New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-26
DID DODGE KILL HIMSELF
A FRIEND OF BEDELDs FOUND DYING

4 CHoATE GROWS NERVOUS OVER THE
EXPOSURE OF THE TRUSTED CLERK
NO TROUBLE WITH HIS OWN
BooKs-GoOD WORDS FROM
HIS EMPLOYERS.
Charles Dodge, cashier OF the law nfm On
Shipman, Barlow, LArocque d. Choate, was founo
asphyxiated in his bed at his home in Clifton
Staten Island, at 1880 q. m. yesterday. "nen
he was discovered he still breathed, but dieo
within hour, though every effort was maoe 70
resuscitate him. The violent death Of this man
in the prime of his life occurring so soon aftes
the disclosure of the enormous populations of the
same firms confidential clerk. James Z. Bedells
caused something of a sensation, and yesterday
this latest development in the story OF the ex"
posure of Bedelrs dishonesty was on everybodys
tongue.
II was openly case of suicide. When one
OF the servants Of the pretty modern villa IN
Townsend-ave., Clifton, raped on her masters
door at o'clock, in order to awaken him, she
received no answer. She raped again, and
louder, but her knocking was not heard. Tho
girl grew nervous, and when penetrating odos
of gas reached her, and she heard heavy breath-
ing in Mr. Dodge's room, she opened the door,
and found her worst apprehensions realized. MI.
Dodge lay unconscious in his bed, his tortured
lungs laboriously breathing the poison which sat-
closed, and both gas-icts had been turned on, and
were pouring torrent Of the deadly vapor lnte
the overcharged air
ALARMING THE HOUSEHOLD.
The girls screams aroused the household. rs
windows thrown open, the poisonous air WAS
driven out of the BEDROOM and the bed moved into
position where the dying man could once more
inhae the pure seaside air. mounted messenger
was sent post-haste to Stapeton for DR.. ODea, the
family physician while the grief-stricken wife,
with the aid of friendly neighbors. was doing her
best to bring the patient back to consciousness
All was in vain, and few minutes after the doc-
tors arrival Mr.. Dodge died.
The utter absence Of any premonition Of this
tragic end still leads many Of Mr. Dodge's friends
to consider the death an accidental one. when
Bedel was arrested and confessed to having robbed
his employers of $,5O,0oo, Mr.. Dodge fels
keenly the disgrace of his former friend. He him.
self had to an extent been an unwitting tool OF
the forger, and he repeatedly expressed his impa-
tience with himself for having allowed himself Ia
be so thoroughly deceived Yet he was not man
to worry himself into melanchola, and his cheer
full spirit did not seem to forsake him. He helped
Judge Shipman overhaul the books Of the de-
faulter as well as his own, and the work was
finished on Monday.
NOTHING UNUSUAL NOTICED.
In the evening he took dinner at the Astor
House, and later in the evening visited the
Cricket Club, at Livingston. of which he was an
enthusiastic member. Upon arriving at home he
showed no notable emotion, but remarked that
he was restless, and would sleep alone in room
adjoining that of his wife This he had often
done before. Mrs. Dodge heard her husband
tumble and toss on his bed during the night, but
paid especial attention to it, because his sleep
| was always uneasy. AT o'clock she heard him
| cough. After that he was quiet until bis con-
dhon was discovered by the servant Coroner
formed OF Mr. Dodges death lie empanelled 2
jury and viewed the body. The inquest will
be held this evening at the CSroners % once; once
| last evening.
When Judge ,shipman was Informed Of ths
| to Mrs. Doage The Judge was liberal in his
| praise of his employe, saying:
hardly believe that Mr.. Dodge cs1nmted suicide
worried the Bcde matter Of course and
worked very hard the accounts during the week.
tired last evening but cheerful enough. and had
no expect dreadful deed Mr.. Dodge's sc-
counts you absolutely correct and any sus
picion cashier in implicated in tho
Bedell peculation must be dismissed at once
Joseph Larocque, another member Of the firm.
arrived yesterday from Europe, on the Elbe: He
| left England before the exposure OF Bcdell Whle
he was resting at his house in East Fiftysixth-st,
he was informed of the trouble by messenger
| from Judge Shipman, and had hardly recovered
from this Shock when telegram advised him OK
the death of Mr.. Dodge. Mr. Larocque went to
the Office at No 80 William-st, and was closeted
with Messrs. Shipman and ChOate all the AFTER
| noon s. l.. NJ. Barlow is ill, and remained at his
home in Madson-square
A SKETCH OF THE DEAD CASHIER.
Charles Dodge was an Englishman and had no
| blood relatives in this country. He came here
eighteen years ago, and was employed by Duncan,
Sherman & Co., bankers before the panic Of S73.
In that year the firm assigned to ex-Judge Ship
| man and Dodge became Mr. Shipman's clerk.
| When Mr. Sh pman joined Messrs. Barlow, La
| rocaue d. Ch0ate, Mr.. Dodge accompanied his
| EMPLOYER Previously he had marri a Miss
Cassia Of Brooklyn. AT the time of his death
Dodge was only forty years old, and enjoyed per-
feet physical health.
He was a strong man for his weight, and was
an expert or clet player and oarsmsn He WAS .
popular m mber Of the Livingston Cricketers and
the Clifton Boat Club He handsome man,
with iron-gay hair and mustachc. In clifton no
was generally and favoraby known, and family
life was cons sdered ideal. The family con listed
of his wife and three children the oldest a boy OF
twelve years Mrs Dodges motner also HVes
with the family.
Bedeli remained at the Old Slip Station yester-
day. He was not informed Of Mr.. Dodges death,
and Captain Mclaughlin allowed no one TO see
the prisoner. AT the Detective Bureau II was
said that Mr. Dodge was not believed to be imp-
Gated in Bedens crime. but the detectives beso
informed thought that the cashier had been made
desperate by anxiety and overwork in trying to
clear up deu's methods of robbery Bedell
will be examined in the Tombs Police Court to-
day.
WRECKED BYAN EXPLOSION OF GAS.