The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-23
SUICIDE OF A COUSIN or G NERAL HOOKER
IN ST. LOUIS.
From the st. Louis Times, April 1911

IFrOm the ST. Louis Times, April 1911
About ten O'Clock Yesterday morning one OF the
walters at the Planters House observed q man an.
parently occupying a cramped and distorted posi-
ton in one oil the third story windows OF the build
ing on the northwest corner Of Pine and Fourth
streets. The mans peculiar posture aroused the
curiosity of the waiter, who called TO the porter OF
the building opposite 10 60 and see what was the
matter Upon opening he door of room No. 1t
was found that the occupant had committed sui
cide, having deliberately hung HIMSELF
PREMEDITATED ACT.
The police were at once notified, and the door
arrived all was Just as when nrst dIscov-
cred. The dead man and ms surroundings
bed was undlstnrDed, and the appointments of the
room Just as the chambermaid had left them. In the
window CASING ABOUT seven feet from the floor, was
a stout iron staple TO this had been attached an
inch trunk strap, the loose end OF when had been
made into moose and placed about his neck.
HIS APPEARANCE.
The man was leaning forward one hand resting
on the window SILL ana his feet, with the knee bent
resting easily upon the floor. There was a quiet
look OF repose upon mis- features aud the whole posi-
ton OF the body showed That there was no tension
OF the muscles. He had dressed himself with care
having put on clean shirt and stockings, par OF
pants and o vest His hair was also neatly cOmDed
A handkerchief was placed about his neck so that
the strain upon the strap might not 1t to cut
into the flesh.
WHO HE WAS.
The official investigation made bv the coroner
brought TO light the principal FACTS OF the mans
tory. His name Is j. " acott Hooker. He has been
occupying The room In which his body was found
ABOUT two months. During portion OF the time lie
mas boarded at Barnum's Hotel. by the porter or
the building 1t was stated that he was In strait
encd financial circumstances, hardly 0eing able TO
pay his room rent IL Is not known tnat he mas been
employed at anything during his stay here. or MS
previous history the mann facts obtained were
tnese:-DuIng the war lie was for some ume con.
nectej with the Eighth New York cayatv, and after
the close went South and held some petty Office In
Mississippi. In 1865 he spent some weeks In st.
Louis ana had business connections with proml.
nent firm here dealing IN agricultural Implements.
In 1860 and 1867 he was IN Detroit Mich, keeping
Chicago, and still later went back TO Mississippi.
Among his papers were found specifications OF a
court house and jail Tor lssaquena county, Mssls-
slpp" dated October 10, 1870.
MASON or TH1RTY-TuREE DEGREES.
Upon his person were found Masonic badges and
papers, indicating he had taken the tnlrty-third
degree IN Masonry. lie had with him regulations OF
the Chicago Consistory No. OF the Chicago Lodge OF
Perfection, and OF the Lodge OF Princes OF Jeru-
salem. he had also three insurance policies upon
his life, the first payments Of which were made IN
1869. one was for $1,000, in the Connecticut Mutual,
and was taken out May 49, 1865 in favor OF MS wife.
The second was for 81, 200. IN the New DIRK Mutual,
and the third for $1,000 in the same company both
IN favor OF Belle Hooker his daughter, and showed
that he was forty.three wears OF age. There
was also found 9 ticket admitting him
to the privileges OF the Mercantile Library.
admitted TO the room az to how the deed was COM
United. The comp0sure oil the features and the ali.
sence OF Oil signs OF a struggle lead many 10 suppose
that the death was not simply the result OF srangu
latiOn IL was thought that he had flrst saturated
his handkerchief with chloroform and had died
while inscaslble An empty VIAL labelled choro-
FORM was found, but the porter testified that this
had been there for some weeks. Another empty
bottle was found on the bureau, but II was impossi
BILE to tell VIVA; the contents had been. large
batch OF business correspondence and miscellaneous
papers lay open IN his trunk, but nothing TO afford
cue to the present whereabouts OF his relatives The
porter states That he told him nc was q cousin Of
General Joe HOOKER. yonnp man residing In that
city, VINO knew the deceased when living I'm Detroit,
testlned that Hooker tssd him recently that he was
expecting moCay DeW Akx1nd