly as possible. There he was
attended by DR.. A. NJ Mcdonald and by
Dr. Lewis superintendent of the hos
pital,. and other members of the hos
pital staff.
seaton Perry. brother of Mr.. Perry.
who for many years was a successful
merchant, with his place of business
at 9Th street and Pennsylvania avenue
northwest, committed suicide several
years ago.
bar of the District of Columbia May 5.
1868 At one time he served as assist
ant United States attorney for the
District. He has been regarded as one
of the foremost members of the Dis
trict bar.
A Native Of Washington.
He had played leading part in many
celebrated cases before the local courts.
He was sixty-nine years old, and was
born in Washington, where he made
his residence all his life. He was edu-
Gated at Georgetown College and
abroad
Mr.. Perry for seventeen years was
chief counsel for the Capital Traction
Company. resigning last January.
Among the famous cases in which he
took part was the so-called Potomac
flats case. The last big case in which
he was attorney and over which he
worked assiduously was the Hutchins
will case recently terminated He ap-
peared as counsel for Walter Hutchins
Mr. Perry was engaged on this case
for fve months. The trial ended last
April.
Victim of Heart Attacks.
While engaged in the Hutchins trial
friends said today. Mr.. Perry suffered
several heart attacks. They were not
very serious, they said. but they never
theless caused him great worry.
Mrs. Perry. his wife. and r. Ross
Perry, jr.. survive Mr. Perry. The
Perry home is at 1895 Massa chusetts
avenue northwest. Formerly ii was on
street between 9Th and eth streets
X. Ross Perry. jr.. is an attorney and
was associated with his father
Mirror to Assure Aim.
Conversing with friends last night
Mr.. Perry appeared in good spirits and
discussed plans for going away from
Washington for the summer He had
recently told other friends, 1t was said
today. he believed that when man
was incurably i'll he should be killed
or permitted TO kill himself He ex-
pressed the fear that he himself would
get old and useless.
The indications are that he had been
contemplate shooting himself for several
days. That Re went about the act deliber-
ately after his son had left his office to
get the automobile appears from the
fact that Mr.. Perry took a mirror from
the wall and used 1t on his desk in
order to make his aim sure.
Director of Riggs Bank.
Mr.. Perry was a director of the Riggs
National Bank. and for a number OF
years he was counsel for that bank