The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-16
SEICIDE IN TIE STORlL
A Pistol shot In CITY Hail Park while nil
but One Mnn Ind SnmahI kheIier.

When the violent squat, followed by n
drenching rain, reached the vicinity Of the City
Hall yesterday afternoon. the Park and the side
walks were throngcd with people. Many had
noticed the ominOus clou Is and the gloom and
were hurrying tn places Of shelter. Others
wcrc sitting on the benches in tn" Park or saun-
'rring loisurcly along as though they had as
surancc that there was nothing in the wat"ry-
looking clouds that were mounting toward the
zenith from over the row Of buildings on the
west side Of Broadway. Soon n binding cloud
Of dust was whirled into the Park; large drops
Of rain began to fall. and the throngs sought
shelter wherever they could obtain IT, The cor
rdor oi the Post ONCE gave shelter 10 many {:
but the doors and windows on the west side
were open. and the dust cloud thut SWEPT
through the building WIS almost M dense as
that which swept around II. The crowd inside
WIS almost blinded, and II was 50 dark thut they
could hardly see cach other. The rain in.
crcused To drenching shower. IL seemed to
come down in sheets. and 1t flowed down the
streets over the paving stones IN small cnschdes.
The Western Union Telegraph Building WIS al
most invisible from the nortico 1.-THE Post Onirc.
When the thrOng in the City Hall Park hur-
RED to places oi shelter. there was one man
who seemed utterly oblivioua to the commotion
~ the SKY and th" warning II brought. II" was
sitting on trnch under the large tree ngar the
Bro1dwaY side ot the Park. In the Murray
street row. The cloud Of dust enveloped him.
AMI when 1t had swept by and had been sue
cccded 10y white sheets Of falling water he still
sat there IA ohlivious to the wet ms he had been
To the warning. He was n man apparently
about 80 years old. OF medium height and
weight and was dressed in u neat suit Of black.
He looked like a German. He had dark brown
hair and moustnche. HIS right arm hung nj
bis side. He did not move through all the
h'rccst pnrt OF the squat. After tho heaviest OF
tn" shower WAS over he nut his lc't hand in his
pocket. drew ont n self-cocking revolver. nut
the muzzle almost against his lett temple. aud
fired. He fell sideways from the bench. The
report uf the pistol attracted the attention OF
several hootbacks and gumin who had been
dispOrting themselves in the shower. and they
ran to whore the man lay. Many persons IN the
doors Ntd windows ~ the Post ONCE saw tho
boys running hut IL WIS still raining so nard
that none cured to venture out. A policeman on
the lro1dWuy sidewalk saw the mun iHll. and
ran to the spot. 4 stretcher was brought from
tho CITY Hall police station. ana the man was
taken into the station. He was already deud
/ The bullet had made nm ugly wound in lie
skull. from which the brain cXuded.
On an envelope in the dead mans pocket was
written: To whoever 1t may come. Charles
! Steinken. l73 l. zuheth street. near Spring
/ Bel Mrs. Lins." Not q cent Of money was found
! ON his person. He was unmarried. He was
| formerly well TO do AMI was a carriage builder
! 10y trade. few months ngo he used all Of hi,
capital in starting fnctory. He lost every
| thing. Then he TELL seriously III. and when h,
! lately arose from his bed his right arm was
! paruyz.d. Work was plenty. but he could moi
! work. HIS money was all gone. Since yester
/ day morning ne had had nothing 10 ent. III,
! wandered To the Park and sat there despair
! ingly through the pitllcss shower.