The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-06-24
J.IMIsS SHORTLY CIEI.LR.
An Inventor and u schemcr who Committed
smIcIde 20 Bud all hi. TronbIes.

James Short. superintendent Of the New
Brunswick Carpet Mills. who committed suicide
by shooting on Tuesday evening last, was re-
markable man. He learned his trade AZ n
carpet weaver in the Crosslry carpet factory in
England and invented some valuable machinery
for the business. His double loom for weaving
fabrics of any width was an exceedingly useful
contriyancc. and he secured patents for that and
other inventions upon coming TO the United
States. About 1870 he became associated with
Robert y. Woodworth. n &, nilcman Of specu-
lntive turn. who had followed banking and
other nvocations. and as result the New
brunswick Carpet Mills were soon in succcss-
fu operation. In 1871 Mr.. Short instructed two
hundred green hands. and yet turned out
nearly 1915 900 worth Of carpets in
year. The enterprise was paying hand
some dividends when 1t was Interrupted by the
collapse Of the State Bank at New brunswick
in ls73. and the allegation thnt the on 'cr- Of
the cnrpet compuny.'i in COLLISION with tho OIL
Gers of the bank. had ulsira'ted the bank On
tlra capital stock and lrit 1t bankrupt Mr..
Moodwunh had boon clever enough g. pluc"
he st9sk Of The c2nrany wol IT, e9-mer Of
several ui it, directors hal boon mpir dirc'-
tors oi the carpet company nl-o. Tn" soy,
cry that the money of thr bank had been filtered
out until thrr. wa- ar4,N uuyth'ng lett WAS
made in IA" summer of 1873, md the carpet
company WIS suspected of hring the funnel
The vas liicr was ru-pN nd,i ~ August. ami III
September tnr bans suspended
The cashier ant Mr.. Moodw"rth wore Jointly
National Bank at N'w Brun4wirk. hut AuIie,
ton got away 10 England. ana II WAS runored
tnui hc had @'i upA me-, lit. VIA ~ Hr"h-
EE ad Moved ,o Nm W. W yo%Siary W Sp
ycarrd fur trial IN NV Brunswick. The
opkk"eprr ~wur' tAai the accounts opened
I hy Noodw1rth warc uverdrawn in tho bank
10 an amount 81 upward of s35noun. lie also
t.~tIN "a that lN the direction of the cashier IN
the fall of 1872. and from time Ia time after
ward. he had la.-iiied the accounts, in order
10 con .'nl tn d-ii 'i'n-y. 10y raising nrurc~ on
thu credit sii". an! cruslng On IN" don't side.
/ Hers of the Mercantile National Bank of
NV York testified thHt "a number Of chN H.
drawn upon that bank 10y " ppdWprtn Just he-
/ fore the collapse came. and which had been
/ cash ID 10y thu Stat EInG t. the tune yi nearly
sl~noo had been pr9t"-ted by the M'rnntli e
! defended IS Charles ". Br0oAe of New York,
! however. AMI I'm spite Of N" damaging nuturc
/ oi the evidence. he wa- q quilted II" l. now
/ SUNK "a, bank dir 0tvr9 iuf AR" amount 81
/ money alleged 10 hc duo the carpet company.
After III" COLLAPSE ia 1913 the carpet company
WIS put into the hands ~ "a r.'clNrr, and the
the receivers dire tinn. Ne had recently becn
/ making ncw Arrangements hy whi'h he eN-
/ prct'd an iniluN 81 capital. but IN the mean
tlmn the financial troubles of the concern. IN
| which he had embarked all his savings had
/ pr,lu 'ed "a serious 'ft't upon his mind
T lie WIS ~ an eNrtahlr. nervous temper
am"nt. th ugh having ""mingiy vigorou,
.-,ltuttNn and THIS rA".ilhlllN was IN r'uscl
/ hv ~" occasional ~" ~ r'imuihntS. II" mad
hrrn at a picnl. ou Tuesday. and Hppar"nuy lu
good 'plrits. He brother ami nephew accom-
INN at the door. H. hlie them good night
" ni into the p"r, lay down n NJ n9' on
enough To explain that be- wanted To- at rid o
trouble, that a-~aiird him uu every side. SOM
nf IN 49, II * said are iumily troubles. H.
leaves wiieand nine children IN poor circum