Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-28
the CUSHING SUICIDE.
The Sum Embezzled Much Larger
Than First Stated.
The Total Said to be in the N~eighbOrhOOd
Of Six or Seven THOUSAND
Dollars.
Merchants Looking Over Their BOOks---The
Grand Jury---SchOol Entertainments
Murphy Coming - Wedding
The Glass TrOubIe---Art
Notes--Amusements.

startled Yesterday morning when the details
Of the tragic suicide of William T.. Cush-
ing and the events which impelled him TO
take his lite were spread before the public.
But q limited number of people were aware
Of bis arrest and the nature of the charge,
and very few had heard Of the shooting, and
when the morning papers appeared with the
details the community was shocked beyond
description. To be sure, it was the same
old story of rascality, exposure and disgrace
over again, so often enacted all over the
country, and with the details of which all
are familiar, but there was something in the
present instance which caused a sensation
of horror to preYade the minds Of all, and
on every side could be heard EXPLANATIONS
of surprise and regret for the young man,
and Of pity and sympathy for his young
widow.
As on all such occasions, there were in.
Vulnerable stories, both as to the amount Of
the sum embezzled from the Belmont iron
works, and the whereabouts and actions Of
Mr.. Cushing during the two hours interven-
ing between his departure from the
'SuUire's Office and the moment the shot
was fred which ended his existence, and
also with regard to the personal habits Of
the suicide. With a view of sitting oJt
these rumors, a REGISTER reporter sought
one oflhe Directors of the iron works early
YESTERDAY afternoon, and asked for the lstes
developments in the case.
AS yet" said he, nothing has been
dore, but you can rest assured that the
amount OF money taken BY Mr.. Cushing Is
several times the sum mentioned in this
morning papers. IthinB, from what wenow
know, that it will foot up something like
six or seven thousand dollars, aud that the
tbeIts extend ever about four years. OF
course, it is useless for us to take
any steps looking to q recovery of the
money; the case is now settled
forever, but We will pursue our in.
~vestigation OF the books as a matter Of bus
mess. Whatever we may find cannot make
any difference to the mill, the accounts, eX.
cepr from January to the present time, hav-
iDglte Sc I e. We have simply been paying
our chiet clerk q larger salary than we
thouEht we were. Mr.. Cushing came into
the office with the reorganization OF the Mill
Company, FIVE or six years ago. He was
50 ic tatI n Of q well known mill
own ard merchant, who went to
each one of our directors and made the ap.
pOintment of Mr.. Cushing a personal matter.
Tois merchant took quite a liking to the
young msn and once set him up in business
as q confectioner on Twelfth street, but the
venture was a failure. When the Board of Di-
rectors determined upon the arrest several
DAYS ago, we dispatched q special messenger
to Cleveland to confer with Mr.. Page, a
millionaire iron manufacturer who married
q half sister of Mr.. Gushing. our object be.
ing to ascertain if the young mans pecula
tions could not be quietly fixed up and
publicity avoided. Mr.. Page was
not at home, but Was reported to be IN
Baltimore. Our messenger te~legraphed TO
that city, stating that William was in serious
trouble and would be arrested. Mr.. Page
had gone to Norfolk, and the telegram was
forwarded 10 him there. He responded
saving: Can not come to Wheeling until
next week. What is amodnt.' We replied
stating the sun was -, 100, bat before an
answer arrived Mr.. Cushing had been ar
rested. VIII was q first class clerk, and we
had absolutely no reason TO suspect him
until attention was called to his manner OF
living. We have exaeted no bonds from our
clerks heretofore said the gentleman, in
conclusion, but We shall ask one in tho
future
Mr.. B. B Doyener, the counsel for Mr.
Cushing on Thursday evening, was asked #
there was anything in his clients manner
which would indicate a determination t.
take his life.
There was nothing whatever to give me
.,. .. IL, n--l - =
the Justices Office | had a talk with Mr..
Cushing. Among other things, l asked him
if there was not some chance of s~traightsn
ing the affair up. No, it's no use talking
about that said he, the amount is far too
large How much is ity | asked. Six
thousand dollars said he, and this
thing has been going on for four
years After the bond had been signed
and We left the 'Sqaire's Office i
suggested the a~dvissbility Of our having q
consultation in the morning. He asked me
what time l would be st my Office, and | an
sWeredbany hour after nine o'clock After
q moments reflection, however, ard the
knowledge that the papers would be
full Of the affair, l said:
You need not mind coming over,
viii; l will call at your house after break.
fast and we can have a talk An right
said he, that's much better. l left him
shortly afterward, leaving him with his
brother. Abouthalf past ten O'Clock went
home, and as / turned the corner at Mr..
Taney's residence 10 go up North Front
street, l saw Mrs. Gushing and her compsn-
ions walk up to the front door, but / was
too far away to hear her utter the scream
she did. l knew nothing Of the suicide
until this morning"
From smother source 1t was learned that
after Mr.. Cushing had left his counsel he
drank several times in various saloons, and