New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-09
SUICIDE OF F. w. WILLIAMS.

SUICIDE OF F. W. WILLIAMS.
THE SENIOR MEMBER OF A wELL-KNoWN
FIRM CANNOT ENDURE DISGRACE
~ s.n ENDING TO THE TEMPORARY EMBAR
RAssMENr OF WILLIAMS BLACK CO.
THE UNFORTUNATE MAN UNABLE III
SLEEP, ALTHOUGH NO ONE. Az
TACHED ANY BLAME TO HIN
dying UNDER AN AS
sUMEp NAME
One NJ the direct results of Old Hutch's' Sep
tember squeeze on the wheat market was 'ne
death yesterday of Francis W. Wlllams' the
senior member of the firm of Williams, Black a.
Co., brokers, whose place of business is al NO.
William-st Mr.. Williams killed hlmseH some
time during the afternoon at the Grand Union
Hotel His body not found until seven
o'clock last evening, and from its appearance u
was thought that he had been dead for several
hours.
Williams, Black e. Co. is an old
firm. we'll and favorably known
upon the Street and was reported to have capital
of over 81 200, 900 until ten days ago. They had
seats in the Cotton. Produce, Coffee and Metal Ex-
changes and did an extensive business in the vari-
Gus branches OF the trades represented. Mr.
Black retired from the business in 1885, but the
firm has retained the old name. On Friday after
noon, September 2s just after the closing hours
the members of the exchanges who had remained
to close up the day were astounded when nouce
was posted on the blackboards announcing the
suspension of Williams, Black & Co. 1t was
bombshell, as the firm was thought TO be on the
right side of the market and there had not been
the least rumor of trouble in the concern.
BROKERS GREATLY SURPRISED.
No reason was given for the firms action and
there was much speculation among the brokers
as to its cause. On the following day it came out
that the firm had been caught on the wrong side
Of the wheat market, which had seriously Grip
pled them and rendered them unable to meet
their obligations Investigation of the firms
liabilities and assets later in the day was fol-
lowed by the announcement that arrangements
had been made with the firms creditors which
would enable it to resume business and pay all
it's debts in full. The firm resumed at the speci-
fed time and, far as is known, there mas
been no trouble in the business since.
Mr. Williams was sixty-one years OF age, and he
took even the temporary suspension OF the nrh
greatly to heart He seemed to think that II
reflected personally upon him; that he mad I'M
Daired the credt of the firm and had brought
stain upon his own name. He was alone IN this
belief, and the members OF the nr1n MS lanlhy
and intimate friends tried TO persuade him TO look
at the matter in different light His conviction
could not be changed and he brooded constantly
over his misfortune. He had been i'll for long time
with gout and the mental worriment greatly ag-
gravated the symptoms of this malay ana causeu
him much physical suffering
REFUSING TO CONSULT A PHYSICIAN.
Several DAYS passed and there was no change in
his condition His family advised him to con-
suit physician but he stubbornly maintained
that his disease was beyond the skill OF doctors
and could only be treated by himself one OF
his most serious difficulties was insomnia
Mr. Williams lived in the brown-stone house at
No o7 East Seyenty-second-st. with his wife and
son. Yesterday after breakfast he told his wife
that he was going out for short walk. lie
only walked block two and then took Madl-
son-ave car. He got off the car at the Grand
Central Station and went directly to the office
of the Grand Union Hotel w. Garrison,
the proprietor, met him there and after few
moments conversation Mr. Williams told him
that he wanted a quiet room for a few hours
where he could get some rest room was
given him on the top floor, in the rear of the
building. This was at ten o'clock. Two hours
later he ordered a glass of whiskcy. He did not
drink it then. Nothing more was heard from
the room during the day.
As Mr. Williams did not return home, his fam
ilv became much alarmed, and late in the afternoon
Frank S. and Richard T., his sons, started out to
search for him. They visited all the places
where he would be likely to go, and shortly after
o'clock they learned that man answering his
description had been in the neighborhood of
the Grand Union Hotel The two young men
looked over the names in the register. Their
fathers name was not there, but Frank thought
that the name of F. WestlaRe resembled the writ
ing of his father, and asked the clerk TO be shown
20 the room occupied by Mr.. Westlake
The two sons and the hall-bOy knocked loudly
at the door of Mr.. Wil,iams's room. but got no
response Lying upon the bed fully dressed was
the father cold in death. In his right hand was
q single-chamber revolver Of al calibre, with
which he had shot himself in the right temple
On a table near the bed was the glass Of whlskey
that Mr. Williams had ordered. and note adj
dressed I" To my dear wife The note IN sub
stance stated that Mr.. Williams had been made
SO miserable by his business troubles that the
only way to obtain relief was to take his life.
THE DOCTORS STATEMENT.
Deputy Coroner jenkins was sent for and he
took the affidavit of Dr. William King of No. 244
West Forty-fourth-st DR.. King said that Mr..
Williams had been i'll for long time with gout,
and although he had not seen him for several days
was of the opinion that he was temporarily insane
when he shot himself. Being satisfied that it was
a case of suicide Coroner Jenkins gave "A permit
for the removal OF the body TO the dead man
home
II was rumored that in the investigation Of the
affairs of Williams Black Il Co. there had been
some questionable transactions, but this IS not
believed to be true and no evidence OF 1t could be
found last evening