The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-24
Moses A. Wheelock Silences Mis-
fortune With a Pistol.
FAILURE. DESPAIR AND DRINK.
An Officer Of the Stock Exchange for Over
Twenty-Five Years.


wheelock vice president and chairman Of tho stock
Exchange TOR a quarter OF a century, shot himself
through the prain anG went OF the world in
4 moments space. Once man OF means and sta
tion he slip from his hands, and, in spite OF
every effort, failed to avert the ruin which over
whelmed him When left without fortune he turned
10 the position which he had regarded honor
lry but which haa higher value as means of
Iupport; but that. too, passed from him. Ho went
lway a broken and disheartened man to seek obliv-
lon first in drink and then at last in death. Ever
nnce Mr. wheeIocK failed in the spring Of
, year ago he lost spirits daily, aud, al
though he conterded against his financial
troubles and tried manfuy to keep his
head above the adverse current OF AFFAIR.". he saw
little chance OF success. hs position OF chairman In
the Stock Board yielded MIN salary OF SIS, 600
year, and he believed that while that was retained he
would not be driven extremities. His popularity
and hts long OF service in once assured him Of
Its continuance and when, the 11th OF May, the
rival candidate elected Mr.. Wheclock felt the
blow deeply and recovered from II. The lack
of his old habits and old associations also preyed
heavily upon him, and Of late he gave himself mp al
most entirely drink
THAT DOES NOT SPEAK.
A gentleman by Instinct he did not caro- to air his
an ictions before the world and public He main
tanned cheerful countsnance and laughed and TESTED
MS he had always done. But It In the privacy Of
his homo that the weight Of mis- oppressed him
most and often no told his family that he tired
or the world and believed himself justified
mating his existence. These threats first caused
much alarm anxiety, but his failure
10 act upon them made them appear harm
lees and only the offspring Of perturbed
mind. During the last few days ho had become
srfe less moody, but his lucid intervals were lew
and could bear TO reflect soberly upon his con-
iition. Every effort made by his family 10 re-
strain him, and they fsncied that the cloud would
soon be lifted and he would recover his ordinary
health and spirits. Yesterday morning no came
home at two O'Clock. He had been out
night and had drank deeply. AT nine O'Clock he
up and seemingly bright and cheerful
he joined The family breakfast conversed
freely about ordinary topics, and seemed alto
eether in a moro pleasant mood than
no had been for many day. HIS wife and Will
were song TO church, and. after exchanging
some observations with them, he went up stairs to
take q bath ami retired to his sitting room. Al
eleven o'clock tho family went to church, and
wheelock had meantime convSrscd in q
friendly way with Mr. Jecns, the owner OF tho
house, slipped down stairs and was seen by tho
latter passing through Twenty third street toward
Broadway. He smoking a cigar at The time
and seemed gong of for morning stroll. He Is
Hotel and then sought resort OF his the
neghbornood, where he storpcd awhile to drink
A TERRIBLE SURPRISE
II not by auy OF tho inmates to enter the
house again. and when young wheeiock and mis-
mother returned they went up stairs TO the sitting
.rsI 10 enter and there iound hrs sthsr sisssag
his shirt by the table with his hands pressed
togethcr upon his lap and n rcvorver glimmeriug be-
tween bis nngers HIS lace was inaamed. his
eyes Iustreiess and classy and no nuinbng
10 bimseii in an incohcrcnt wsy. As ne. looked
up and asked for Mrs Wheeiock tho. young
man, tearing ne might be medilaiing some intsmpsr
went up stairs with her. He Was only absent min
ute But the Interval was fatal HIS isthcr's life had
passed away In that bret space oil time. There was
no explosion to attract attention, and when young
Whcelock entered the room again he was thunder
struck AZ tho dreadful spectacle that met
chair he had lett him. but the revolver
had fallen from his nerveiess hand aud
was the CHASTITY hole where bullet had passed. From
1t the blood was tricklinr down his cheek, bsdabbng
the white hnsn and the imprint OF death rested upon
The vid lace and the fixed, stony eyes Llfe had
clearly passed away with the discharge OF the re-
vovcr ana the uaii that crashed through his brain
had s.iled almost Instantly the hearts pulsations
With scarcely a twinge of pain, Moses A. Wheclock
had gone has account
The dreadful discovery paraiyzed the young man,
and II was some moments before be could summon
nybody. When he recovered his compcsure lie sent
for Mr. Jeens, told him OF the tragic occurrence and
took means TO notify the police. Tho room was
closed TIL Captain wiiams appeared aud then Cor
oner woltman sent Tor He and
took such measures as HIS Office direclsd Tho man.
was necessary beyond taking the statements OF tho
deceased's son and Mr. Jeens, owner OF the house
where the whccocks boarded. When an sxamina
ton OF the body begun a note was iouud In The
Handwriting OF the DEAD man, but so bioited ana
ilI-wriiten as be all but illegibe. IL threw
light the suicide and only served TO make clearer
that the mans business troubles pursued him TO tho
last moment OF hts lifo
SURROUNDINGS OF DEATH
II was In the front sitting the third floor
oil the house thai whcelock ended his LIE, The
rance and with Indications yns abou, Of the refined
tastes OF the inmates Ono door opens upon II from
q bedroom, tho other connects II with tho hail. In
the centre OF the room is a table with looks
and papers scattered ncsiigently upou II, aud
soss =, tod 'a an sssy s sSa'r w.s
10 life wheelock had been person Of gentlemanly
appearance. lie was tall and slim. with some what
aspect OF mis- face had but little changed. Il was
cain, soitlsd and bat for the ghssty nue. very lite
In the head had saturated much of tho
undersnir which, with pair Of black pants,
the shoulder, where II had oAgulaied, tho
Coroner had closely TO assure himself that
which the acs was com mit.ed was found close BY IL
very large one, with ak barrels, and the trade
marx OF the American Arms Company engraved upon
station house, where the Coroner proposes call
ing jury together to-day. The members OF
the household were then summoned TO testify, but
on account OF her utter prostration Mrs whcclock
was excepted She felt the blow deeply, and was so
utmost care. Mr. wheelock had two sons besides
William, but as that young man was the only one who
hand the time Of tho tragic event. only his
testimony and that OF mr. Jccns was taken.
THE sons TESTIMONY
William Wheelvck's statement - ns iOH0ws:-l
live at NO sc East Twenty Third street, boarded hero
with my father aud mother; am son OF deceased,
Moses whcelock deceased had been Vice Chairman
OF the Stock Exchange Tor twenty I've years; one
year ago last spring he failed In business and resigned
his Office, weeks alter that he reelected 10
his old position; IRON tue limo OF his faiurc no be-
low spirited on the nth Of May TINS year his
term OF offcc expired; he was candidate Tor re-
election and was, to his great surprise, defcatcd
bis salary while IN the Office $4,000 year
the loss OF his position and income prcyed heavily on
hts mind; como Gays ago he sold his seat in tho
since then he became more depressed aud took TO
drinking; he repeatedly threatened to take his lfo
be made this threat often that We paid no
attention to ~ he remained out until two O'Clock on
SUNDAY morning; he came home very much under
the influence OF liquor, went 10 bed. but arose at tho
usual nour for breakfast AID seemed more cheerful
than he had Tor two or three days past; alter
breakfast went up stairs; went 10 church
with my mother, iatbcr rcrnsined NJ home;
We left him at eleven O'Clock; on returning home ut