The New York herald., 1877-09-11
SUICIDE OF A RETIRED MERCHANT.

THE SAD END or Mr.. EAEN GoODwIN-A JUMP
PROM PAvoNIA FERRYBoAT.
The unknown man who jumped overheard from the
Pnvona ferryboat Jay Gould on Sunday afternoon
proves TO have been Mr.. Ebon Goodwin a gentleman
who for many years conducted large tobacco manu-
factring business In this city Mr. Nelson OF tho
deck hands on the Gould, says that Mr. Goodwin
crossed the river the quarter before three T. M.
trip IRON Twenty.thrd street. As he entered
tho Terry house he asked the gateman Tor
match and referred 10 tile deck
hands. When lie went aboard tho boat he got a
match and lighted IT on the sole OF bis boot, saying
that he wanted TO II there any electricity
It. He talked pleasantly with the deck hands until
the boat left the slip, and there was nothing In his
language or dcmcanor TO excite Suspicion as to his
sanity. "When going into the slip the
other side.' says Nelson, al heard ono
cry Man overheard y seized lie preservcr
with man rope attached, ran aft and looked down
into the water but could Just before tho
ovcrboa rd he took of bis overcoat hung
1t the rail. Then he took OF his hat and set Il
on one of the seats outside and walking deliberately
up to the rail, leaned his breast across It and rolled
overheard Mr.. Goodwin had been guest
the Fifth Avenue Hotel for number OF
iior isr documents @ that might throw light on tho
motives which inauccd hs suicide In one OF his
bureau drawers was found note addressed 70 Mr.
sides the Filh Avenue, ahd was personal friend
OF Mr.. Goodwin. The opening sentence Of this note
was ''My BRAN ! racket with PAIN ~ There
no direct allusion sclf-dcstruction but Mr. Bond
wus requested to consult with Mr. Goodwin's daugn-
ter ana her Crane lher who arc now travelling
Europe as disposition Of MS property ana their
uture place OF residence and somc special Instructions
were gwen to certain business affairs The note
wss dated Saturday, september ), showing that Snt
suicide had considered for twenty hours al
least, on Sunday morning Mr.. Goodwin brcakfastcd
about hall past eleven He then went TO the clerk
Of tho hotei aud deposited with him package con
n minutes later and retained IL tor about hour,
when he again handed II to the cierk and went
Mr.. Bond says that Mr. Goodwin had
for number OF years been subject to
iutense headaches, which during the past year
has been more severe than formerly. When he
turned about three weeks ago from Saratoga where
bad been spending the summer he complained OF pain
In his head and very dcspondcnL He.was not In
business and there financial or other troubles,
tar as his friends know, which oouIS have afectci
his mind aud IT thought that the temporary aberra
tion undcr which laDorcd at the time OF his death
induced solely by the constant and ever Increasing
pain In his head.
MIR. Goodwin was sixty years of age. He was ma
young ons gagged In the tobacco business, wncn no
pursued indusIriously until he made himself the head
OF the we'll known manufncturine nrm oil Goodwin &
Co., OF Water street. Several years ago he retired
from active business after having amassed large Tor.
tune but tho death OF his brother he Obliged to
resume control OF tho affairs OF the concern, until
within little more than year ago, when he turned tho
establishment over TO tho two OF hrs doceaseS
brother and Mr. Charles G. Emery hts sister son.