New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-15
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
wEALrHY MERCHANTS SUICIDE.


A WEALTHY MERCHANTS SUICIDE,
AUSTIN NJ. KNIGHT SHOOTS HIMSELF AT HIS COUNTRY
RESIDENCE AT EAST ORANGE-INsANrTY FROM
BRArS DISEASE, WITH BUSINESS DIFFICULTIES,
THE CAUSE.
The residents of East Orange, y. j., were
thrown into state of great excitement yesterday Dy
She snicide OF Austin NJ Knight, prominent elzen Oh
the village Mr. Knight well known In this city as
an oil merchant. doing business at No. 50 Cold
St He had the reputation OF being wealthy
and his business. which he managed sone'
was considered prosperous. Several OF MS Hlenos
had noticed growing ecoentricy Of manner. which leo
them 10 believe that he was becoming insane He had
induged Of late strange freaks much at variance
with his usual behavior His last visit to the city was
made on Friday when seemed to be in unusually goou
spirits On Saturday he was too Ill to leave his nouSe III
East Orange and he sent word 20 his clerks 10 pace
sum of money in the bank TO meet note when
was to fan due on that day. His clerks were
unable to comply with his order there was not enough
money in the office TO pay the note The note went 70
protest and information sent to Mr.. KNIGHT he
was much vexed the occurrence but was NOT ae "
visit the city and arrange his business
Mr. Knight was still unable TO leave his mouse Oh M"n-
day and Tuesday and other notes which feu due re-
manned unpaid When he awOke early yesterday morn
ino he told bis wife that he felt better and expressed
the hone OF being able TO visit the city his
breakfast was taken TO his room ana he ate
n part of IL in bed. After he had dressed himself DIS
wife read 70 him from the morning papers About I7o
A. M he went TO the bathroom. In few moments Mrs
Knight heard the report Of pistol She ran TO the
bathroom. and found her husband lying on the floor,
face downward with blood streaming from n large
wound I'm his head. heavy navy revolver
was erasped in his right hand. He had par
tally undressed himself, thrown himself on
the floor with his head resting on his left arm ana
had discharged the weapon close 10 his head When his
ola Nv dad O.. r..
Knights family physician, was called in, and Lyman
Knight. brother arrived afterward. The
brother was on his way the city and visited the house
10 deliver some letters. Mrs. Knight was greatly
shocked and she was kept under the care OF Dr. Pierce
yesterday.
The County Physician was sent for, ana
he made a post norton examination OF the
bodv Yesterday afternoon, The sku-bOne at the
base OF the brain was found be diseased and the ply
stefan expressed the opinion that the brain was ser
ously affected Dr. Pierce said he believed that Mr.
Knight was insane when he shot himself and that BIS
mind had been weak for several months Mt Anlght
fell from carriage while driving in East Orange three
years ago and was seriously injured about the head
The physicians believe thot the injury caused the ds
ease Of the skullboue, and the resulting insanity
Mr. Knight was fortyeight years old, tail and slim,
with dark complexion. He usually retcent in his
manner except when he was talking on subject when
greatly interested him. In hs business ne was always
hard worker. He walked ABOUT much III INC o'S' AZ"
his hasy nervous stride very familiar 10 the Other
merchants i'm GOd-st HeneVer seemed 70 TIRE from eX
ertion and he was frequently known TO pass an entire
day without partaking of food His home IN East
Orange he resided about twelve years Is most
attractive place. The house stands ~ the MIDST
Of large lawn at ATlingtOn-aYe ana William
st IL Is twO-stOry frame building, with a
we'll kent and shaded with choice trees Everything
about the place indicates wealth and refinement MT
knight owned this house and several other nue. resi-
denees in East Orange. AS member of the town com
mtee he had been instrumental in causing many lns
prOyemeuts. To his eXerttOns are chiefly due the
fne roads which recently completed in the village
Lyman Knight said yesterday that he did not know the
condition Of his brothers business affairs Ausn, he
said owned the store at No. SO GOdSt. NewNork HIS
real estate was worth about 100000, but 1t WAS some
what iDcumbered. He also owned steamboat ana one
or two sail boats Until examination could be mace
Of Ills accounts it would be impossible TO ascertain the
extent OF his failure but IT probable that his prop
erty would be found ample to meet all the claims
against It,