New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-12
ABULLET THROUGH HIS HEAD
Mr.. AGATE's SUICIDE IN EARLE's HOTEL.
A WEALTHY RETIRED MERCHANT ENDS HIS LIFE
FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

FOR NO APPARfNI REASON.
wel-dressed man, sixty years old, with gray
hair and mustache. entered Esrles Hotel in Canal
st., at noon on Thursday, and nervously wrote on
the register: =" John Aken, Sing Sing" He was
signed to room No. 80. on the second floor but did
not 90 to the room until nearly p. About 730
D. m Mrs Francis, the housskeeper. went to her
room on the second floor. Soon afteTward she heard
a pistol shot, but she thought II came from tho
street Room No. 90 renamed locked until nearly
noon. chambermaid knocked several times with.
out getting any response At length Mr.. Beck, aeerk.
opened the door by force Ii was evident that the
occupant Of the room had committed suicide several
hours before. His dead body was stretched on tho
floor fully dressed with the exception OF coat ana
hat, which lay on the undisturbed bed. lie had
shot himself with a new revolver of unusually
large calibre with barrel about nine inches long.
The bullet had entered his forehead directly above
his nose. and had passed out at the back of his
head. The position of his body and blood spots on
the mirror of dressing case showed that he had
stood in front of the mirror while he discharged tho
weapon with the muzzle close to his forehead Gas
was still burning.
Police Captain McCullagh found in the pockets
of the mans clothing gold watch and chain $50.
and few other articles, including the following
note addressed 10 Mr.. Earle.
have not done from the want OF money or from
everything that | desire; but | suffer rom nervous
prosraton have not mad an hours natural sleep l
four months, and Il must end In madness or loss O ma
and mbeclity Telegraph Ia No. % Buens Nlsisaye,
Yonkers to my SON. F. K Agate, and to No LOO Broad
70 nv relatives and friends: have determined TO
end my life in preference TO the msd-house Goa nave
mercy ON me! .
Mr.. Earle caused messages TO be sent as directed
in the note Alfred A. Liscomb, agent for the
Windsor Flats at No. LOO Broadway, identified
the body as that of joseph Agate, a retired mer-
chant living at No. 90 Buena Vlsta-ave.. lonkers,
and the owner of the Windsor Flats. He said Mr..
Agate had been in i'll health for long time.
Nathaniel Niles, president of the lradesmens Ma
tiona Bank, scon afterward reached the hotel lie
said he was aI intimate friend of Slr Agate, ana
at his request Captain McCdllagh had the body
removed to the shopof Coroner hennedy 10 tearl-s,.
1t was asccrtained that Mr. Agate lett ms home on
Thursday morning and at u a. III. purchased tno
revolver in Chatham-st His sou Frederick & &ex'
pected him TO return 10 fOnkers that evening Mr;
Niles SAID that Mr.. Agate was millionaire aud
about fifteen years ago retired fTom business. Az
that time he owned the building No. 2oo Broad
way where he had manufactured shirts and men
furnishing goods He also owned much other real
estate IN this city and Yonkers The bulk of ms
property afterward kept In improved pnild pid
iugs. Nr. Agate had desk III Mr. Niles la~ Once,
at No. % Broadway, but did not visit the city
often in recent years on account ot ms iallnB
health HIS wife died about twelve years
ago. leaving only one son, FREDERICK NJ
Agate who is twenty eight years old ana
a graduate Of the Columbia Law school MI
Niles thought that Mr. Agate was uanLe 9i thls
city Twice within year Mr. Agate had been
Frustrated from nervousness and loss of sleep ho
went 10 Florida last month IN the hope OF obtaining
health but remained only a week.
Buena Nista-ave. is 0f the peasantest partso OF
Yonkers and the house of Mr.. Agate Is butt Sohdy
of stone in the style of an Italian villa. com.
Inands from the windows IN rear fine view or
the Hudson and the Palisades. The house
was crowded last night with sympathlzlng neigh-
bors, many of whom had known Mr.. Agate ever
since he had lived In that clty-more than thirty
years One of them said to a IRIBuNE reporter
that Mr. Agate's health was not broken down, and
that on Thursday morning he looked stout aud
sturdy. He had recently walked hye miles ar
stretch without feeling falgued. His nervous sys-
tenn wac drraneed and ne had spells OF prostration
and probably hyp0chondTIa; but az other times ne
was healthy and happy and fond OF hls nome. NO
one could account for his suicide. some three
months ago he gave the W Wudsor Flats 10 ms son
uDOn the occas on of his marriage. liiS son SAID
that he went to town on lhursday with ms father,
who was I'm excellent spirits. lhey parted III Irohe
of tie Park Baua, his father going down town.
while he went mp town. lie transacted his Ousl-
ness and went home expecting 20 ma ms tsther
there After the arrival of several trains Le ne.
came alarmed and returned 10 New York. Nhne
he was still searching the news came oithe Tragedy
nj Elrlc', Hotel