New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-09
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SHOT HIMSELF IN HIS BED.
DID YOUNG SMITH COMMIT sUIClDEi
HIS FAMILY SAY 1T WAS AN ACcrDRNT-yo REASON
WHY HE SHOULD KILL HIMSELF KNOWN.

HIS FAMILY SAY 1T WAS AN ACcrDRNr-No REASON
WHY HE SHOULD KILL HIMSELF KNOWN.
Whether young Harry Smith killed himself
accidentally or Intentionally at Engewood. N. j.. on
Tuesday night. is question that puzzles tho peopls Of
that village considerably While tho majority seem to
think it Of suicide, there many believe
with his family that the apparent absence Of
any motive for such an act precludos
this view. The young Tans father, Charles A. Smith.
II wall known in business circles here. He form
srIy member OF the firm Of Chapman, Smith & Brit
ton and was in the dry goods for over twenty
years in Church-sI He retired with . snug fortune
some years ago has been living retired life OF late
His family consisted of his wife, two daughters Of
whom married, and Harry, who was only twenty-five
years old. About four years ago Mr.. Smith
wanted Harry to go to college, bis on Dis
expressing Q preference for business. position
was obtained for him In the Fifth Avenue Bank. He
remained there until last January. when no became
tired Of the work, is 10 said aud resigned.
Early in the spring Mr.. Smith hired cottage Tor tae
summer from william Humphries. In Engie 81, Eng'e-
wood, and the family moved there In June. Harry
stayed At homo nearly all tho time. The family had
few acquaintances In the village and with these
he and his sister great favorites. Hs
seemed to enjoy life greatly and on Tues'
day night was In unusually high spirita
All the family sleep the second floor They
retired 1890 o'clock, usual but Harry told his
mother when she went to kiss him goodnight, that hs
bod when she left him. Mr. Smith says that he had
lost himself In seep when he heard pistol shot
At first he thought outside the house He called
to Harry ask him about It, bus received reply.
Kno wing that his had revolver he became alarmed.
and with Mrs. Smith, hurried to the young mans room
There they foun him gaspug In the aeonies Of DEATH
with the blood pouring from a wound n his
left side just below the heart The revolver. S2ca
ibre seven-shooter. lay beside him with one OF tho
chambers empty His left hand clutched bis night
Shirt though he had pulled It away 70 uncover ms
breast He unconscious. DIR. Banks, one OK the
village physicians Immediately sent for but be-
fore he arrived tho man was deai The Dali had
penetrated the lower part OF the heart.
Coroner Shaw, who lives at Leona. wasn!ormed early
In the morning After examining the body he decided
that would not be necessary to hold an inquest He
considered It Of suicide The funeral will prob
ably take place to-day The family almost pros
rated by the shock Mr. Smith refuses to consider for
! q moment that It anything but an accident
"What should cause Harry to kill himselff"
he asked. "Hc had health. wealth and every.
| thing to live for. I know positively that he had
no bad habits or connections to cause trouble. He
| was at home here with us all the summer until yester.
| day when he went down to New-York on husn ess.
never saw him in happier than last nght when
we retired. How did the accident occuri Well, som.
OF the dogs In this neehbOrhood have been some At
though he never used It on any OF them I think hs
handling it before going to sleep when t went on
an Unfortunate love affair is all nonsense.
He hat no troubles of any kind, and WAS going 70
| party with his sister and some other friends hero
| to night
About eight years ago Harrys brother An olier son.
went West and bought ranch 10 New-Mexi In COM
panv three four Others he crossed into Arizona
| to buy cattle, but never returned from the trip:
| IL is supposed that he was killed by the
| Indians, as three skeletons were aftcrward
found abou. 100 miles OF Prescott where the party
was last heard of. The loss OF this made Harry
dearsr to his mother. and she Is almost proRen
down by his death.
! All sorts OF ru,nors about the young man are
aoat in village one is to the effect that ne grew
despondent because he out OF work ana raj 20
secure positions that he sought But as few OF the
| village people know the family intimately mono OF
these stories looked upon based upon any trust
| worthy foundation.