Marcus A. Fry died yesterday morning at the Vendome of
consumption. He was a young man who came here from Franklin,
Pa. a week ago in search of his health. His remains have been
embalmed by W.H. Smith and his father in reply to a telegram
sends word that he will arrive in Phoenix next Wednesday.
March 20, 1894
Following the announcement of the death of Marcus A. Fry,
recorded a few days ago, came a romance which has just
obtained publicity, the two principal figures of which are
the dead man and a young lady known as May Alden. Fry
was a resident of Franklin Pa. and a well known insurance
agent there. The object of his visit here was relief from a
pulmonary affection. Soon after his arrival he associated
himself in the insurance business with L.J. Wood to whom he
presented strong testimonials form the Mutual Life and from
other sources.
Three weeks before he came here, there arrived at the Commercial
Hotel a young woman, quite pretty and of a cast of features
which suggested Spanish descent. She was modest and retiring
and was without means. She gave the name of May Alden and
soon obtained employment as forewoman in the dressmaking
establishment of Madam Mead and proved to be highly skilled
in her work.
On Fry's arrival he called on her and was introduced by her
cousin. She immediately gave up her employment and
took lodging at the Vendome where Fry had arranged to stop.
The relations of the pair were circumspect as become two
persons of the near degree of consanguinity professed by them.
Fry failed to obtain the relief he sought and died ten days
later. His father was telegraphed and arrangements were
made to ship the body east. At this point something occurred
which began to unfold the romance. The young lady objected
to the shipment of the body for the reason that there was a
certain box deposited in a safety deposit box at El Paso.
It contained many valuable papers in which she had an
interest and her jewelry along with other belongings of
hers and Frys. In reply to her objection, the father, S.
W. Fry, himself a prominent insurance man, came accompanied
by his brother-in-law, Dr. McDowell also of Franklin.
The body was sent east that night and many wondered why
the father and uncle remained in the city. They are here
yet and no time is fixed for their departure.
It is now learned that when young Fry believed death to be
imminent if not certain, he felt that something ought to be
done for the girl who had ministered to him so faithfully.
At the direction Mr. L.J. Wood , he drew a will bequeathing
to Mrs. Ida Butler $10,000, to be paid out of certain
insurance policies enclosed in the box at El Paso. This
was signed by Fry and witnessed by Mr. Wood and Dr. McLennan.
The will thus disclosed the real name of May Alden and it was
further learned that she had a husband from whom she was
separated, living at Albuquerque, that she had come here
to secure a divorce from him and it is supposed that she
expected to marry young Fry to whom she was strongly
attached. The first effort of Mr. Fry Sr. was to defect
the effort of the will and this contrasts strongly with
the confidence of the girl who readily surrendered the
receipt for the box at El Paso.
Litigation or more properly legal steps would necessarily
follow which might be friendly or otherwise and the young
lady chose Judge Woodward to represent her.
A semi offer for compromise has been submitted to her: by
its term she is to receive $5000. In the meantime the bill
has not been filed for probate being withheld it is said,
until the arrival of the box from El Paso.
March 29, 1894
Another move or rather two moves and possibly three were
made yesterday in the Butler-Fry matter. The will of the
deceased Marcus A. Fry in favor of Mrs. Butler was filed in
probate court along with a petition praying that letters
of administration with will annexed by granted Gen. A.J.
Sampson.
G.B. Fry and Dr. McDowell, father and uncle of young Fry left
the city on Wednesday night having given out that they
intended to return directly to Franklin, Pa. The receipt
of the box in El Paso was in his name.
BARNEY FRYMIRE
April 4, 1894
The funeral of Barney Frymire on Sunday morning was largely
attended. It occurred at the Christian church and was
conducted by Elder Winter. The K of P ceremonials were
enacted at the cemetery and the ritual was read by Vice
Chancellor A.A. Long.
MRS. DORA GATKE
May 15, 1894
Dora, the wife of Mr. F.W. Gatke, died about noon yesterday
after a prolonged and painful illness. The funeral will
take place at 3 o'clock this afternoon from the family
residence one mile west of the Capitol complex. Mrs.
Gatke was about sixty five years of age. She leaves
beside her sorrowing husband a large family of children.
FRANK GRAY
March 4, 1894
Frank Gray, the well known mining man of this city and brother
of Colonel C.H. Gray and W.T. gray was killed yesterday
afternoon at Florence Arizona. A telegram was received
last night by Billy Blankenship announcing the killing but
gave no particulars, stating only that Gray had been
accidentally shot and his body would be shipped to
Phoenix today. Gray accompanied by judge Buck left for
Florence overland on Friday so that the accident must
have occurred soon after his arrival there. The deceased
as one of the best known men in the valley if not in the
territory. He was interested in several mining ventures,
one of his associates being J.E. Teeters.
How Gray was Killed
March 5, 1894
The body of F.M. Gray who was accidentally shot near the
Reward Mine on Saturday was received here on Sunday morning
and the funeral took place in the afternoon from the
undertaking rooms of Randal and Davis.
Judge Buck who was with him in the buckboard at the time
of the accident said that he and Gray left Phoenix on
Thursday morning to visit some mining property southeast
of Casa Grande. They camped the first night near Maricopa
and on the second at the Reward Mine, twenty eight miles
from Casa Grande. They left camp about 7 on Saturday
morning and had gone about two and a half miles when the
accident occurred. Judge Buck was driving and Gray was
holding a double barreled shotgun stock downward on his
lap. The gun slipped in such a manner as to strike the
lock and one barrel was discharged. He partially rose
in the seat and Judge Buck seeing he had been shot
jumped from the vehicle and ran to the other side to
help him out. Gray was unable to stand but sank
unconscious to the ground and died ten minutes later.
The deceased was about 58 years old and a brother of Col. C.H.
Gray and W.T. Gray. He has two grown children living somewhere
in Texas.
January 9, 1894
Dr. J. FRANKLIN HADLEY
Dr. J. Franklin Hadley of Waltham, Mass. died last Sunday
morning in this city of consumption. He came here a few weeks
ago for his health but like many others was too late. His
wife, daughter and mother-in-law started last night on their
sad journey with the remains for their home in Mass.
MRS. MAY BROOKS HESS
Feb. 9, 1894
Mrs. May Brooks Hess, wife of Herbert R. Hess, the well known
attorney, died yesterday morning of consumption. The remains
were sent last night by Randal and Davis to the former home
of the deceased at Indianapolis. Mr. Hess brought his wife
here for her health about three months ago and hopes of
recovery were so strong that Mr. Hess arranged to make
Phoenix his home and engage in the practice of law.
The deceased was 28 years of age and a highly cultured lady.
HERBERT R. HESS
August 22, 1894
A telegraphic dispatch announces the recent death by suicide
of Herbert R. Hess at a Chicago Hotel. An empty morphine
bottle told the manner of his death and a child's slipper
on his pillow and the photograph of his wife lying near
suggested that grief was the motive.
The dead man was well known in Phoenix. He came here early
last fall with his wife who was suffering from a pulmonary
ailment. He intended if she derived the expected benefit
from this climate to settle here permanently and engage in
the practice of law. He was admitted to the bar of this
county and occupied a desk in the office of Kibbey and
Israel.
His wife died about the beginning of the year and he took
the body back to his home in Indianapolis. He was young
and an able lawyer.
