New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-27
SUICIDE OF GEN. MERRITT
TAKING LAUDANuM AT HIS HOTEL.
COOL PREPARATIONS FOR ELS pEArH--A LETTER
TO MS wIYE

COOL PREPARATIONS FOR BIS DEATH--A LETTER
| TO his WICK.
The news OF q strange case Of suicide startled the
guests at the Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday morning.
Shortly after midnight hotel Waterman found Gen
era Abrain Merritt, well-todo merchant Of Nysck,
y. IL who was not supposed to have sorrow In the
"orlo' lying dead on the bed In his ROOM
The suicide was calmly designed by Merritt and
was executed a codblooded manner, which aroused
no suspicious that life about TO be ended IN so
desperate way. Mr. Merritt came TO New-York on
tuesday afternoon osensbly for the purpose Of buy
Ing goods he had often done before, and registered
at the Fifth Avenue Hotel usual There was moth
Ing strange about his demeanor at any time, and he
Impressed his friends who saw him being man
"eu-contented with his lot shortly after o'clock
ON wednesday evening, he rang for belboy, the call
Delng responded to by Thomas Cosgruve. Mr. Merritt
gave the boy dollar and instructed him to 60 out
and get him some laudanum and some lint bandage,
ss ne was suffering from rheumatism the arm, and
desired to battle the limb and swathe II. Cosgrove
made the purchase at Hazards drug In the hotel
al half past o'clock, and delivered 1t to the guest
COOL PREPARATIONS FOR DEATH.
Before dismssing the boy, Merritt sent him ont for
bottle Of seltzer, and at the same time gave him
telegram to file for Nyack The boy fulfilled his
commissions brought the settler TO General Merritts
room and went away. No General Merritt
alive after that and at midnight, Waterman, finding
the room The General was lying on che bed fuly
sttred and the watchman at first thought him asleep
lie approached the bed to awake the guest and was
mortified 10 find him stiff and cold in death
Cononer Nugent at once sent for, and came
to the hotel with coroners Physician jenkins. An
examination of the resulted in the discovery OF
the empty vial which had contained the laudanum, and
Of pint flask halffed with whskey By order OF
the Coroner the body removed at once to Soltzs
undertaking rooms ON the Bowery, and General
Merntts friends in Nyack were Informed.
Later In the morning the effects Of the dead man
were brought TO the Coroner's office. Among them
were purse containing S16, and bundle Of private
letters. Among tho latter found a document adj
dressed Mrs Merritt, which proved to have refer
ence to General Merritt's desperate deed 1t reads
as follows
Ny Dear Wife Life has been q struggle with I
am its end You have been a and noble woman.
and have borne with patiently have been busy
generous a fault; my heart has been bigger than
my purse. No has been turned from me hungry,
and many have aided had claim my charity.
leave my dear wife, in ths hands OF good and
gracious God You Christian, and He says VIII
leave forsake thee, never" Lean hard on
His promises, which " Yea and Amen"
We must all die ator and the Is rest
No has had grander opportunities thon l. and
have improved except that have laid up money.
From all sources sure you viii be able TO realize
enough live comfortably. You marry again. and
in that case, God bless you. go In business
matters stand. good merchant you know that
and do my customers thank all for their Kindness
Ny advise that Edward and Charles Townsend take the
store. II you all Insurance money and hold
store do and It but II advise you
South to California sorry to leave you in this
way. Ny mind Ia in terrible state, and my kidneys hurt
have said but little to you on this point you
always worried So Bury me with my children. II both
posts wish my funeral let them do When
received my pension I'm 1881 t to you and kept
money and put store, and made for it
which the safe Nearly all the furniture in the house
bought with pension money and is yours God bless
you and Carrie and all good friends. ABLE
Have my funeral In the church by Rev Messrs Wander
Lloyd and Campbell Keep Schoonmsker as long as
you Help Nette, Amanda, Lizzie and Mamie. Pre-
Minnie with the you hold against her. dear good
girls that they are Carry all my Wishes and don't
let Jerry Charley James S. Bauye suffer
ABLE
NO REASON FOR THE RASH ACT.
J. N. Merritt, brother Of the General, and 10 the
employ Of H. 3. Cafin Co., called at the Coroner's
office 10 claim the effects and body of his brother.
He stated TO reporter that he could not account for
his brothers sad end. He knew him to be sufferer
from a kidney trouble, which worried him good
deal The Nyack business, he said, had been rather
dull OF late. Mr.. Merritt went 10 Stotz's establish
ment later in the day, and by permission OK the
Coroner had the body prepared for removal to Nyaek
The body was taken TO General Merrtts late homo
last evening.
The news Of the suicide spread like wildhre
! through Nyack He was stranger to no one there
and the demonstrations OF grief are sincere, ana many
Gags are floating at half mast He had been inc
leading business man Of Nyack for many years anu
was a public spirited and liberal citizen GeherA
Merrltt's war record honorable one He en-
tered, on September %. 1861, in the soth New
York Volunteers He served in the hrst
Army Corps and was commissary sergeant Oh MS
regiment He was captured at the second battle Oh
Bull Rum but two months later returned 10 MS resi
ment and was made a lieutenant.
AN HONORABLE CAREER
At Gettysburg he received FIVE wounds TWO OF
which have troubled him ever since He was soon
again at the front serving as Provost Marshal along
the Orange and Alexandria Railroad and as Assistant
Commissary Of Subsistence at Aqua Creek lie To
signed because Of Ill health in 1854 and entered tno
dry goods business at Kingston, N y on January 80
1881 He was elected Department Commander OF 'he
c. A. r of this State over General John Cochrsho
and another candidate.
He served In many capacities IN the g. A. H.
and always acceptably. For twelve years ne
commanded the Boys in Blue, political organization
In Rockland Orange and Sullivan Counties lie was
loyal friend Of the Grant family, and was Instrument
tai I'm securing Colonel Grants nomination for secro
sry Of State General Merritt was one OF the ieao"s
Republicans of this section and frequently Represented
the district in conventions His wife and daughter aro
naturally dazed by the sudden blow. They can
imagine no reason for his suicide. His home HE was
happy one the devotion OF the family being marked
Apparently the Generals business was In prosper
condition. He had Just stocked his store hessiS
for the spring trade 1t is generally believer 'ha'
overwork and business worriment led him 10 commit
the rash act His life was heavily insured ana ne
will leave his little family In comfortable circuin-
stances. The body reached Nyaok last night ana III
accordance with his wishes expressed In private
letters the funeral VIII be held tomorrow afternoon
at the Reformed Church
THREE OTHER MEN KILL THEMSELVES.
phlir Krnnnnbsrrnr LIKING al No. 1.33j Third ave.