Evening star., 1936-05-07
JAMES HAY DIES
!. OF HEART ATTACK
Washington Newspaper Man
Author of Dozen Sue
cessful Novels.

James Hay, jr., author Of a dozen
successful novels and former WASH
ington newspaper man, died today at
his home, 1721 street, of heart failure.
He was SIS years old.
Mr.. Hay was one Of the outstand-
ing newspaper writer's of Washington
when about IS years ago he gave up
journalism to devote himself to the
writing of fiction. His short stories
and special articles were featured in
the leading magazines Of the coun-
try. He was widely known among
editors and public men.
Mr.. Hay came from an old and
prominent family in Virginia. He
was born in Harrisonburg, Va, January
%, 1881, son of the late James Hay
and Constance (Tatum) Hay. His
father was for 20 years a member of
Congress from Virginia, chairman of
the House Committee on Military Af-
fairs, one Of the leaders of the House
and later served as a judge in the
United States Court Of Claims under
appointment of President Woodrow
Wilson.
Graduate of Virginia.
Mr.. Hay was graduated from the
University of Virginia in 1908 and
was a member of the Beta Theta Pi
fraternity. For year after his
graduation he was reporter for the
Washington Post under tutelage of
the late Scott c. Bone and the late
William P. Spurgeon, who were quick
to recognize the talents possessed by
the ambitious young Virginian. Dur
ing the Taft administration Mr.. Hay
was staff writer for the Washington
Times and made great reputation
as White House correspondent. He
travelled extensively with President
Taft, who became his warm personal
friend. He was one of the founders
Of the National Press Club and was
always active in club affairs.
His first novel, The Man Who For
got" appeared in 1915. Other books
followed in quick succession and were
eagerly read by an increasing
audience. A writer of indefatigable
industry, from the first he paid great
attention to style and developed rare
gift for graceful and incisive prose.
Some of his books and the dates of
their appearance were: Mrs. Mar
den's Ordeal" 1918, THE Winning
Clue" 1919; THE Mellwood Mystery"
1920; mo Clue" 1920; "The Unlighted
House" 1921; "The Bellamy Case"
1925; THE Washington Affair" 1925,
which achieved unusual success as a
best seller and recently was repub-
lished in England, and THE Wayside
Inn for Birds" stories of bird life Tin
collaboration with the late John L.
Martin of The Starr, 1929.
Was Writing Novel
At the time of his death, Mr.. Hay
was working on a novel based on the
life of Mary Queen of Scots. He was
| the author of an interpretative appre-
citation of Saint Gaudenfs masterpiece
in Rock Creek Cemetery, properly
called Grief" which was hailed as
the best work written about this enig-
matte work of art.
Mr. Hays magazine contributions
both in fiction and in special articles
were as varied as his interests and
appeared in more than 200 publica-
tions. He managed a Nation wide
magazine publicity campaign for the
United States George Washington
Bicentennial Commission - 1892.
Latterly he had been connected with
the Public Relations Division Of the
Federal Housing Administration.
Mr.. Hay is survived by his wife,
formerly Miss Maude Millicent Lar
rick of Winchester, Va; one daughter,
Miss Lindsay Hay; a brother, Will
liam Hay of Madison, Va, and two
half sisters, Mrs. Randolph Page and
Mrs. D. C. Wade, both of Berkeley,
w. Va. Other relatives are two aunts,
Mrs. Josephine Tropier of New York
City and Mrs. L. B. Tatum of Rich
mond, Va.