The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-24
THE SUICIDE OF W. II. PACE.
NOT ONE LISP or THE DEEP SORROW
Tint LED TO THE ACT
An Inquest that Gave Oncuce TO the spectn-
tors-Intimations thnt the Coroner had been
Appronehed-The Kind of Verdict he Got.

An Inquest thnt Gave Ohcuce 60 the spectn-
tors-IntImations thnt the Coroner had been
Approaehed-Jhe Kind of Verdict he Got.
Tho inquest upon the death of William II.
Pace. a ticket agent of the Central Railroad OF
New Jersey, who shot himself through the
head on Thursday morning last. was held last
evening in Jersey City by Coroner Roman. The
scene was Elliots undertakers shop. The glass
cases contained the latest styles OF everything
appropriate. The Coroner. whose hairdrcsscr
had been adequate to the occasion. occupied tho
centre OF the table. with his clerk beside him.
The jurors were arranged at one end and the
reporters at the other
Mrs. Jennie l.. Whitney with whom Pace
boarded at 1870 Pacific avenue for two years.
told how she was awakened after the police had
been called by Johnston and Mccall the two
railroad men. his fellow boardcrs. who found
him stretched stark and stiff in the back yard
after they arrived home. at about half past
o'clock on Thursday morning. The Coroner
did not inquire whether Pace had ever conhded
his troubles to her although the newspapers
have said that he did.
Edward Hough. PAGES nephew. who boards
at 227 Pine street. described how he was called
out OF bed and consulted about the disposition
OF the body. n little after o'clock in the morn
ing by Johnston. The Coroner. although
knowing from the newspapers that Pace spent
the last evening OF his life with his nephew
and another young man until after II o'clock did
not inquire where they had been nor what they
had talked about. nor whether Pace had ever
conflded 10 his nephew his purpose OF suicide.
John Johnston. the conductor. told how he
went home with his brakeman. Mccall. TO Mrs.
whitncy's boarding house; how. after making
their ablutions. they discovered Pace lying dead
in the yard. with revolver clutched in his
right hand and sealed letter beside him, and
how they called in the police. had the body
searched. covered 1t decently and sent for the
undertaken and Coroner. The Coroner elected
the fact that Johnston knew Of no ground for
suspecting that anybody had waylaid and muir
dered Pace.
Al the suggestion ofareporter. the, Coroner was
er Mr. Pace ever had any reason for commit
ting this rash actI''
committing it, Mr., Johnston replied. but
there were matters that troubled him a good
deal and he told mo Of them"
That's all. Coroner Roman said.
whisper. " what troubled him"
want you 70 understand that I'm adding
this thing and don't want you TO dictate to
me at all Coroner Roman said.
Mccall the brakeman. gave the same story
| that was told by Conductor Johnston. Sergeant
Simmons, who searched the body. and took the
letter and the contents OF the pockets. was not
was and he told what he received County
| Physician Converses written narration OF what
| he found IN the course OF his examination Of
the body was read. and received as testimony.
although 1t was not sworn to.
This testimony the Coroner thought sum-
| cent Mr. McAneny. the reporter. to whom
| Pace addressed the letter for the public eye.
| giving his reasons for Kidding himself OF his
woes. was present. and asked whether the
| Coroner meant to subppnal him. Coroner
| Roman sad no; that the public had already
read the letter and he didn't see any use In
| having II produced there.
Coroner Roman was asked whether he had
subprnaed Mr.. Babcock or Miss Wood, whose
tion with the occasion OF his death. He replied
! in tho negative. He had seen them. no said,
and they know nothing about H.
, Tho rT wa irf ido hogA- - swell the crowd Of
PAGES fellow railroad men outside. It's n
skin" one railroad man said Wonder how
much Babcock pays Roman for running that
inquest" another asked :" It's an outrage and
disgrace a tn ri added, to pretend 10 hold
an inquest. and keep back all evidence to show
| the occasion Of the mans death.
When Conductor Johnston retired half a
| dozen Of the reporters followed him 10 try TO
| learn what the troubles Were that drove Pace to
| kill himself and that Coroner Roman seemed SO
anxious to conceal Coroner Roman. seeing the
movement. wrote hurried note and sent It out
| to Johnston, who. after reading IL, became as
| dumb as an oyster To an inquiring reporter
| the Coroner admitted that he had cautioned
| Johnston to say nothing.
Coroner Roman then finished his undertaking
| Handsomely by suggesting to his jury that he
| written verdict. the evidence for which he had
been careful To suppress. to the effect that Will
| liam II. Pace had died from concusson Of the
| brain resulting from pistol shot wound in
| filcted by his own hand
This was the first official experience OF Cor
| oner Roman. He WAS elevated from the situa-
tion Of barkeeper in a cock pit 10 his present
position.