The New York herald., 1878-11-09
DEATH BY MORPHINE.

SUICIDE OF A PROMISING YOUNG LAwYER-BE-
LrEvED TO HAVE SUFFERED A TEMPORARY
ALTERATION OF MIND.
A distressing case OF suicide occurred yesterday
morning at No. a. West Twenty second street.
fashionable boarding house. where young lawyer.
Edward X. Aldrich, who had Of late been addicted to
intemperate habits ended his life by taking morphine.
IL with great difhculty that particulars OF
the could be ascerained the friends and rea-
tives naturally anxious to hush it up entirely.
Mr.. Adrich who about twenty eight years old,
was the OF Mr. W. f. Aldrich receiver of the Mu-
tual Savings Bank and partner with him at his Law
once at No. II Broadway. While the son has COM
mitted suicide the father lying dangerously ill
in the same house from which young Aldrich's body
borne yesterday.
Mr.. W. F. Adrich, who is sixty-two years old was
appointed receiver OF the Mutual Benefit Savings
Bank in February. 1875. by Judge Donohue. He IL
lawyer of old standing and at time secretary
of the Union Trust Company.
1t appears that his wife and of his three sons
went to Europe few months ago. Mr. Aldrich.
while visiting his at the latters boarding place.
In West Twenty second street. taken seriously i'll
and has confined his bed at the house for the
past five weeks. day or two ago his recovery even
doubted and. it is said, that this fear of his
,athers death preyed upon the young mans mind
ind. having in addition excessively irduged in drink
the fatal draught of morphine early yesterday
morning Coroner Ellinger notified and the
body removed TO undertaking establishment
IN Sixth avenue. The father was kept in complete
ignorance Of the suicide of his son and yesterday
was reported somewhat better
NOT PREnEDfTATEp.
That the act had not long been premeditated. but
must have been perpetrated during sudden aberra-
ion of mind, is indicated by the following despatch
which young Aldrich sent on Thursday to- Mr.. Read.
gentleman connected with his law ONCE. at No. 4
Broadway
am going out of town to-day Shall ce down tomorrow
Young Aldrich greatly suffered some years ago from
friends thought he had reformed. They now believe
that his mothers absence and the fear of his fathers
death were instrumental in driving him back to his
old of dissipation, during which he committed
the rash act. An additional circumsance may have
worked upon his mind. II is stated that while the
physicians attending his father had carefully con-
ccaled from their patient the fact that he suffer
ing from Brights disease of the kidneys they had
not hidden i from young Adricn and on Wednesaay
it out TO his father. He aterwsrd expressed keen
aret at having committed this grave indiscretion,
which, he feared. might unnecessarily alarm his
father and perhaps, even hasten his death.
WIFE AND MOTHER
Mrs Aldrich the mother of the suicide received in
formation by cable of her husbands severe illness.
and she and her now on their way back to
this country Should her husband die-and his con-
dtion still critical last evening-she would be
confronted upon her arrival by the news Of the
Simultaneous loss of husband and son-both Of whom
she had left in good health when setting ont . few
months ago upon her tour to Europe Mr. Aldrch
has third son. and the latter. Mr. Trueman Aldrch,
arrived yesterday morning to take charge az his
brothers remains, which he intends to take 10
NV F. Aldrch belongs to highly respectable
Southern family. and much sympathy il expressed at
the unexpected suicide Of his who. it was thought
had before him promising career. He has mar
plored by large circle of friends and relatives.
Deputy Coroner Goldschmdt yesterday afternoon
at the undertaker's Office and granted burial permit.
An inquest viii be held in . few days.