The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-26
MISFORTUNE AND SUICIDE.

CHECKERRD CAREER OF WILLIAM JOHN, AN
Fx-pRusslAN MILITARY OFFICER.
william John, q man Of education and steady hab-
its, had rented furnished Al No 70 West Forty
fourth street, whore he hnd paid his way punctualy
regarded well TO do IN the world. He kept
aloof from the other occupants OF the house,
ana little was known Of his busincss or
history. save that he claimed to DO
veterinary surgeon and Prussiau by birth. On
Friday evening he returned 10 hts lodgings usual
at reasonable hour and retired 70 mis- room. Yestcr
day morning as he was slow to making his appear
ance, ths servant knocked at his door but re-
ceived no response Becoming alarmed the domestic
conferred with tho landiady, and both effected an
entrance into Mr. johns roorp They be-
hold Mr.. John stretched upon bis bed,
partially dressed apparently asleep.
Their first impulse was to mako no,so
In tho to AWAKE him, but, closer inspcc-
ton, they horrined 10 discover that he dead
They summoned assistance; II came too late. Ho had
been dead several hours. On chair, near The bed,
found tum0ler and phial; there no label
,le latter but blown on the glass was the inscriptions
Tue phial was perumcd as II 10 counteract the odor
Of q deadly drng. On Tho mantle werc two pbials,
which containeu the extract Of alOcs and hnrsnorn
II appears that deceased had been In financial
barrassments and had threatened to take hs
lilo unless he could collect somc bills which were
MIN. He claimed that the firm Of 8. Minor, OF No. %
Park row. were hrs debtors for \ considerable sum.
He said no had begged them frequently for q small
advance, but without suocese A. tho timo Of hts
death no was known 10 bewa the bal treatment he
had received the hands OF those who refused 90
fund him money which he had literally loaned them,
and Il thought that because Of mis- Inability 10 COL
lecs those claims and meet his liabilities he became
despers.s and committed the rash decd Of taking his
owA llfc.
DscEAsED's HISTORY.
Tho deceased came 10 this country from Prussia
abeus fifteen ysass age sines ihat stmo has mad
checkered history In MS native land no Was rich
and Influential Ho resided at Dantxic, IN Western
Prussia, where no Was rich landed propristoE He
representative IN tho Provincial Diot and was
nm officer tho Prussian Landwchr cavalry. During
this period oil his existence no was In possession OF
large fortune, and entertained the local gentry, and
particularly the officers OF mis- regiment, With
lavish hospitality Ills fast living led TO i'm
povcrisnmont. In time he Obliged igrale
20 tnis country, whore no became small newspaper
dealer In New York he increased his business and
made money Shortly after tho breaking out Of the
he had some little money and soon began TO In
vest in real estate. He made money rapidly formed
nod los. ''a hall aoao1 iorianes, " and nn.I H
wound up by selling ont his bustoess for $4,000 tho
only money that he had saved from the wreck Of his
once large fortune. With this sum ne went 10 Cali
fornia spocuated tncre with but indifferent results.
He ncxt turned up at st. Louis, whore he renamed
for timo, this CITY last OCTOBER,
where no had resided up to tho time or his death
old ooup,rv Dr. Berp,uru,sr' Of Na Ito R,v,Dr.oS
street. The Doctor was paincd TO SEQ his pros
porous and respected friend reduced In circumstances
He TOOK him homo and cared tor him ike brother.
While residing with the Doctor deceased concluded to
try his fortunes a veterinary surgeon as he had
far knowledge OF the Ho succeeded but poorly
and became discouraged Recently he seemed 70 have
suddenly prospcred dc astonisned mis- friend the
Doctor few months ago ~ Appearing dressed IN
Ito said no had received u remittance from Prus-
STA He became lavish In his expenditure
When demonstrated with by tho Doctor ne
replied, .'wnat does matserf when that
Is spent can get moro II mood
H." For a few weeks, however. before hts
death no seemed 10 have squandered all mis- money.
ana often 0cwa,led hts extravaganza and iMprovi-
dencc. During this period Of hts brief prosperity he
formed tho ncquantauce OF widow lady, Mr. Lucy
Weber, one OF the female orchestreans IN . Bowery
concerf. garden To her deceased paid assiduous
and offered her his hand Ia marriage. He repre-
scnted himsef wealthy, and spent money like
= mrlhonnarc. MRS Weber was poor, and had
a little daughter support and her supposed ricn
sutton had almost won over her CONSENT 10 the nup-
tials when a change his fortunes with the
disappearance OF hts money. To her and Mrs. r. W.
Keen, Of No IL East Fitysixth street, no f0rwsrded
letters short previous To his death acquainting
thcm of his fatal iniention and asking their forgive