The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-04
MIR. IAN DYKES SUICIDE
The Corpse that n Chambermaid Found In =
Room In n Finh Ward Hotel.

Yesterday morning, Mt 8 o'clock, Kate
Flynn. chambermaid in the Central Hotel at
West and Desbrosses streets. found the door OF
room Fl unlocked and entering. saw the body
OF man dressed and lying lifeless on the bed.
II was William S. Van Dyke. who came from
Philadelphia on Friday last. BY the side Of the
bed, on q table, stood an empty phial labelled
Morphine" and near it two letters. one scaled
and addressed to James Potter, 81 Nestry
street" tho other open and addressed To
whom 1t may concern" The latter is ms follows;
NV YoRE oct 2 1879
wtrNtspAY LygSiNG, o'clock.
VI, name IS ~ iIsm , Van Dyke the initials Of which
canhe found on my ct forearm In lndia ;nk have
Nd my utno. endeavor. T. obtain employment int
scattered which j. moro than eau gidurc. In prefer
death. Tor in my present condition f, to me it wonEi
G s s6. "r,G o o4p G 81 r y F aa
Almighty and most mcrcinh Father through Jcsu,
christ our Lord grant that We may all meet in heaven
have wife and four children. vii! now give ,hei.
WIN BIKE sSsS No. NV I S sG iin aSa
Isle Van Dyke Forrest drove hnck. County Pa Ammo
sro,SSr: W. IaeTasH@, J ys9 Dyke -. ,irssgs,sh
crsnberry \ Nl" oh II Van p,kc ged,is No. H.
Rev Jas NJ Van Dyke. missionary ratehahorqush. Siam
Central Hotel corner West and pc'oro'ses streets Now
atcly " 5 ' u.
Nv desire is that the Rev Dr Deems, pastor OF the
Church Of the strangers Mercer street near Washington
square breach my funeral Sermon ami that York Lodge
10 w : and W. this city bury me In their Co, In
York BAY Cemetery J. ID.
Tho suicide had been at the hotol before in
the latter part of July and the first part OF Au-
gust. and had occupied the same room. 81. Hp
was about 81 years Of age. His brothers are all
in comfortable circumstances. He was the son
of a wcll-to-dO New Jersey farmer, who ut his
death left each ot his children n small fortune.
n a 10 n 1aul In
Greenwich street He saws that his brother lost
his money through ways unknown to him. Will
liam 5. Van Dyke Mt one time had n contract for
street watering in this city. Subsequently, he
went West aud engaged in the cattle trade. liv-
ing with his brother in Missouri. On his return.
his brother saw him. and was told by him that
his ventures had been successful. and that he
and some time ago his brother hero received
letter from him saying that he was in strnitened
circumstances. and asking for money. He had
family troubles also, His wife came to her
father and mother in New York. On his arrival
here on Friday last. he wrote To- hs wife. but
did not go To- see either his brother or his
daughter. who is q school teacher. living in
Spring street. On Wednesday, the wife went to
Cornelius Van Dykes store and then he learned
for the first tmo Of his brothers presence IN tho
city. but had not seen him when lie heard u his
death Yesterday morning.
There could have been no especial stress of
poverty. Cornelius Van Dyke snys. in his broth
ers case. lie had tool, lying in tn store. which
were worth many dollars had he been In inn
mediate need 81 money. and his two daughters
in pcunsy lNania were within n short time 10
com" into possession Of property OF Siuuou.
James Potter snys that II WIS family trouble
and not poverty that prompted Van Dyke to
t.Hf. Il.