The Suicide of H. A. Ray: A Seattle Man’s Tragic End Amidst Scandal and Debt

CHIcago, Feb. 18.—Henry A. Ray, who committed suicide last Saturday, was of the Chehalis Water Company. He came here as the accredited agent of the company organized by Chehalis people. At a meeting of stockholders Wednesday all were satisfied but Mr. Ray said 'he had lost their money,' and then was suspected that he was financially shut up.

That night he went to Vancouver and filed on a timber claim, and borrowed $1,000 along with his collected amount of other small sums of money. The local society is all the talk here. It is libeled as rumor-citizens with the affair is believed to be more than appears on the face. His statements in the press are laughed at by him losing money to Ray.

The loan has been the object of her wrath. She claims he borrowed money on her board and printer's bills. He used Chehalis' name without authority. He was aware the woman, Lena, was not his sister and that his attentions were breaching trouble. Ray threatened her there that day night. Von Rhein saw him yesterday. The former remarked 'I am too late to leave, Von.' In Portland he said he would go on to California and have trouble in hand.

Ray was just in his desire to tie up a few days before his death. He was expecting financial aid, and that failing, jealousy and disappointment caused the suicide. Ray was demoted from the water office; any way, he put up $10,000. His death is given as a most terrible tragedy.

The interest of the steam dispatch was one in which Mr. Ray had no part. He was libeled by her that she was Ray's sister. Lewis not Ray says 'I am his sister.' She is a woman of 25, but has been here at the time and he came there from San Francisco. From us we went to Seattle, when she engaged in domestic duties. Ray joined her soon after and they both married here six or seven months ago. She then went San Francisco and East to visit relatives, leaving him behind.

Ray is now here in Seattle and from here went with Miss Lena to appear that the two hardly ever together; one would leave first and then the other would follow, and then they would register as brother and sister. Ray did not accompany the woman but he was with her in every place stopped while along the coast.

'Are you Mr. Ray's sister?' asked Lewis. She replied emphatically, 'No. My name is Miss Lena. I am not his sister.'

The coroner's jury in the case of Henry A. Ray yesterday returned a verdict that caused came to his death as the result of a pistol shot fired by his own hand with full knowledge and intent that death would ensue. He was unmarried and about 35 years old. On his person was found a receipt from an Odd Fellow's lodge in San Francisco. After the back of the certificate Ray had written, 'Let this be sent to San Francisco with my body.' It clearly shows he had deliberately committed the deed.