The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-15
DEAD In A BEAUTIFUL HOME
TIE SUICIDE or AUSTIN NJ KNIGHT
COMBUSTION MERCHdNr
Trouble. that Led TO the Last Desperate RE-
solve Imagining that the Future Meant
Only Financial Ruin-A sad Death Scene.

Only Financial Ruin-A sad Death Scene
Mr. Austin NJ. Knight, a wcl-known COM
mission oil merchant OF ~ Gold strect commit
ted suicide yesterday morning in his costly reg
idcncc in East Orange. N. J. Ho had been suf-
ierlng from nervousness and other diseases for
n year past. and has been constantly under tho
treatment Of his family physician. Dr. Piereon.
quite recently he lost 10000 by tho failure OF
=. W. Baldwin \ Co., and this with other heavy
losses. troubled him so that he acted Mt times M
though his mind were unsettled. lie was re-
putcd to bc worth at least s2OO0OO and his
friends do not believe that his losses were 40
heavy ms to cripple him financially. They think
that the failure Of trusted friends to meet their
obligations TO him worried him SO that In his
nervous state. he imagined that he saw ruin
staring him in the face. His friends do not be-
licvc that he had. ~ had been reported. been
lately engaged in speculation in Wall street
Mcknight had been unable to attend to business
for over "a week pnst avoided mis- family would
mold no communication with any body. and
even his physician had 10 resort to strategy i'm
order TO SEQ him. On Saturday a note drawn
by Mr. Knight for 81 600 was protested. and
this so worried him that he was unable to sleep
without resorting to opiates, He arose early
yesterday morning. dressed himself and after
taking dose Of medicine Joined his wifo and
his hrOther-in-law. Mr. Walton ut breakfast
N',Hlug ~ MS appearance excited their gus-
piclons. He quilted the table before the others
md returned To his bedroom. In few min
u'gs therrgp22rt Of pistol was heard
Mrs. knight and Mr.. Walton hurried up stnirs
nud found MIR. Knight lying on his face on the
u3or, unconscious. and gasping for breath.
blood nuwed from wound I'm his head. He
had evidently. after taking u 32-calihre revolver
rom us case. lain down on the floor. resting
ms forehead on his left arm and then placed
the revolver against his head with his rRh hnnd
AMI nred. Tho ball entered Just above and little
n front ot the right ear. and passing through
{h9 Oraln mndo its exit back OF the left ear. 1t
lodged IN tho wall above the dashboard of the
closet the door Of which was open
Mrs. Knight faidted at the terrible sight and
was carried IRON the room. DR. pierson soon
arrived tut Mr.. Knight dicd within nm hour.
Mr.. Knight was born in Geaug1 county, Ohio.
drcn with his widow. Edward Brooks, OF the
clothing firm Of Brooks Bros., this citv IL n
hrothcr-tn-la law OF Mr. Knight Mr. knight was
inc son IN law ~ John Leveridge the cX- prpsi-
dent OF the Chatham National Bank Over
twenty years ago Mr.. knight came to this city
a memher OF the firm Of Knight a Knapp. hide
and leather dealers, but after n few years no en-.
tered the commi sonoil business under the
frm name Of Knight 4 Co. For the past two
years he had no partner
About sixteen years ago Mr.. Knight removed
William street and Arlington avenue is one ~
the hncst in the town. II stands upon large |
plot OF rising ground, and liz surrounded by !
beautiful grounds, on which Mr.. Knight spent |
larEo sums. He was conspicuous 10y his public !
spirit, and was member Of the Town Council !
made po-t-mortcm examination last night |
and asccrtaned that Mr.. Knight had had soft |
enlng ot the brain. MIR. Knight fell out Of "A |
carriage SIX years ago and injured his head.