New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-05
DYING IN A HOTEL.
SUPPOSED SUICIDE OF GEORGE W. DAvIDs.

Thaddeus Dayids & Co., manufacturers of writing
materials at Nos. 1877 and 100 WIlliam-st, died at
the Grand Union Hotel. yesterday after
noOn under circumstances which led to
tho bsof that he had committed suicide.
He was o son of Thaddeus Davids, the
head of tho firm, who is now IN FLORIDA travelling
for his health His homo was in Now Rochelle. and
| he often went into the Grand Union Hotel for re-
freshments while waiting for a train to start from
the Grand Central Depot But he had not been
| known to occupy room in the hotel
until Tuesday night. 1t was after midnight
when no paid for a room. and the hotel clerk
| did not take particular NOTICE of him
at the time. Mr. Davds wrote his name in the regis
| ter, giving his residence as New Rochelle. and the
clerk sent him to room No. 500. on an upper floor
| He had no baggage.
At 1870 o clock in tho morning, woman servant
Mt the hotel knocked vu the door of tho occu-
pied By Mr.. Davids and he told her to 20 away aud
not to disturb hun. If you want any more
| money" he said, 81 will pay it,
but | want to be left in quiet" His tone indicated
that he was angry at being disturbed. The woman
told Mr.. Garrison. tho manager OF tn, hotel, what
Mr.. Davids had said. and the servants wero in
structed not to disturb him again. Shortly before
IL p. IN. Mr. Garrison in the upper
| part of tho house and his attention was
| attracted by groans in Mr.. DaviJs's room. He
| placed his oar against tho door and heard hoavy
breathing. Thsn he knocked loudly several time5.
| but received no answer. Tho door was locked on
| the inside. porter was SUNNI mod and tho tran
SON over the door was taken out. One Of the hill
boys then crawlol through the opening and I'M
locked the door, Mr.. Davids was found
| nsonsbo in the bed. He had taken off
| his outer clothing only, and hs lay on
his back. with his head propped up with pillows.
-
bottle half full of dark ooored liquid. Tho label
had been scrapei of, but servant found tho torn
| pieces in slop jar When they were put together
| it was discovered by the writing that the bottle
| had contained laudanum, purchased at lIudnups
| drug store.
MR. DAvIDS's DIAMOND STUD GONE.
| A physician was sent for but Mr. Davlds was
| already beyond the reach of medical aid. IIo died
at 2:l5 His pockets SEARCHED but no writing
was found TO explain his death. In the pockets
were found about 81 in bank notes and change.
gold watch and chain, pair of gold eyeglasses
and a few other articles Of small value.
Nj. Garrison teegraphed 80 the station agent Mt
New-Rocholle, asking him IT, inform relatives that
the body of Mr.. Davids was lying ut tho hotel. In
re,pons, to tho message son of Mr.. Divds and an
undertaken named Davis, cane to the city by the
frs, train for tho body David +. Davids, brother
oi the deal man. also visited the hotel later in the
afternoon. He thought that his brother
usually wore diamond slui but only plain gold
| stud found IN the dead mans SHIRT yesterday.
Information of the suicide was sent TO the Coro-
ncr's Office. and brother OF Coroner Kennedy
went t. the hotel, intending to- remove
| the body. The undertaken from New Ro.
cIcllo sai that he had bccn requested
BY the relatives TO take charge of IT, Coroner
Kcnne iy arrived later, and II was decided that he
should have the boiy shipped 10 NewR0chclle
Il; the expense of the und oriakcr from that place
The body accordingly removed from ne h!tol
latc 10 tho afternoon TO Taylor Il Co.'s undertaking
shop. IN East Forty .bfsi-st'
The diamond stud which Mr. Davids had been ac-
cusiomed 10 wear cost ~ 500. lie had worn IT Tor
several years. was well known to his acquant-
snccs. lie had il % few days ago.
Speaking If tins the Coroner said last night "
donOt think that any one could have changed the
am inclined to believe that Mr.. Davids pawned the
solitaire himself and then uscd the gold oEo IN IFS
place"
POSSIBLE CAUSE OF SUICIDE.
Mr.. Davids was the eldest son of 1hlddeus Davds'
lie was married to Miss Huntington, sister of
Asscmbl yman Lawrence ID. Huntington, OF New
Rochelle. about 1853. and by her hc had
five children. Sho died sOmo years ago. and he
WAS subsequently married TO young woman who
lived near Tarryown, by whom he had two more
children. Mr. Davids like his father promi-
inent Democrat. and several times elected to
represent his town In the Board Of Supervisors.
Anerward he was elected treasurer OF Westminster
County. and was nominated for second
term. but was defeated by David Cromwell,
the Republican candidate and tho present
Incumbent Cromwell called upon Mr.. Dayids
TO refund TO the county certain sums OF money
which he had retained as his cOlnml5 on
upon moneys which had passed through his
hands IN settling accounts with tho S'ate Con,
trollcr. The Board of Supervisors authorized
tho present County Treasurer 10 sue Mr. Dayiis for
tho amount alleged To duo th3 county. Tho trial
resulted adversely TO Davlds, who appealed tho
40. but higher courts affirmed the drciolOn
Jud !mcnt was recently entered against HIN for
the amount due.
IL was stated some six months ago by person
who had to the books of the iirnot l. Ddvls
a. Co. that there numbo. OF glaring dis |
crepancics in the accounts. ana that "a receiver |
would bc appointed TO settle up the Affairs OF the
concern. he dead man denied that such was the |
case and assured an intimate acquaintance That the
condition than ut that timo.
The poco think that there was no doubt that |
Davlds poisoned himself. Some OF his friends. now
ever, believe thai he took an overdose OF the poison
accidentally. lie had been III the habit OF taHlng It
to relieve him OF severe abdominal pans. |
At ilndnuts pharmacy the poison, hook SHOWS th!s
entry m9do Tuesday: "Ihad. DaVida |
- ounces laudannm; tor family uSe.
Mr. DaYds entered the place on tuesday and |
asked tor two ounces of lauianuin 10 Mt ban !
croft the clerk he said " You ought TO know who |
am. You buy ink of me- My name - Davlds"
Alr. Davds took letter from his pocket addressed
to Thaddeus Daylds IL Co., and said that lie |
G1a just got okcd '" and i'0% talked tcS
He stated that he wished the laudanum for fanny
use and that he often bought 1t by the PIN at
Schlelieiins, in WillIam-st.. but that ne ana not
wish to trouble the finn with small purchase.
Mir. Bancroft. believing everything an right. put
up the poison and made the entry IN the book not
exactly understanding the NAME rs he ana not scan
het letters closely.
COMMENTS IN NEW-ROCHELLE
Mr. Dayids's death was the universal topic of