Litchfield enquirer., 1849-05-31

Il
DREADFUL AND MELANCHOLY
SUICIDE OF ASA HALL, ESQ,
DIRECTOR OF THE NORTH RlV-
Err BANK.
At noon, on yesterday, the neighbol-
hood of Union Square and the adjoining
fashionable locality, was thrown into the
utmost CONSERVATION and horror by the
reno,t. which ran like wildire through
out tie upper part of the city, that Asa
Hall, ESQ, a most respectable gentleman
and wealthy merchant, had committed
suicide by cutting his throat with razor
The report, alas! turned out to be but
too true. Our special reporter was,
shortly after the frightful occurrence, on
the spot, and CLEANED the following par
ticElars:
Mr.. Hall had been down town in the
early part of yesterday. About half
past twelve, at noon, he returned home,
On going into his house, No. 43 East
Twenty first street, he Was met by Mrs.
Hall. who said to him that dinner was
nearly ready. He took off his coat and
went up stairs, as if to wash his hands in
his chamber. From his own bedroom,
it appears, he went to his sons bedroom
for razor, and again came back to the
former. Mrs. Hall, finding that he had
been above longer than appeared neces-
gary, went up stairs and found the bed
room locked. She looked through the
key-hole to see what was the matter, and,
to her horror, she beheld her husband
living on the floor, with his throat cut,
and weltering in pool of blood.
She Immediately called for help, and
the door was burst open. 1t seems the
shocking deed was perpetrated opposite
a GLASS. which stood on the mantel piece
of the chimney of the bedroom fireplace.
Here he deliberately drew the razor from
ear to ear, cutting through the wndPiPe,
outlet, and caroted arteries, all the way
back to the vertebrm Of the neck. Whilst
the wound was bleeding, he mu"t have
been looking in the glass, for the greater
pertion of the blood flowed into the CRATE
nan, in straight and uninterrupted pool.
The case was reported at the 18th
District Station House, upon which Off
Ger Washington Seccor repaired to the
dwelling of Mr.. Hall, and there beheld
that unfortunate gentleman lying upon
his back in pool of blood. Dr. Bren.
nan, of Broadway, was Instantly sent for,
but life was quite extinct. No medical
aid was of use The fatal weapon with
which the deed was done, was lying near
the bod besmeared with blood. 1t would
be impossible to convey any idea of the
state Of mind of Mrs. Hall, and her now
orphan family. Amiable in manner, and
affectionate to his family, their bereave-
ment can only be imagined; it can hardly
be conveyed adequately in words:
Mr.. Hall stood very high in the mer-
camille community His business was
that of a wholesale hat manufacturer.
which he carried on in connection with
his son. He was director of the North
River Bank, and was so popular an officer
of that concern, that he was soon to be
chosen president.
Mr. II. was about SIS ye rs of age, and
was the father of eight or nine children.
He was reputed to be worth $4,000.
He was an exceedingly active and efficient
man of business, and most regular ana
moral in his department. For some few
days past he appeared to be gloomy and
silent why, no one could divine. Ills
general health was good, but latterly ne
was lyspeptlc.