New-York tribune., 1886-01-07
SUICIDE OF JOHN G.. STEVENS.
SHOOTING HIMSELF THROUGH THE HEAD.
FOUND DYING IN HIS OFFICE AT TRENToN-THE
SUPPOSED CAUSE.

FOUND DYING IN HIS OFFICE AT TRENToN-THE
SUPPOSED CAUSE.
TRENTON, n. j., Jan. (SpecidD. D.-John G.. Stevens,
president Of the United New-Jersey Railroad and
Canal Company, killed himself this afternoon. He
had been at his Office in the Pennsylvania Railroad
building all day with Secretary Leroy H. Ander son
of the United Company and had been attending to
business usual He was making arrangements to
start for West Virginia to inspect some coal lands
there, and said he thought he had better take bis
revolver along. He then took out the pistol which he
had purchased two weeks ago with view to this "trip.
Something the matter with the revolver. de
sad that a few days before it had gone of while he
handling it, and the ball had gone into his desk
Mr.. Anderson advised HIM to send 1t to a gunsmith
and have il fixed before he hanued it any more. Mr.
Stevens replied that he could fix it himself just as
WE'LL and beginning to examine 1t, remarked that it
seemed to need Oil. AS Mr.. Anderson went out,
Stevens asked him to tell tho janitor to bring him
sweet oil. Mr. Anderson told the jantor not to
give Mr. Stevens any oil. he had business fooling
with that pistol While he saying this the sound
of shot and heavy tall was heard in Stcvenss
Tie clerks rushing in his body lying On the floor
the pistol and his gold eyeglasses at the feet and the
head in pool of blood that flowed from wound in the
right side of the head the ear. Doctors ere
summoned but pronounced the wound fatal, and two
hours later he died without having recovered con-
stiousness. The only member of his family present
was his eldest daughter Miss Jennie Stevens The
County Physician decided that inquest was unneces
sary In spite of the circumstances that might indicate
that the shooting accidenal, the nature of the
wound leaves little doubt that that the is Of
deliberate suicide Mr.. Stevens had apparently stood
ND. and holding the weapon in his right hand against
his head had sent ball straight through the BRAIN
lie was about sxty-iive years old and a nephew
of Edwin A. Ste yens the inv entUr of the Stevens
battery of Hoboken n. j. and himself one of the
most distinguished canal engineers in the country In
the days of the Camden and Amboy supremacy In
New-Jersey he was power in the State. lie was the
engineer who laid out most of the roads of that
pany, gnd president of the Delaware and Raritan
Jana Company. Mr.. Stevens at one time with
H. y Hewitt receiver of the NcwJeTsey Midland Rail
road In 1861. he elected to the Assembly from
Trenton on the Union ticket. lie was recognized as
the best aud almost the only authority the State
the value of rail and canal property and such
had late been frequently witness for the state IN
the tax has 10 the value OF the railroad terminals
at Jersey City After the Pennsy ylyania leased the
Camden and Amboy he made president of the
Uuitcd Companief The duties of the position being
nominal Of late he has been known principally for
his connection with Panama Canal plans. lie
cent 10y American CAPITALISTS 10 inspect the DE Lesseps
canal and returned year ago with a report condemn
ING It and declaring the Nlcai route the best
letter from him taking the same ground was pdbshed
Two weeks ago and attracted wide attention. Mr..
Stevenss family has been one of great prominence
socially and financially on recent years he has been
reported to be IN embarrassed circumstances. Over
u year ago he found nearly SutOcatcd with gas III
a room ia Sixtlaye.. New-York. Once before il is
We VI is brothers are said to have been inmates of
insane asliums.