The New York herald., 1878-11-21
His $256. 900 in Life Policies Intended
for Collateral Security.
THE FAMILY EXPLANATION.
Statements of Doctors Or
ton and Burr.
WHAT TIE COMPANIES SAY.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HEnALD.]

BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
BINGHAsrroN. N. Y, Nov. 90. 1878.
The people Of the beautiful and usually pcaceable
city Of Bnghsmton excited yesterday afternoon
the arrival of the New York morning papers with
account that Colonel Walton Dwight. after effecting
insurance his life Of $3.50 000 had delber-
atcy. and by slow but sure process, put end to
his life. In reference to this inference of self
destruction the HERALD reporter found there was
only ono expression of feeling. and that expression
one of indignation. Mr.. Dwight was public
spirited man. He did more for the advancement of
the interests of this city than any other wealthy
In tho community.
THEODORE M'poNALD's STATEMENT
Mr.. Theodore +. Mcdonald, District Attorney for
broome county and brother-in-law of the late Mr.
Dwight, said to this evening. II have read tho
Hcle in Tuesdays papers relating to Colonel Dwights
DEATH and. it is written under mistaken idea of the
facs The article is inaccurate in several important
particulars except the fact the Colonel had large
insurance his life and that he is dead that, al
though MI. Dwight was only forty years Of age, he
had acquired large fortune. He WAS bold,
large minded. large hearted man. and what
ever he did done q large scale
He purchased large tract Of land in this city most
Of which swampy and uninviting. He filed it
IN snd graded that part Of the city. built a magna
cent block and fifty dwelling houses containing
III the modern improvements. This part of the city
was beautifed and adorned by his great enterprise
ND was named Dwight place. The block was con-
vertcd into hotel. which was known throughout
ihe country - the Dwight House.
WASTING 4 FORTUNE.
The hotel was elegantly and elsborstely furnished
throughout at cost Of about $780, 00O and was run
by the Colonel for somo time on grand scale but
Of course. at . large expense and very great loss
His losses In the hotel enterprise and the great de-
probation in value Of his property made him poor
nan again. In the days Of his prosperity and the
bays Of his failure he carried life insurance to an
enormous sum. to tho amount Of 100000 and
$4,000. When adversity got the better Of him he
eoud not carry his insurance, and took paid up poll
etes He went to Chicago. and again began to specu
hse end regain his lost fortune. He returned here
last summer and obtained insurance again upon his
hfe to the amount OF about $4,000 taking the sens
bic position that II was necessary to keep his
Insurance up than when he in better cirrum
stances. He was thoroughly examined by the physi-
6iAns horn and also examincd the homo onfces
OF Of the companies in New York before insur.
ing.
COLONEL DwreHr's ILLNESS
About six weeks ago he was obliged to go to New
York on important business. He not feeling well
when c left and when he returned he seemed to grow
uounced his disease gastric fever Of malarial origin
He had been confined to his room and bed about
weeks when he wan seized with q chill and sinking
spell. which very much alarmed his friends. His
sickness and condition very naturally caused uncas
ness the part of the insurance companies having
policies upon his life. DIR. Orton was called, and
after thorough and careful examination OF the pa
Hsnt. agreed with the doctors Burr as to the
nature OF tho disease. Tho insurance com
panies sent DIR. Porter Of Albany. here and
he also made thorough and critical examination Of
the case. and the opinion Of the eminent physician
added to that Of the three of abcst
that the disease gastric fever. While the Colonel
thus prostratcd with this fever certain attorney
was employed by an insurance company having .
small policy upon his life to tender hack the premium
and demand the policy. Owing to the remarks and
insinuations made by this attorney when his tender
refused the Colonel afterwsrd emphatically re-
quested his friends that. in he should not re-
cover. to have most thorough and scrutinizng au-
topsy made.
THE DxATH AND AUroPsY
After weeks Of sickness and confinement to his bed
he died on Friday night. On the following morning
the friends Of the deceased in pursuance OF his re-.
quest fixed the time of shc autopsy nine O'Clock
A. M. on Monday. and notified the insurance COM
panies interested to be present. The post-mortem
was conducted by DR.. Delaneld. the distinguished
pathoogis Of New York city, in the presence Of four
teen other physicians from New York. Albany and
other Cities and was as thorough and exhaustive a
possible. The report Of this autopsy, made at the re
quest Of the friends OF the deceased not made in
their interest," confirms the diagnosis OF the attending
physicians. As for the charge made by Inference or
assertion. that Colonel Dwight in any way did any
thing 10 kill himself hasten his death IL coucarned
Il is looked upon by relatives and this whole commu
nifty unjust. cruel and without the slightest foun
aation In truth.
DIR. onTuHs EXAMINATIONS
DR.. J. G. orton. one Of Colonel Dwieht's medical
advisers, said :'I have known Colonel walton Dwight
for many years. and have been his medical adviser
regarded him good specimen OF well dcvel.
opcd snd healthy man. Az medical examiner for
several life insurance companies 1 had occasion 20
give him critical examination in 1874 again dur
Ing the past months OF August and September OF this
year. found him In every respect . sound man, and
az 10 the risk could fully advise tho companies IL
is . matter OF natural qualification To mo that my
conclusion has been sisnally vindicated BY most
thorough autopey, conducted by DR.. Francis Dcla-
Held the accomplished psthologist Of Now YORK. city,
In the presence OF some fifteen medical men, all OF
whom signed the report indorsing the conclusions
wac called upon to attend upon Colonel Dwight dur
Ing his last Sickness consultation with Of the
Aoctors-Burr. Of this city--on November 2. He had
hecn i'll some three weeks At that time. He was
suffering from malarisl chills. with considerable
gastric disturbance. Al tho date Of my rst Wait he
bad apparently barely escaped death from consss
tive chill, accompanied by great prostrsion. He hsi
been ablc TO retain but litts food medicine As Is
nsua snd proper in such 1uinine had been given
him. but bis stomach would retain IT, In consult
ton We concluded to resort 60 the use Of the Fowler
solution OF arsenic, which has long been recognized
by the profession as proper and often efncscious
remedy in this disease This he retained and we
had strong hopes for the recovery Of our patient
His chils had assumed the periodic type coming on
once in seven days. On the 9th inst. he had only
comparatively slight attack. AZ nvo O'Clock on tho
evening Of tho 18th inst. saw him. I found him
ouitc comfortsble and at five O'Clock i. NJ on ,bc
18th found him quite comfortable. but he was fear.
ina an attack tho next day. lie died that evening.
understand, At ha,tpast eleven o'clock evidently in