New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-14
CRAZED BY FINANCIAL LOSS.
DENNIS C. WILCOX KILLS HIMSELF.

Surprise and regret were expressed in bust
ness circles yesterday upon the announcement that
Dennis g. Wilcox, "A wealthy manufacturer, had COM
mitted suicide In his costly home at No West F'tieth-
st. Men who had been connected with MI. Wilcox In
business united with his relatives in declaring that he
must have killed himself in tit OF insanity II not de-
MED tna he had met with losses in We'll Street recently
which had caused him great worry. but his friends could
not believe that he had become deeply involved by un-
fortunate speoulat0ns. For several months his
acquantances had noticed his increasing nervousness,
and members Of his family knew that he subject to
fits OF melancholy Lately he troubled BY insomnia
which affected his health Notwithstanding his inability
to sleep he kept at his work few days he appeared
to be Improving He was at the office OF Mitchell, Vance
& Co., No. $50 Broadway, and talkea with interest
about the business OF the of which he tho
nominal president He also went frequently to the
office OF the Merden Britannia Company at No 46 East
Fourteenfhst. where he secretary and he went TO
look after his interests in the Wilcox Silver Plate Com
pany. at No. Maiden Lane, and In tho Russell Erwin
Manufacturing Company, at No. 45 Chambersst. On
Monday there nothing alarming In his actions or
conversation either at home among his business associ
ates When he entered his large brOwnstOnc house IN
the evening he appeared to be IN excellent spirits.
Mr. Wilcox early yesterday morning and dressed
himself with his usual inquirnc he finishing
his toilet how his wife had rested during the night She
replied that she had slept well. did not sleep much
all night" he said. Mrs. Wilcox noticed that he
dition to lack OF sleep. While she was dressing for
breakfast he went and sat in the large,
richly furnished hall on the first floor. The morning
newspapers brought to him and he read In NJ
them for several minutes One Of his younger saw
him throw the paper the floor in impatient
manner, as h he had read something that extremely
dsagreeabe After 1inglny aside the paper he walked
down stairs in the direction the billiard He
was not seen alive by member OF the family
servant announced that breakfast was ready at 2
o'clock, hall an hour after Mr. Wilcox had left his seat
in the hail. and the other members OF tho family who
were in the house assembled in the dining
room Thoy seated themselves at the table. all in
cheerful mood, and waited for the appearance of the
husband anc father. His absence at length caused
much alarm that the servants in search OF
him. They did not find him In the upper part OF the
house. and Mrs. Wilcox said to OF her sons that he
had better look in the billiard room, although Mr.. Will
not accustomed 10 visit that early IN the
day The young man went into billiard the
basement and his fathers body lying face downward
lounge lie thOught his father had dropped asleep
aud he half inclined at tho moment not to disturb
him: but when he stepped lightly to the side OF tae
lounge he at glance that he had been cruelty
mistaken. H!s father dead aud blood was sTaered
over the pad face. Mr.. Wilcox had shot himself in
upper temple and the revolver which he had used lay
near his hand between his body and the back OF tfe
lounge His body was still warm Unwilling to believe
that his father could he dead the young man sent for
Dr.
billiard Otis FASTENED to the houscto hnd
that be could he OF use only to the relatives OF the dead
man They were overcome by the crushing blow which
had fallen suddenly, and the physicians aid was
timely, particularly in the case OF Mrs Wilcox 1t was
hours before the members OF the family were COM
posed enough to talk about Mr. Wilcoxs death lie had
given verbal warning OF his act to any member of the
family and he had not left scrap OF writing explain
bs sudden desperation. That there real cause
for his suicide lden insanity REGARDED AS
certain Information OF his death had been sent 10 mis-
married daughter Mrs. John II. Bacon at No. 20 East
seven -nnth-st Her husband, who is the manager
of the Merden Britannia Company went to the mouse In
Fteth-st uf tho arrangements for the
famiy's comfort Coroner Levy was summoned to the
house and be gave permission to an undertaken to
preT the body for burial lie also certificate
of DEATH stating that Mr Wilcox lad committed suicide
while suieIias from mental alteration resulting from
irsomnil The arrangements for a funeral were not
completed yesterday. but 1t said that the body
probably wouli bc buried i'll Woodlawn Cemetery
Friday
lie was fifty seven years Old and had amassed
fortune 10y his own efforts. lie born in Meriden,
Conn and had little money when he BEGAN work in
metal factory forty ago. beginning the manufact-
ure OF bronze goods n sral way his own account
after lie of axe lie soon proved MS business
talent by becoming "a manufacturer on large scale III
mis- native place. As his field OF enterprise extended he
became interested in concerns in this city. Fifteen
years ago lie moved to New York and purchased COM
Portable house in Madisonave His mansion in Fiftieh-
st was co npeted ard occupied about years ago. In
ate years Mr. Wilcox was Interested ia about dozen
manufacturing companies In this city and In Connect
cut He large stockholder III the firm OF Mitchell
Vance IL Co. when the concern was made stock
company. Mr.. Mitchell died years ago Mr..
Vance. who was acting Mayor of the city some years
ago. has living ia Florida for some time. Upon the
death OF Mr. BeDedic four years ago, Mr. Wilcox was
made the president OF the company but he left
the active work Manager smith He Mas secretary
Of the Merden Britannia Company and took more
active part in the management OF that concern Al each
place he had growu-up employed. Two other son,
are still young to engage in business HIS family
also contains three daughters. two OF whom are still
unm srried. For number OF years he was Interested
with Joseph W. Otis, OF No Wall-st, In brokerage
business, but he withdrew from the hrm Mr. OTIS, who
lives at the Buckingham Hotel was at the house in
F,oth St. yesterday. He said that Mr Wilcox had lost
money recently not much by stock spcculaons as by
the shrinkage IN the value OF his manufacturing inter-
csts lie did not think that Mr. Wilcox had become
seriously involved.
Manager smith. of Mitchell. Vance Il Co.. said Mr.
Wilcox was OF nervous temperament ana lie
worked too hard. lie Interested IN many concerns
and tried 10 look after all his interests Details worried
him buC continued strain every mental FACULTY until
hi. brain gave way. Undoubtedly he was insane when
he Killed himself. Regarding his spccuations III wall
street know TO nothing. He was man ot great
wealth and could easily become involved Whatever
his may have been they could not ahcct the au
r,acturinc concerns I'm which he interested as
stakeholder for his interests, large az they were IN
Themselves were still small in comparison with the COM
biued interests OF others"
Mr. Bacon said that Mr. Wilcox was believed to be
worth over a million OF dollars His recent losses had
caused him much annoyance and undoubtedly had
bepcd TO ling the fatal attack OF insanity but they
hal not enough to embarras his business
TWAS said last evening by acquaintances that MT.
wilcox exceedingly fond OF his home and his fam
fly and did not go much In society. lie was Hepuo-
can all NE. but did not take al active part IN poll
tics. For sever. years he attended services at the
po.dwav Tabernacle with great regularity. but lately
he had been pew-holder in Dr. Paxton's Church, In
Forty. iy.secOud-st.
Mr. Wilcox member OF the STOCK bxchangc'
bnt he was well known for several years in the long