The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-07-07
A STRANGE TRAGEDY.
What the Friends OF Dir. Henderson Say
His wife Now Missing.

CLEVELAND, o., July G.-The friends Of
S. E. Henderson, who committed sui
eide at the Astor House, in New York,
last night, are unable to account for the
mans awful deed. He had always, to
all appearances, been in excellent health
and in good spirits.
Mr.. Henderson was in his forty-eighth
year, and is survived by his wife and
three children. For two years he had
been the manager OF the Gordon Lamp
and Brass Work, and he was in the habit
OF taking annual business tri ips to New
York. 4 year ago lie and Mrs. Hender-
son made prolonged stay there.
They started for the metropolis last
Sunday, and intended to be absent three
weeks. Mr.. Henderson seemed to look
forward to the trip with the greatest in
terest, and anticipated an enjoyable va
cation. A letter received from Mrs.
Henderson last Tuesday said that every
thing was progressing fayorably, and
that they were having pleasant visit.
Nothing more was heard from them un-
til the receipt Of the telegram announ-
cling his death.
a relative OF Mr.. Henderson stated
that he had not been, so far us known,
melancholy or suffering from any cause,
and that it was utterly impossible to
imagine the motive that prompted him
to take his life. He was sent to New
York TO consumnatc deal OF consider
able importance for the works, which
would indicate that his relations with
the company were all right. lie has
been with the works two years and, aC-
cording to Mr.. Patrick II. Keevan, the
Superintendent, lie never had any trou-
Bile with the concern. 'lf he had. said |
Mr.. Keevan, "the company would not
have intrusted him with the nilsson TO
20 to New York and make this deal"
Mr.. Henderson had the reputation OF !
being one OF the shrewdest managers in
the sewing machine business and he
helped to organize the Leader Sewing
Machine Company At that time he
was well to do; but he met with financial
reverses and went to the wall, which |
caused him to accept position with
the W. ]. Gordon Lamp and Brass Com
pany.
A New York dispatch says: Catherine
Henderson, wife Of Samuel henderson,
the man from Cleveland, Ohio, who is
supposed to have committed suicide at
the Astor House last night, left the
hotel shortly after her husbands body
was removed to the undertaker's. The
clerk in the hotel could not tell where
the lady had gone. No messages have
been received from Cleveland in answer
to the kilograms sent last night.
An autopsy made by Deputy Coroner
Herold this morning showed that the
mans death was due to carbolic acid
poisoning. Evidences OF this were
plainly visible in the scortched condi.
ton OF the deCeased's mouth and the
extreme inflammation of the interior
walls OF the stomach. Some little time
doubtless elapsed after the man took the
fatal draught before the antidote WIS
administered. Remnants OF the latter
were still discernible, but the acid had
done its fatal work before it was used.
The result reached demonstrates that
the mans death was OF his own doing
entirely, and the suspicious which
rested on his wife are dispelled. She
was under the surveillance OF the police
through the night, Coroner Eidman,
having deemed this precaution necessary
in view of all the circumstances sur
rounding the case.