The New York herald., 1871-02-26
THE OLD STORY.
aicide o. Major Smell, Of Newburg-Disap-
pointed Affection the Cause--Disgusted
With Life at Twenty-Five.

NEwBURG, Feb. q, 1871.
The HERALD OF to-day contains an account OF the
suicide, at the Bingham House, Philadelphia, OF
MAJOR Warren I. Smell, OF Newourg, and states that
the deceased had assigned no cause, in the note
which he left there Tor the commission OF the rash
act. The night previous the sad occurrence, how
ever he wrote letters 10 friends IN Newpurg IN
which he states the reasons winch had induced him
to hurry into the eternal world unridden. one Of
these letters-dlreced 10 Mr.. C. Fred. Wntse, gen.
tleman high IN Office Ia the Masonic order here-is
quite lengthy, and enters m0o Inc details
OF various matters Of business &C., which
he wished 10 have attended 10 after his
death. At the close, by way Of postscript, he
charges the recipient not to allow the letter
70 be published. White respecting the wishes oil the
misguided young man IN regard to suppresslng the
letter whole, the friends thought il not
proper that the following statements should be given
TO the public Ma or Smell ayoys his determination
10 destroy his le, and especially anxious that his
friends shall not think the act was committed in q
nj OF temporary insanity. Says he, ~ was
NEVER sANEE IN ALL NY IIFE.n
He goes on 10 state that he Is neary alone in the
world--father, mother, sister, three brothers, All
dead, and the only relative he lii tue world
is a sister. living at East Bridgewater Mass He
says further, tnat FOR year past he has suffered
what only those who have suffered in o similar way
can know anything about, and mtimates that per-
naps he could consent TO 1--we II "one''-whom his
friend has acquaintance with now and VIII possi-
bly, never know--had looked upon nim with favor He
ex dressed desire that, II there nothing In the
laws OF Masonry forbldding the paying OF the last
sad fltes OI the order TO the remains OF suicides his
lodge should charge Itself with the care o. his bois
ami SLry II Hlt' els sal.iy at Eas. Bridgewater. Ii
this, however, could not pe done he was careless
10 the disposition OF his remains. He closes the let
ter by saying that he earnestly desires the
brotherhood.
his regards TO number OF his Newburg friends,
'hopes TO meet them In some brighter land, II such
as he may obtain entrance there
The other letter sent here simple message OF
farewell, with some directions for the disposal OF
his effects here.
Major SneL, though only twenty. five years OF age,
had already attained considerable prominence in
Masonic, military and musical circles here and ms
uIttmely dense has created profound Impression
In this community. He served for several years IN
the recent civil war III n Massachusetts regiment,
and was
WOUNDED Fout oa FIVE TIMES
and once taken prisoner. The Southern soldier WAC
became hls capfor now resides III New ORR city,
and the most cordial relations nave existed between
the two since the war. one OF the wOlDds received
In the right lung and from the effects ol this
MAJOR Smell continued 10 suffer at intervals. only
Jew days before his death he was attacked with lung
hemorrnage, and remarked that ne expected it
would carry nim OF one OF these days
THE DEPRESSION MIND
arising from this cause is thought have been one
of the motives for the suicidal act At the time Of
his dean he held the Office OF brigade Inspector OF
the Twenty-second Brigade, New YORK state Ma
tional Guard with rank OF major, 10 which ne had
recently been promoted. He was orgapist OF the
American Reformed church ana several OF the Ma
sonic lodges, chapters and commanderies. About Il
year ago ne became a comniunIcant OF the American
Reformed church.
AT the meeting OF King Soomons Council X. and
:. NJ, held last evening. Messrs q. Frederick W.T.
sic, G.. w. Leonard and Herman King were ap
pointed o committee 20 proceed 10 Philadelphia and
execute the wishes OF the deceased In regard 10
the disposition OF mis- remains.