Morning journal and courier., 1884-09-09
TRAGEDY FOLLOWS TRAGEDY

. Rrunswtek-Presfden RunyOR Cuts His Throat, as Does also a DepOsItOr. While Still Another Dies From Ex- cftement.
 NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J., Sept. 9.-So
 suddenly has the announcement of the utter
 collapse of the National bank of this city fallen upon the public, and so tragical have
 been the events subsequent to the disclos- ure, that without taking into consideration | the vast amount of money involved the whole affair stands without parallel in the histo-
 " of recent bank defalcations. The state
 ment made known on Sunday, while yet the
 examination was but two-thir6s completed,
 that $235, ,93O. 31 had been found wanting
 had plunged many depositors into despair: Of this amount $196, ,S29.64 was acknowledg- ed to have been found to be embedded by
 Cashier Hill. The difference, or $39 100.67, had been drawn out by President Runyon
 and it was known that the directors were
 working early and late over the accounts and
 were greatly agitated. Nearly all day Sun
 day and far into the night they
 worked over the books. Being inexpert
 bookkeepers they finally found themselves in hopeless snarl By o'clock this morning lights again appeared in the bank building and one by one the overworked and anxious directors passed in. Two policemen guarded the doors. At 4 o'clock President Mahlon Runyon drove up and hurried into the bank. He was nervous and excited and was ob served to speak incoherentiy. Before day light the report that he would be arrested renewed the excitement and crowd of cit izens began to gather. As the morning ad- vanced the anxiety of the depositors grew apace and their demands for money became more angry and determined The chief of police went inside the bank with two officers and Watchman Wisner. At g o'clock Bank Examiner Edward H. Shelly arrived and took charge and few minutes later Directors Wyckoff and Martin left on 8 train for New York on a mission to the Ninth National bank, the correspondent of the New Bruns- wick bank The Ninth National during Tuesday last forwarded $100,000 to the bank and Saturday $25, ,000 more. Director Martin arrived by noon with $3O,OOO additional. The anxious depositors@ who waited for the opening this morning were doomed to disappointment. Despite the assurances of the banks officers that all demands would be promptly met the fact coming to their ears that a depositor waited with check for $9O O0O caused them to suspend, and shortly afterwards the following placard was posted on the door:
 ''The bank is temporarily closed pending an ex- taken charge No business viii be done except the payment of drafts and notes, for which purpose people will be admitted by the police.
 EDWARD H. SHELLY, Examiner.
 President Runyon paced his room ner vously, answering the directors questions I He frequently glanced despairingly at the l examiner, and at times spoke with Acting | Cashier Campbell The latter's reports were anything but encouraging. They endeavored l to soothe Runyon, but he kept repeating, l s'We're ruined, Tuined'' Then he called l for his old time friend, Simon Van Wickle, who was sent for. For a few l minutes he conversed earnestly with him and l then as Van Wickle turned to go followed him into the hallway and was heard to say: "A full million gone, Van, full million" Then he was missed and when search was made it was found that the door to closet was locked. Wisner, the watchman, climb ed to window and looked in. He was hor riied to see the old president lying gasping on the floor covered with blood. With bar of wood Wisner broke the window and the door. As they lifted the dying man he ex- pired. Doctors Donahan, Clark, Williams and English were at once sent for, but the pres ident was dead. He had removed 1 his coat and cut each arm twice on the under part of the 1 elbow, severing the large arteries, had cut his jugu1ar vein and the right side of his throat The weapon used was small pen knife with blade one inch and a half long It was remarked that Examiner Shelly did not look up from his books when told that President Runyon had killed himself, but merely muttering Too bad, " kept on figuring. The coroner was notified, and at once i'm panelled jury of nine men who viewed the body and adjourned.
 It appears that Runyon has been in an ex- tremely nervous condition ever since Hills death and last evening betrayed signs of fightiness To few friends he yesterday expressed the belief that the officers of the law were dogging him and that several of his fellow bank directors eyed him suspiciously In the course of the night he pressed his hands to his temples as if suffering great mental agony and was heard to mutter, q cannot stand this. !" He was doubtless acquainted with the fact that he was about to be arrested but few minutes before his death and that it wes this knowledge which led him to seek consulta tion with Van Wickle. Before the body was cold constable arrived in 8 carriage and served a warrant upon Acting Cashier Camp
 bell The latter broke down utterly and shed bitter tears, but offered no to a justices court where he filed bonds for his appearance and was driven back to the bank It is aseertained that President Runyon's property valued at be-
 tween S75, 900 or $10O, 900 was heavily mort gagged and has been entirely swept away by speculation and shortages in the bank. He was member of the original Runyon family of New Jersey which came from France in 1885, He was deacon of the First Baptist church and attended services yesterday. His farms, of which he had several, were among the best in the country. He was in his six tieth year.
 JoEn C. Meyers, one of the directors stated that the report that Cashier Hills bond for $50, 900 had been allowed to lapse was false. It has been in the bank within sixty days of the death, but had probably
 been stolen and destroyed. "There is no trouble about the bond, said he. "The four bondsmen shoulder the responsibility"
 In addition to the suicide of Walter Car roll, the depositor who followed the example of President Runyon, it was reported at 1 o'clock that Johnson Letson had died sud | denly under the strain of the excitement and 1 worry, thus adding the fourth to
 the list of deaths resulting from Hills fnanciering. 0. J. Carpenter believes l the depositors will be paid in full. 'I de posited $7, 800 the day after Hills suicide" ! he added, land would deposit several thou sand to-day if they would take it. We will put up to make the bank good" When this | afternoon Bank Examiner Shelly discovered
 a deficit of more than a million dollars in ! surplus cash and securities the town went wild. Men rushed frantica1ly to the doors of the bank only to find the business of the in stitution suspended for the present. In the | J. B. Adrian estate over $30, 900 is gone
 and the Ira Voorhis estate is partially ruin l ed Cashier Hill as custodian of this estate
 made away with all the bonds and securities.