Morning journal and courier., 1889-07-20
EVIDENTLY A SUICIDE.

sudden Deash OF Lester J. Bradley
Paris Green Found In His Reom-A
Termination OF tho Prosecution
Sketch of His Career.
Lester J. Bradley, until recently freight
agent of the Derby road, died suddenly at his
home 1876 Howard avenue, soon after 8 o'clock
yesterday morning. The news of his death
spread rapidly and rumor soon had it that
Bradley had committed suicide because of
his trouble with the Derby road. The hasty
investigation that followed did not justify
the rumor and 1t seemed that Bradley had
died of natural causes. 1t was learned that
he had been i'll for several weeks and was
not well when he was arrested last Saturday
night. The Derby road had brought charges
against him of embezzling and making false
entries on his books. He was taken to Po-
lice headquarters and his counsel, ex-Judge
York, attempted to get bonds for him. No
bondsmen were to be found, however, and
Bradley had to spend the night and the fol-
lowing day in the lookup. He spent several
hours in jail before bondsman was found.
He claimed to be i'll when arrest
ed. The trouble caused by his arrest
seemed to prey upon his mind, and 1t was
not many hours after his arrival home that
he was taken ill. He showed symptoms of
diarrhpa, and although able to get about the
streets during the past few days, he was far
from being in good health.
Mr.. Bradley was about town and called
upon several friends. To them he COM
planned of feeling unwell, but he did not ap-
pear to pay any serious attention to the
matter. He converted freely about his trou-
BILE with the railroad company and was con-
fident that when all the circumstances be-
came known, no blame would be attached to
him. He had not been in the house long
before he was attacked with diarrh@a. He
retired shortly after seven o'clock and his
wife retired about ten o'clock.
Early in the morning his illness became
serious. He tried to get up and fell in a
fainting fit on the Aoor. DR.. A. L. Talmage
was sent for about z O'Clock, but he could
not come. In the meantime Mrs. Bradley at
tended to her husbands wants. Shortly be-
fore O'Clock he again became worse, and a
messenger was sent for DR.. Talmage. The
physician arrived about o'clock, but he was
too late. The mans eyes were set and he
was in cold perspiration. He expired in
few minutes.
DR.. Talmase notified Medical Examiner
White. The circumstances of the death were
rather suspicious and the medical examiner
notified Coroner Pond. The two officials de-
ternined to make thorough investigation
and visited the residence of the deceased
yesterday afternoon. The investigation In
dioated that the early rumors were correct.
The bed on which Mr.. Bradley died was ex-
amined and on the sheets were several spots
of Paris green. On the floor of the room
more of the poison was found, and the ves-
sells into which he had vomited had more or
less of the poison upon them. In the water
closet, into which the vomit had been poured.
there were indications of q great quantity of
Paris green. Bradley has been considerably
depressed and told his counsel Judge York,
that he felt keenly the remarks made by peo
pie on the street over the trouble, especially
some heard by him when riding on a horse
car.
Coroner Pond was retioent when asked
about the matter last evening, but while
stating that no finding had been made in the
case as yet, practically admitted that 1t was
case of suicide.
He was 46 years of age and a son Of Jared
Bradley of East Haven. He leaves a wife and
daughter. In 1887 he was member of the
board of oouncilmen. he was during life
engaged for the most part in the transporta-
ton business. At one time he was clerk of
the Rosedale line of boats plying between
Bridgeport and New York. Afterward he
was employed in clerical capacity in the
Office of the Consolidated road. He left the
employ of the Consolidated road to enter that
of the syndicate which purchased the Derby
road, and had since been employed there un-
til dismissed by the directors of the road on
April 81.
During the past few days Mr.. Bradley's
books in the freight department Of the Derby
road have been examined by an expert ac-
countant. The books have been found to be
in pretty bad shape, but it is not possible to
determine whether this was due to careless
ness or a desire to obtain money from the
road. The examination of the books was
suspended when the news of Mr.. Bradley's
death was received.
Mr.. Bradley was Mason, an Odd Fellow,
a knight of the Golden Eagle and member
of the Order of United American Mechanics.