New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-03-22

Company. shot HIMSELF yesterday at his rooms IN
| this city He was at time very sue
cessful IN business, and accumulated fortune,
but he met with reverses, had family troubles and
became dissipated. He has been frequently very
respondent of late and his friends believe that his
mind was impaired. Several other cases of suicide
or attempts at suicide were discovered yesterday.
SHOOTING HIMSELF IN HIS ROOM
THE SUICIDE OF JAMES EMILE GOLL-HIs BUSINESS
CABEER-CAUsEs OF HIS sELr-MURDER.
A servant girl in the house at No. "a West
Thirtiethst., about o'clock yesterday morning, heard
the report of pistol Surprising that 1t was in the
street. she did not call special attention to IT, An hour
LATER the porter. his daily custom. carried the
morning papers to the OF James Emile Coll we'll
known insurance man, who had apartments In the house
Receiving response his knock lie left the papers at
the door. At the time he heard loud and unnatural
breathing which sounded like the breathing OF man In
The deep sleep following debaucb. little after
o'clock telcgraphic dispatch was received and deem
ing II important, tic porter again endea, cree
to Mr. Coll. Failing in this, he became alarmed
and Summoned DR.. Albert Letter. who resides In the
house TIE doctor receiving no to his repeated
calls and rappul the door, which locked on the
inside, got bunch 81 keys and obtained entrance to the
ROOM Mr. Coll wa. found ing the bed his feet
resting the Aoor. With the exception Of his coat
which thrown chair. lie was fully dressed
Dy DIS SIDE, Nncfe III uad UOin HIS manu. "as
small sx-barrelled revolver. With Of the charges
exploded.
The bed-cothes we're saturated with blood, which
Issuing from IL small hole in the right temple. II was
trckpg down the IN 3. and had crimsoned the heavy
whiskers OF the suicide Bandages were promptly ap-
piled stop the flow OF blood and, all attempts to re-
store consciousness falling, the wounded man
removed in an ambulance to the New
York Hospital about 2 o'clock. lie remained
IN TAFT 4 O'Clock.
he died. Mr.. Coils family tccgraphed TO ut
Elizabeth. n j. but did not reach the hospital until
after he had died. The grief OF his wife, when Informed
Of his death. pable. and resulted in an attack OF
hystera. Tho three and the daughter OF the
suicide also came to the hospital They were accom-
panied by lawyer, who took possession OF the letters.
dispatches and other papers lie declined to express an
opinion upon the probable causes % the act.
James Emile Coll 6fty years old, and had
Deen engaged I'm the insurance. business for nearly
quarter OF century In 1868 he became connected
with the New-York Lfc Insurance Company, and
was appointed general manager Of the department
Of New-Jerscy, with headquarters at Newark.
He was a man Of fine address, agreeable manner,
and imposing personal appearance The New
Jersey business oi the company Increased greatly
under his management, and he amassed considerable
property. lie removed with his family about ten years
ago TO Elizabeth ~ j., where he purchased handsome
residence which, with the improvements that he made
country estate about two miles from Eliza
beth. which was estimated to he worth 49,.
600 Here no kept his fast horses and
until within a few months he made 1t his home. his
family occupying the city residence. He also Invested
In real estate Newark and Ave years ago he was be
lieyed 10 have a fortune Of 100000. lie became al
d,ced 10 habits Of incompetence which caused neglect Of
business and Of property. When In state OF ntoN
icstnn he quarrelsome and abusive M nome. ana
aid Of tho police Was sometimes necessary prevent
violence ~
few years ago. NJ The suggestion OF friends Coll went
extent he his appetite for liquor Upon his re-
turn 10 America his old associates gathered around him.
and he relapsed drunkenness. This resulted about
ycar ago i'm separation from his wIre. Since that time
he lived apart from his family norder to raise money
he ortg gagged OF his valuable property ana being
unable 10 meet the payments as they fell due fore
closures and sales followed. These financial troubles
evidences OF unsettled reason IIi- last visit to Eza
beth vas In July. when he drove j. W. seilenan the
would purchase H. but the sale WAS not made Mr. Coll
aerwaI made this ely ms ,a nSms no, oagns ~ no No.,
Hotel Monico IN seyenteentlst He entirely neglected
oiice in NcwaK the Office being opened and closed by
his bookkccper. John Conner whose only duty was To
forward all mail matter 10 this city
Persons who saw Mr.. Goi daily IN Newark for many
years. state that in Jannary s77. he began to act
and August he exhibited strong evidences OF Insanity
IL ordered all mail matter to be directed 10 Elizabeth
S S,,in n' There he employed Conner TO re.
romail Il to New YORK. In August he resigned
York Life Insurance Company for INC state OF
Sew .Irrsey, and j. A. DIX. Of Elizabeth. was np-
pointed his successor. Mr. Coll LEFT behind linn IN New
Jersey "a number Of creditors who, failing To obtain
settlement, brought suits against him Mr.. Haas ut
ached uncncumbered property In Newark belong
ING 10 Mr. GOl. This SUIT appeared TO depress
him greatly, aud he expressed n fear OF re-
tuning TO NcwJcrsey 10 defend what he always
termed unjust demand for fear BE- might be thrown
into ai. A. lost resort he wrote Ia hts son Louis
with whom ho was not ON cordial terms-to ad him IN
settling Haas suit aud Yesterday morning two hours
after he had shot himself. ieesriphlc despatch
reached the house from LOUIS announcing that he lad
compromised the suit. 800
during the last eight months Mr.. Coll has lived In this
civ al leisure. His income fOm removals on Insurance
policies was considerable and Ito spent 1t freely. He
continued To drink largely HIS domestic troubles and
financial were constant subject OF complaint
whenever no met his intimate friends. OF late
hc has been more thnn usually gloomy. declaring re-
ancptly that life burden To him. His
friends believe that lac got home very late Wednesday
night aud waking ont VI n stupor yesterday morning
deter mined end ms troubles IN dcah-bclng M the
time partially insane. He left message for his family
or friends 40 far ms could be learned yesterday. The
Coroner's inquest will be held to-day.
Mrs. Coll sud pOsscss au ample fortune IN hcr
own right and IL Is estimated that AIR Coll has lett an
estate that Will realize by jndclous manr cement fully
$50 900 lis Is the dcadhOuSc NJ the NcW-lork
Hospital, awaiting tho Coroutr's action