New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-26
A PAYMASTER'S SUICIDE.
DYING on HIS WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.
THOMAS DOUGLAS HoxsEY, OF THE UNITED
STATES NAVY, SHOOTS HIMSELF
AT HALEDoN, n.


The people Of Paterson, ~ j., were shocked yes.
teriay morning by the announcement that Thomas
Douglas Hoxscy of that city, paymaster in the
United States Navy, stationed at the Brooklyn Navy
Yard had committed suicide at Haedon, lovely
mountain suburb, the night before. Wednesday
the fifth anniversary Of his wedding his wife
having died after their marriage General Thomas
Douglas Hoxsey, the father Of the dead man. was one
OF the best known in New-Jersey In legal, po-
tcal and society circles and at first an enthusiastic
Republican, became, probably owing to the bitterness
caused by the of fortune Greenbacker, and
was that party's candidate for Governor OF New
Jersey some years ago. In private life the General
the flower OF od.fashioned courtesy, and cntcr
tanned his friends with genuine country hospitality at
bis beautiful home at Haledon stone mansion like
an old English manor-housc
Here the Generals family passed its happicst hours,
and here his and namesahe, Thomas Douglas,
wooed and the daughter of George A. Townley, a
neighbor, the families being good friends. or late
years. after the Generals death, both the Hoxsey and
Townley families had removed from Haedon into the
city, and the Hoxsey mansion now is occupied only
by an old Frenchman who takes care OF 1t. On
Wednesday night the caretaker had occasion to look
for stray COW, and going down the main pathway
to the great gateway Of the grounds, he the body
OF lying alongside large stone The Old
Frenchman for lantern and whom he returned, he
saw by its light his horror that the object the
body of Thomas Douglas Hoxsey. An alarm was
given and word telephoned to the Paterson police
station. Neither Of the Paterson coroners could be
secured at Coroner Smith was riding as
grand marshal the head of a Democratic parade, and
Coroner GOodridge had TO Boonton to take part
In a Republican demonstration there
Justice DenDlson, OF Haedon, informed and
took charge Of the body for the time, and in the
meantime T. Frank Hoxsey, elder brother Of the
dead man, was informed Of the sad occurrence by
q D,ff Nh rrf ny GanQ
G. A. Hobart, who Is relative Of the family, and
another friend drove to Haledon and found every
evidence that the dc; IN Of the paymaster
Of sIicIe When the body found thirty
eight-callbre revolver lay by It, and there was a
bullet wound in the right temple. The dead mans
watch and money found on his person Coroner
Goodrldge arrived from Boonton about a. m. and
took charge Of the body. After hearing the brief
story of the caretakcr he 10 the conclusion that
It a clear of suicide and that inquest was
called for.
HE PROBABLY YIELDED TO DEsPONDENCY.
Mr.. IIoxseys brother George, clerk Of the Paterson
District Court, last Douglas alive at about sI5
D. IN. on Wednesday. Douglas had said that he had
business to look after " at the old place." and
left him for Haledon. Before going TO the old home
stead he stopped " the hotel Of David Thompson, in
Haledon, but was IN noticed TO say do anything
strange. lie had seemed to be in his usual spirits,
and, in fact his relatives say, had in HIS life
given evidence OF mental alteration. He of
marably quiet and reserved but always pleasant and
genial disposition. The presumption IS that the
widowcr lonely and sad since the death OF
his wife than even his intimate friends imagined, and
the general theory is that ovepowered by the thought
that II his wedding anniversary and by the
familiar surroundings of the old place where he had
spent many happy hours he yielded to dependency
and loneliness and ended his life on morbid impulse.
Paymaster IIoxsey was thrtyfour years old. His
wife died az Buffalo I'm January, 1885, leaving a son
only few days old Mr.. Hoxsey at that time
stationed at Fort Erie He after trans
ferrcd to the Brooklyn Navy Yard. He gradu
ate Of Annapolis, aud accomplished and gentle
manly officer The family is of the most prom-
nent I'm Paterson T. Frank, contractor, brother Of
the dead man, is married to daughter Of Isaac w.
England and a sister is the wife of the Rev. Dr.
Hughes, prominent Episcopal clergyman OF Morris
town. The widowed mother Of the dead man. with
whom he lived Of late, has the sympathy Of every
body in her afiIcton. She lost daughter, who was
married TO a cousin OF the same name by sudden
death only year or two ago. The funeral of Mr..
Hoxscy will take place this afternoon at o'clock from
his home IN ElllsOn-st., Paterson.
THE NEWS AT THE NAVY YARD.
Rear-Admra Gherard received dispatch an
nouncng the death Of Passed Assistant Psymaster
Hoxsey yesterday morning. Later in the day, how
ever, the circumstances Of the paymasters tragic
death became known 10 the ohicers at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard, and al once formed their principal sub
ject OF conversation. Several OF the officers main
tanned that Hoxsey had worried himself into despont
ency the Navy Yard investigation, though not
a suggestion entertained that the dead officer had
been implicated in any way by the charges. Pay
master Hoxsey in charge of the Provisions and
Clothing Departments. regarding which the nvestiga-
ton made damaging revelations. This fact uOubled
the officer, more from feeling that he had himself
been duped than that he had been otherwise at fault
y Wednesday.
visited the Naval Pay Office In the Stewart Building
He there by OF his colleagues from the
Navy Yard. and seemed to be In good spirits. lie
was excited some gossip about the investigations
Impaired him by his friends. however, and said
have left the Office with the words Well, where Will
this end ,'
Since obtaining leave Of absence two weeks ago,
he had written a letter 10 Paymaster LOomis at the
Navy Yard I'm which he said 81 am not well, but
hope to brace up before my leave ends Mr. LOOMS
regarded IIoxsey bright energetic and conscien-
tious officer and spoke highly Of his other personal
qualities. Paymascr LOOmis declares that Mr.
HoXscys accounts all right. and that he
cannot surmse any for the suicide.