The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-20
LEROY T. NIcnOLs,s SUICIDE.
The Death OF Weil.Known Broker from
InhnIIng Illuminating Gas.


President Ives called the Stock Exchange
to order at 2 O'Clock yesterday afternoon to say
to the brokers that it was his painful duty to
announce the sudden death Of one oftheir num-
Der. Leroy T. Nichols He said that Mr.. Nichols
died early in tho morning at the st. Cloud
Hotel. He spoke OF tho dead brokers' charac-
ter and popularity and. upon motion. appointed
n committee Of five to draft and present rcsolu-
tons and represent the Exchange in making
arrangements for the funeral The announce
incnt was surprise to the members. as Mr..
Nichols was in the street and in his usual good
health on the previous afternoon. 1t soon was
known that no had committed suicide.
At l0a4 Friday night man who. II was sub
scqucntly learned. was the dead broker, regis
tered Mt the ST. Cloud Hotel az J.. Nichols.
Conn., The signature was begun with heavy
pressure upon tho pen which was gradually
lcssened. and the form Of tho letters became
loss distinctly marked, until, with the abbrev-
nted Conn" II ended In an almost indistinct
alton. He was assigned to room 900 He paid
Tor his lodging. and was conducted to his room
Early yesterday morning. the hall in
which room 800 is located was filed with
gus. The Waterman failing to discover
the Leak tho engineer was sent for.
He tx lmined all " the rooms opening into the
hall except 229. This he sighted because the
key was on the outside OF the door. and he re-
gnrdcd that ne an Indication that tho occupant
had Just gone out. When at len 9Th the cham.
bcrmaid opencd the door, the room WINS filled
with gas. and man wns found lying upon the
bed, face downward. He was dressed, with the
exception Of his hat, ovcrcout. and shoes His
face was hid between the pillows. and with both
hands he held handkerchief 10 his nose. The
body was cold. The gas had been turned out
md then turned ON without being lighted.
There was nothing on the body 10y which TO
identify it, AtIabout 10 o'clock Dr. Danforth,
who lives with Mr. Nichols's family at 1853 West
Forty-fourth street called at the hotel He and
other friends OF the family had been looking
Tor Mr.. Nichols all the morning. MS the unusual
fact 81 his remaining away from home all night.
together with his low spirits, mad alarmed his
wife DR.. Daniorth identified the body Coro-
ncr Wotman was summoned. and after viewing
the body he gave u permit to remove IL.
Mr.. Nichols had been I'm the street from his
| hoyrood. and became member Of the Stock
Exchange soon after becoming OF age. He had
made mnny fortunate moves in his .specula-
tions. Once h9 made $4,000 10y single opera
| ton IN Northwestern, and at another time nearly
| half that amount. few years ago he WAS
moderately wealthy with fortune estimated
| at si5OOu0. But he was Of the number who
| stick 10 one side oi the market. and though he
| made money 10y being persistent bear ne
| finally lost by the same ucrsistency. He was
| twice suspended from the Exchange owing to
| failures. and he had but recently been rein
| stated for tho second time. NJ one time his
| firm. Nichols x Graham. did n large bus mess.
| OF late he has been with kmball, Howell Co..
MIR. Nichols was about 40 years old. Of fine
| personal appearance. and was widely popular.
HIS misfortuncs depressed him. and they are
| believed To have driven him To take his lie.
| Before leaving the street Friday afternoon he
| told his troubles to a financial writer Of chronic
| bearish disposition who advised him not 90 he
| discouraged RS the tide would turn. He quilted
| his home after dinner in so despoudent mood
| that the suspicious Of his wife were aroused be-
| fore midnight. As late as 10 O'Clock he was
| chatting with a brother broker in the Windsor
| Hotel. but he gave him no hint Of what he con-
| templatcl doing.