The sun., 1890-01-04
WILLIS GAYLORD'S SUICIDE.
FOUND HINGING IN HIS CELL ON THE
DAP OF MS TRIAL
A Former New Yorker, and for Years -
Prosperous Railway FroIector-Sued for
$50, 600 by a Partner In Speculation.


$4,000 by a Partner In Speculation.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 3.-Willis Gaylord
was not in Common Pleas Court No. /, this
morning at half-past 10 o'clock when his name
WAS called. He had hanged himself by piece
OF stout twine from the wire netting In tho mar
row window Of his cell in the county prison.
He had been in prison Just one week.
Gaylord formerly lived in New York city. He
was q distant connection Of ex-senator Pomery
OF Kansas and was nephew Of the poet, Willis
Gaylord Clark. At one time ho is said to have
been worth over 100000. He built large part
Of the Now Orleans and Pacific Railroad and
owned much OF its stock. His private counsel.
ex-Judgc Lucien Birdseye OF Now York, yester-
day declared that GAYLORD formerly owned
nearly the whole Of the Atchison. Topeka and
Santa F6 Railroad. He had also had confden-
tial business relations with the late Thomas A
Scott. He was about 55 years OF age and was
extremely nervous and despondent in tempera-
ment. Reverses had made him poor man.
lie leaves a widow and several children. who at
present live in Massachusetts. Gaylord came
into his last trouble through bond specu-
lation with T. A. Babcock of New York, who
claimed that 100000 was due him from Gaylord.
Gaylord protested his innocence Of any intent
to defraud, and was especially anxious to ex-
hibit in court a receipt from Babcock dated
Sept, s, 1885. for $4,000 in New Orleans and
Pacific Railroad bonds. He kept longing for
the arrival Of the receipt. which friend was
to send him. having been deputi2ed to look
over his private papers. His counsel, Mr.,
Myers. assured him that his case was good
even without that Aftor consulting with Mr.
Myers yesterday he went back to Jail very de-
spondsnt and hanged himself. The receipt
came this morning. but Gaylord was dead.
The news reached Mr. Myers Just before he
want To court Jud1a Rirdaava had learned IL
first Babcock had also heard Of Il, and spirit
9f oppressive sadness TSS In the court room.
cook desired e be intr9ducsd and to
upon upon Babcock, and sddressed ID Judge, Breezy
In the presence Of only half dozen auditors:
within your jTrisdiction. The warrant Of ar
court. @ Ho died last night: It is due e lis
now in this city, and to his family, that shall
make, a statement Of his case. he has been
ton and rank perjury Of the plaintiff to whom.
am happy to say have Just declined to be
Nj. Myers then went into detailed defence efs
Of Mr.. Gaylord Continuing m he =; sadi El nThSrS nS
he crafty ros %
cock as a catspay are the hidden hands be-
When Mr.. Myers concluded Judge Breezy ex;
pressed regret to hear OF the E. se suicide. Sl and
Wen Of the dsad."' Mr; Lowry, B9bcoGk's coun-
sad he ssFsed with Judge bnef Y owG w9rds S
There tho court scene ended. Mr.. Babcock say
M 7s s d autpF oF hS ths
+. n train, his counsel. I.sqtd, afterward.
The Coroner gave the body into the - posses.
take it to New York for burial. which will 10
Se m Was Ssnt 70 @
Early in 1884 person calling himself Charles
2: p. Ripley turned ,uIt up in Wall street. appar-
Hpe ead to b PEsae5 to ,SS hSs1
cred and negotiated with mum mber OF banking
people, and finally became intimate with
BrooElyn Ridley became intensely Interested
an N @ q S HsE
to the reports in, Wall street yesterday h9
wanted to buya bloek Of them and daySsd to-
While these preliminary negotiations we're
Ba6cock. ,Babcock was a wealthy man. and
Ripley made fay orable impression M upon hI. him:
kiplsy n told % Of his % beiof In the future Of tho
bonds of the New Orleans; Baton Rouge and
ehass 5ocG 81 nnS for 0 ns sF
himself little short Of t. tie ,dc1 aP1ou6f
BoHas y wanted G RsbooSk
to lend Ripley SO. 900 10 complete the purBhass:
was everloyed and grateful. and Gaylord. the
railroad contractor. vas sent to Cinolnnau to
said said ps' his mission MIS- had been frutIsss declaring
at the same time that the CINCINNATI man
would not fell a small block Of b9pda: ,,..5
and went to hi- friend BHbcock with the story.
@ m h % Sy The poeR en
was to cost about $40. 600 and Babcock was TO
hold them as colateral until kiDisy RI cancelled
After. Babcock's kind ofler GAYLORD started
1R By Rpey ley and di an @ agent Of Babcoeks Who had
q certified check for the $4,000 IN MS inside
ocfs They r9om 81 n tbs tho baPSs MSa
brought. out and shown to all three. Ripley
accepted them and Ba6Gock.s agent gent paiaa a over yer
nounced, aiterward that they were all right:
Babcoek's agent got receipt for for. his aodney
produce the bonds for the collateral on the
loan. He said that Ripley had them.
YORK. Babco"E book demanded lem the bonds. Neither
Ripley nor Gaylord could produce them. ~
set been ESsr tho bndS n
clnati were spurious. or they were good bonds.
and Ripley and Gayl2Ed siMp n wen, tGpGnSa ip2nSa
BsbeocEs Bal m K " ageRt eSt 70 hand ever the check for
$4,000. ,Rabcock sued for the recovery .i. q hls
conspiracy to rob him. Ripley was arFssted:
but GAYLORD left the country Under Sherin
Davidson Ripley escaped from all and LETT the
country. too. Babcock got judgments against
tho two mon, and through bis LAWYERS, Sulll-
S. sullivan was thon The eonior partner, hired
detectives to hunt up both men. No trace OF
last tho LAWYERS got word that Gaylord had
loft London for, PhiIaIelphia. When he landed @
he WAS arrested and sent to lail There were
freGuent hearing and many postponemcnts OF
the trial, Yesterday had been set down per-
emptorily as the day for the trial Inc New
Philadelphia when they received telegram
reading: