The New York herald., 1870-08-17
sUiCi0E OF A GOLD sPEcuLaT3a.
Particulars Of the Suicide Of Philip n. nIcrtx-
the Pittsburs Banker, GA Acc Ount Of I4Osscn
In Gold speculctiOus.


the Pittsbura Banker, On Acc Ount Of I.ossea
In Gold speculatiOns.
(From the Pttsburg Gazette August l5.l
Inten sc exctement was created in this city yes.
ter day morning, particularly In financial circles, al
the announcement OF the death by suicide OF Phil lip
X. Mertz, well known banker, doing business az
the corner OF Fifth avenue and Wood street. The
report was at first dlsoountenanced by all who knew
Mr.. Mertz, but investigation 1t was found to be
true. The rash deed was perpetrated, IL IL sup
posed about ten minutes past five O'Clock yesterday
morning, but was not discovered FOR more than an
hour after that time.
Frederica Schroeder, German woman, VINO Tor sew
eral years past has Deen employed by Mr.. Mcrtz as
custom to sweep out and set things To rights for the
day. She carried key TO the main door, and on
serting In the lock- discovered that the door was
locked from the inside. ana tnat the key had been
left In the lock- After working some lime to no
Robinson, proprietor OF shoe store in the basemcns
under the banking house, who succeeded 10 remov-
Ing the key from the lock and unlocking the door.
Mrs. SCHROEDER entered the bank, and passing TO the
back part OF the room to small closet used as wash
room, to get water TO sprinkle tho floor. horrid
spectacle presented Itself. Sttng In ONCE chair,
IN the washing room facing Wood street, with the
head thrown back, eyes wide open, and the cyebals
protrudlng irom their sockets, the lower jaw dis
tended, the right hand lying In his lap and the left
hanging over the arm Of the chair, aud dark red
shirt front over the locality Of the heart was the
body OF her late employer, Philip il. Metz,
mcnt. Frightened at the sicKening scene, and
with her head filled with thoughts OF robbers,
and gave the alarm. Ofcers Isaac Jones ana
wright, who were on duty at the corner rushed
In and found the body as above described Soon
crowd began to assemble about the doors, which
every moment was increasing In numbers, and 1t
was with the greatest dnicuy that the eager.
curious and excited throng could be restrained
from entering the banking room. The apartment IN
which the tragedy was enacted is located on the
first nOOr OF the building, with the entrance on
side OF the room and across the rear end. At the
the safe vault Is located and on the side next
TO Fifth avenue was u small vault Immediately be-
meath the stairway leading from the avenue to the
upper stories OF tie building In this vault the d-
mensions OF which were about three by five feet the
wash basin and the cooler were located. Every
thing about the room was in its usual condition,
with the exception that coat and vest were lying
on the rear counter while small Travelling sachel
and linen dus,er were found on desk near the
front door, and reclining upon the chair In the wash
room or vault, as above descro d. with pool OF
blood on the noor beside 1t, was a ghasty corpse.
the room, and Yh,le ofIcer Jones secured the
door against the visitors Olfcer Wright has,
tened to the station house and notified Chief
Hague, who in turn sent word TO Alderman
Donaldson, Acting Coroner. The excitement by tho
time the Chief OF Police and Acting Coroner arrived
ON the scene had reached high pitch. kuin0rs OF
burglary robbery and murder were freely circu-
lated and were rapidly gaining credence. Some ono
OF the employees who had been allowed to enter thu
after coming out stated that the safe mad not
been disturbed and that there was no evidence
whatever OF robbery, or even an attempted one,
and that he was satisfied that II was case of sui
eide.
A newspaper reporter who mad also been permit
ted TO view the place concurred In the opipton anu
II became then the settled theory. Inc next ques-
lion was what induced the act There were num-
Der Of persons present who claimed to be depOstors
In the bank and they were exceedingly clamorons
TO know the condition OF the finances some Of them
even going 80 far to demand their money,
while others were willing to bIde their time, yet
anxious 10 know the worst, and numerous were tue
as can be asccrtaned from facts gathered from
friends OF tho deceased, and the evidence adduced
at the inquest, Mr.. Nertz has for some time past
been epeculating heavily In gold and stocks and the
recent decline In the former from % to 10 caught
hun with large amount on hand and caused his
financial ruiD and has probably involved some OF
his friends. This fact, however, does noe ap-
pear In the evidence, but IL gathered from
parties who have a knowledge Of his Hnan
cial aifalrs. During the entire day on Thursday
he was or appeared to be, irritable and excitabo.
thing but his business. He was naturally OF an
excitabe temper, and his frrtability ON Thursday
attracted but little attention, except from those
c0nnected with him In business affairs. On Thurs
day morning he informed his wife that he must go
portance, ana taking his satchel and other neces-
sary articles for brief soourn left his residence In
Allegheny City ana came TO his place or business.
Here he met his bo0kkeeper and after attending to
some business with him, started for the depot, ac-
companied by his wife, but missed the traiR He
not getting on on the noon train, and slgn6ed bis
attention to go on tho four p H. train. During the
time Intervening he, In company with his wife,
transacted some private business, and when four
O'Clock arrived he discovered that he again too
late for this train, but this did appear AFFECT
past seven train and arrive In New YORK as soon as
Oy leaving at four O'CLOCK.