New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-26
INVITING PEOPLE TO HIS OWN FUNERAL.
A YOUNG CLERK PUTS ON HIS DRESS SUIT TO
DROWN HIMSELF IN CENTRAL PARK.

YOUNG CLERK PUTS ON HIS DRESS SUIT TO
DROWN HIMSELF IN CENTRAL PARK.
Mrs B. A. Lewis. of No. coo West Fourtecnthst..
went to Police Headquarters in great distress yestsr
hay. and asked the police search for her Oliver
Perry Lewis. She described him short and sen.
der man Of twenty-one years. with fair complexion.
light brown hair and slight mustache Lewis was \
salesman in Johnson FaulkncPs store. at No 80
East Seventeenthst. He did not 20 to the store on
Wednesday, but remained at home. apparently in low
spirits In the evening he put on his drcss-suit and
said he was going to attend party. His failure 10
return home on wednesday night did not cause his
mother much alarm until yesterday forenoon. when
she received letter which he had written at the Muir
raw Hill Hotel. informing her that he intended to kill
himself.
Mrs Lows learned that her son had spent wcdncs-
day night at the hotel and had left there at 80 m
Yesterday. While he at the hotel he had written
letters TO several Of his friends in the CITY. inviting
them to attend his funeral at the house 10 Fourteenth
ST at n m tomorrow. At tho request Of Mrs.
lewis general alarm sent out directing search
in all the precincts II then too late to prevent
the suicide Before his mother had gone TO the Cen
trail Office young Lewis had drowned himself in the
reservoir in Central Park and HIS body still clothed
IN the dress-suit. had been identified.
LOWS got TO Central Park about 10 O'Clock. and
chatted with the workmen in the toolhouse whore no
around the Park until nearly IL O'Clock. when he
jumped the railing on the side Of the
footway around the west reservoir. Sew
eraI workmen him gazing fntenhy at
the water for about ten minutes. and after
a quick glance in all directions he coolly took of
his overcoat, hung It carefully on an iron railing
buttoned his coat and leaped into the water. One
of the workmen gave an alarm and superintendent
Hanhinson got into boat and rowcd quickly to the
place where Lewis's body floating. The body
was taken out OF the water, but life was extinct.
The body was removed to the gate house
and the clothing searched. He had only
six cents In his overcoat several small
tintypes of himself and two small prayer books The
leaves Of the books were turned down at the burial
service and the hymn Abide With Me-
l.. T. Lewis the father OF tho dead man. arrived at
the reservoir shortly after his sons death Mr. Lewis
Is livery stable keeper and lives IN Poughkecpsie
He had the body removed undertakers in Third
ave He refused 10 state any hing about his eX-
cept that had hs employers and found that his
accounts were correct.
According one OF the friends Of tho Lewis family
the motive for the suicide disappointment
Through younk Iowts's efforts his nother per-
s,aded TO leave her homo In Poughkeepse and come
live with him IN this city His mother and sisters
have lived here with him about a year and he has
tried 70 maintain them IN style that his earnings as
clerk not The funeral Will be held in ac
coQdance'w1th the young mans request.