Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-25
A BROKERS SUICIDE.
william Jenkins shoots Himself While fem'
porariIy Insane.

new 1OTk
William jenkins, well-known resi-
dent of Brooklyn, who was few years
ago a prominent Wall-street broker,
committed suicide Thursday while la
boring under temporary attack of in
sanity. Mr.. jenkins began his busi-
ness career on Wall street when young
man, and became member of the firm
of Fitzhugh d Jenkins, which went un-
der during the memorable panic oflSG9.
He managed to retain his seat in the
Stock Exchange, gathered together his
few resources and began again with so
much success that in 1879 he had
accumulated a snug fortune. During
one of the hottest days in the summer
of that year Mr.. jenkins, while in the
Stock Exchange, was overcome by the
heat. A severe illness followed this
partial sunstroke, and after the broker
left his sick-bed he was at infrequent
intervals what his friends termed
"mildly fighty." He never did much
business from that time, and IN 1882
he sold his seat in the Stock Exchange
and gave up all work. During the
months of November, December, aud
January last Mr.. Jenkins suffered
greatly from extreme depression and
melancholy, which his friends attributed
to the effects Of the old sunstroke.
Early in February he frightened up
and seemed to have shaken off the in
disposition under which he had labored.
On Wednesday afternoon Mr.. Jen-
kins went with friend to Coney Island,
and to all appearances was perfectly
happy and contented. He returned
home in time for dinner, and spent the
greater part Of that evening with some
friends in the parlor. He retired soon
after 10 o'clock, and arose early Thurs
day morning. II never had been his
habit to be at all regular in going to his
breakfast, often having it sent up to his
room, and frequently not eating any at
all so when at about 9 o'clock his
landlady passed his door, she raped
and asked him if he intended going
down stairs. He had then just fin
ished shaving, and was standing before
the mirror with the razor in his hand.
He answered pleasantly that he would be
down in a few moments. Mrs. Hayes
went on and had just gone out of the
front door when three pistol-shOts in
rapid succession rang out, coming from
Dir. Jenkins's room. Two ladies who
were sitting in the next room ran into
the hall and saw through the half
opened door Mr.. Jenkins lying upon
the floor, with stream Of blood pour
ing from q wound in his temple. A
physician was sent for, but when he ar
rived the unfortunate man was dead.
Only one bullet had taken effect. 1t
had entered the brain, and death re-
suited instantly. An old-fashioned re-
volyer, with three chambers empty,
was lying on the floor where it had
fallen from the brokers' nerveless hand.
Mr.. Albert A. Abbott, Of the firm Of
Abbott Brothers, the dead mans most
intimate friend, was summoned, and
took charge Of the arrangements which
had to be made.
Mr.. Abbott said last night that in
his opinion the deed was committed
without moments premeditation while
Mr.. Jenkins was laboring under tenn
porary attack Of insanity, resulting
from the sunstroke. There was abso-
lutely no other reason to assign. Jen-
kins," Mr.. Abbott said, "wko was
fifty-eight years old in January, was
good deal Of sportsman, and was very
fond Of fishing. among other things. 1t
had been his custom for q number of
years to go with me and other friends
to the Adirondacks for trout-fshing, and
it was but short time ago that he de-
cided to 60 with me to the mountains
for week in the first part Of June.
We had talked it over, and though at
first he objected, he finally became
quite elated over the idea. He was q
crack shot," continued Mr.. Abbott,
land the only way can account for
bis having fired three shots and hitting
himself but once is this: The weapon |
that he used and which he kept loaded
is an old one, and probably has not
been fred for years. He knew that in |
all probability it was rusty and per-
haps not in working order, and to test |
it he fired it twice in the wall, and
then, finding it all right, placed it to his |
temple and fred the fatal shot"