Evening star., 1919-12-29

room. Despite the efforts OF ply
siciaus, he did not regain conscious
ness. Coroner NeVitt issued d GER
tificate of accidental death.
Family Home Closed.
The family had c.osed the Rhode
Island avenue home and were spend
ing the winter st the Cairo. Mrs.
ciapham's father, W. -. DuuninSton
of Farmvill... Va. arrived in the city
Saturday for visit. other relatives
also being holiday guests. Saturday
night Mr.. Chaplain proposed that.
rather than have his father-in- law
go to a hotel fer the night. arrange
mentS should be made 10 permit Mt
Huntington TO remain at the apart
,uent while Mr.. Chaplain went 10 the
residence.
When Mr. Clapham failed 10 return
for brea kfaSt at $50 o'clock yeSter-
day morning his wife be came alarmed.
and with the eldest daughter. went
TO the Rhode Island avenue home
where in a bedroom on the third floor
the husband and father was found
unconscious The small gas heater
in the room vas lighted and Mr.. Clap
ham was lying on the Hoor- parity
undressed AID with his night clothes
on the foot of the bed
DIR. II. krogstad was summoned I'M
nfediateiy and a call was sent to
Emergency Hospital. the ambulance
with physicians responding IN Il lew
minutes. All efforts OF the physicians
to resuscita-e he asphy Waited man
were without avail, however,
Ar insesti:ss tion by the police and
by Coroner hewitt showed that "a
small break in the rubber tubing
leading from The gas fixture 70 the
heater permitted enough gas 10 escape
to cause death. :---.
Native of Virginia.
AR. CiaphaIn, who had been u Wash
inSton resident for about fifteen years.
was born near Waterford, Loudoun
was in u bank at Leesburg. and later
he became cashier in a bank al Ma
naSsas. From there he went TO &
similar position in bank at Farm
vile. There he met Miss Sarah Dun
nington, whose father then w;ss presi-
dent of the bank in which Mr.. Clap
ham was cashier. and they were mar
ried after "a few months.
Several wears later Mr. Clapham
came to this city to become cashier of
the Merchants and Mechanics Bank
subsequently, going TO the old Nation
al City Bank. When that bank was
merged with the old Commercial Ma
tional Bank and reorganization was
effected largely through his efforts.
he was made president OF the institu-
ton He retired from this position
about q year and half ago.
Chosen to Head Oil Company.
shortly before December 1 Mr.. Clap
ham was elected president of the
Consolidated Oil and, Refining Com
pany, with headquarters in Baltimore
His offices were in the Calvert build
Ing and he went to Baltimore daily
returning to his home here in the
evening Saturday he luuched with
Daniel Fl. Willard of New York, in
baltimore. returning 10 Washington
about 80 o'clock.
Surviving him are Mrs Chaplain
who is prostrated at the apartment in
the Cairo. and two daughters, India.
fifteen years old, and Sarah, twelve
years old.
Funeral services are 10 be held ut
o'clock tomorrow afternoon at ST.
Thomas Episcopal Church, of which
Mr.. Ciapham was member. The
body is to be placed in a temporary
receiving vault, for interment later in
the cemetery at his old home in
Loudoun county.
Ar. Claphahl was q Mason and {.
member of the Chevy Chase, Metro
politan and other clubs.