Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-18
Friends Think Strain of Hutch
ms Will Case Unbalanced
Mind of R. Ross Perry.
FUNERAL is TO BE HELD
TOMORROW AFTERNOON
Members of Bar Mourn Loss of Dis
tinguished Attorney Who Had
Practiced Nearly Half Century.

the foremost members of the District
bar. who committed suicide in his office
in the Fendall building yesterday after
noon. is to take place tomorrow aftel :
noon from the Perry residence, 1875
Massachusetts avenue northwest. The
funeral will be private. Interment will
be made in Rock Creek cemetery.
The death of Mr.. Perry, who had been
leader in the National Capital not
only in the law, but also in important
civic and business affairs. caused wide
spread sorrow. The fact that he killed
himself added to the shock his death
caused those who knew him.
Coroner hewitt, who went to the
Emergency Hospital, where Mr.. Perry
died, gave verdict of suicide soon
after the death of the famous lawyer.
There was no witness to the actual
suicide, Mr.. hewitt was told. Mr.
Perry's son. R. Ross Perry, jr., found
his father in his office dying a few
minutes after he had sent a bullet
from revolver crashing into his
brain. MIR. Perry's son had left Mr.
Perry in his office in order to get the
automobile which was to carry them
away for luncheon. He and his IA
Their had chatted pleasantly together
before he left him.
Pistol Found on Desk.
Other persons who were in the Fem
dali building at the time Of the sui
eide told the coroner of finding
small pistol on the desk where it had
fallen after Mr.. Perry had pressed the
trigger. The coroner said he saw no
reason for calling Mr.. Perry's son be-
fore him to go over the distressing
details, and signed a certificate OF
suicide without asking r. Ross Perry.
jr.. to appear.
DR.. hewitt viewed the body at Emer-
gency Hospital where the wounded
man was taken in the ambulance Of
that institution in care of DIR. A. NJ
Macdonald. A dozen or more surgeons
including some of the most competent
members of the hospital staff. saw the
patient when he reached the instltu-
ton. They agreed that the bullet had
passed through from a point over the
right ear and shattered the skull on
the opposite side. 1t had passed through
the brain. and death was regarded as
DE-. Harry Lewis. superintendent of
the hospital. was with the patient when
death came. A few minutes later the
body was taken to the hospital morgue
Had Been in Nervous Condition.
That his mind was in a state which
made him irresponsible was the belief
expressed by MI. Perry's friends last
night Coroner hewitt was told that he
had been nervous and that his condi-
ton the last few days bordered on
melancholia.
The telephone at Emergency Hospital
was kept busy yesterday afternoon.
anxious inquiry about the condition of
the wounded man and expressing the
deepest sorrow when told of his death.
Hundreds of messages of coincidence
ers appeared at the Perry home. but
Mrs. Perry denied herself to even her
more intimate friends.
r. For nearly fifty years Mr.. Perry had
He had the respect and admiration of
justices. lawyers and laymen. He al
ways had the reputation of being fair
in ris dealings with clients and, 1t is
said. he objected to appearing as coun-
sci unless he felt certain he had right
on his side.
Other members of the bar looked up
to him as being one Of the leading
members Of the fraternity. whose coun-
sells were always sought and appre-
ISOLATION he worked diligently to in
crease the influence of that body and
was largely responsible for bringing
it up to it's present high standard.
Friends Blame overwork.
Members of the bar. friends of the de-
ceased, last night discussed the dis
tressing tragedy and were at a loss to
understand why the deed was commit
ted. 1t was the consensus of opinion
that the deed was the result of nerv-
Gus breakdown. probably brought OH
by the strain of the long trial of the
Stilson Hutchins will case. Appearing
in hotly contested case from day to
day for a period of five months, said
one lawyer. is a strain that many mon
much younger than Mr.. Perry could
not have stood
An injury he sustained TO his knee
some time ago, and which necessita ed
an operation. had about healed 1t
was in good shape. his physicians sal 4,
and there was no need for fear that he
would have experienced further trouble
with it.
w. N. Lewins. president of the Bar
Association of the District, last night
said that owing to the absence from
Washington of a large number of the
members Of the association no meet
ing would be held at this time to take
action upon the death of Mr. Perry.
Such a meeting will be held later.
when the members have returned from
their vacations. MIR. Lewins said he
would urge members to attend the
funeral, subject to the wishes of the
family of Mr. Perry