The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-10-27
ONE MORE UNFORTUNATE.
An Old Merchant, Goaded to Mad
ness by Unjust Taunts and
Sneers, Seeks Relief
in Death.
His Last Letters.

the Canal street ferry boat which left the
Algiers landing about 10 o'clock were shocked
at seeing q man leap from the guards of the
boat into the river shortly after it left the
shore. Immediately efforts were made to
rescue the man, but without success. Several
of the passengers saw him floating away
down the stream.
Conjecture was busy trying to solve the pro-
blem of the man 8 identity, but it was not until
the following letters were found on the boat that
it was known that the unfortunate man was
Mr.. w. A. Hanney, an old merchant of the
city. The only known cause which prompted
him to the commission of the act will be found
in the following letter, which was picked up
on the boat. On the envelope was written
the following:
"Please deliver this as soon as possible"
"Mr. Elijah Ross,
Flour Inspectors Office,
"35 Poydras street,
"New Orleans"
1.-THE letter.
To the Creditors of J. A. Pickett & Co., and
Others:
was never partner of the house of J. A.
Pickett & Co, or Of J. A. Pickett,
who did business in st. Mary's, Re
fugio county, Texas, in 1859. I did
ship about $1,000 worth of groceries to thai
house, to be sold on joint account, as Was
agreed, as was promised q profit of at least
twenty per cent on the venture. Flatterine
accounts were given me of the great demand
| for goods at that point, so that said would
| visit the place, and if it came up to the rep
resentation givenlme, I would sell out here and
become partner of the house.
did visit the place, and was disap-
pointed. I did some favors for the house
here in the way of purchasing and disburs-
ing, less than 5000, which they had given me
on my return from the place receipts for
which were given for and in the name Of J.
A. Pickett, which are to be found among my
papers. Nine months after was astonished
at being informed that the house had pur.
chased goods upon the representation that
was partner. As soon as I was able visit
ed the place, and found the house closing up
they acknowledged the fact that they had
purchased in my name, and said that had
compromised myself as partner" in the
favors I had done the house.
was sued there and here, judgment was
given against me through the grossest per
jury. All this has brought me and mine to
total ruin. I have had to endure sights and
sneers from some of the creditors of that
house, that were intolerable; my good name
as merchant blasted SO that I have been
driven almost to madness. l visited st.
Mary after the house had closed and expressed
desire to see the books of the house. Rus
sell, the Attorney, said that he was done with
them, and that might take possession of
them. I leave them with my son, with direc-
tions that he will show them at any time to
who may want to see them.
I beg the creditors, especially those who
have so ill-treated me, to examine them
they show fraud from the beginning to the
close. Also, I leave all the letters of that
house to ma and copies of letters to myself,
except one that I wrote in haste on Sunday;
the steamer was about to leave. There are
others in this city whose interest it would he
to examine the books.
The evidence on record in the case of Nc
Stea, Value & Co. vs. j. A. P. & Co., in the
Sixth District Court, should also be exam
ined, which will give startling evidence Of
fraud, especially the capital account Of J. A.
p, N. o. Three thousand dollars should be
debtor instead (J. A. P, N. O.; see cash-booh
entry and ledger entry of credit. The ex'
animation will consume but little time.
To all this trace the total ruin of myself
and family. May God Almighty protect them,
and forgive me for what will soon follow this
writing. w. A. HANNEY.
With this letter WIS another, which reads
as follows:
OFFICE OF METAL COTTON TAG, !
48 Carondeet street, 7
New ORLEANS, October rs, 1875.
R. Church, Agent; Judge W. W. Dunlap, Rock
port.
My Dear Sri beg you for Gods sake try
and do something for my afflicted family il
you can; this is the last letter I may eve1
write. ....
Farewell, may we meet in another and bet.
ter world. w. A. HANNEY.
Write to Mrs. Anne C. Reps, Peters Avenue
New Orleans, in regard to matter you have il
hand.
Mr. Hanney has been connected with sew
eral business enterprises in this city, and wal
at one time considered very well off, occupy
ing very good position IN the business circle
of the city. A few years ago he was associ
ated with Mr.. Diggs in the grocery business
at the corner of Camp and Natchez streets
but misfortune seized him, and he has of late
years been almost vainly struggling to keeE
beyond the reach of absolute poverty.
Several times during his life Mr.. Hanney
met with unfortunate and severe accidents.
Once, several years ago, he was thrown from
his buggy while driving on the shell road
and was dragged several squares, iDjurint
himself quite severely; and one evening be
fore the war he was attacked on his way home
by lot of thugs, who, installing him fol
some personal or political enemy, beat him sc
severely that he was confined to his bee
for several weeks. On another occasion
he was SO unfortunate as to fall from hi
gallery, where he was seated, on the stone
pavement below, a distance of fully twenty
feet. The great shock of this fall SO com
pletely enfeebled him that he never entirel,
recovered. The suffering and prostration re
sulting from these severe accidents, added t.
his business troubles, doubtless so unsettled
his mind as to drive him to seek q suicide
grave.
Here in few words may be found story
NJ a sensitiya nature wounded b6vOnd hopt