Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-01-27
SEEKING A MOTIVE
What Caused Lounsbery tc
 End His Life?
SOME SAY DOMESTIC AFFAIRS.
A Story That Ills Wife Vas Adlc,rd tc
 lutDX Q Ill s.

Minister Who Knew Iilm Well Says
 That He Was Insane and IIeartbrok.n
 Over disappointment in Not Receiving
 Promotion in the P"stonce That Was
 Prom sol Him.
 HACKENSACk, N.J.. Jan. 3i.-In scek- ing for an explanation of why Cashier Lounsbery ended his life the close friends of the Lounsberys were expect ed to give soGe clue. Some persons who knew George II. Lounsbery in Hackenscak still cling to the belief that he is not defaultcr. They are of the opinion that when the private safe com partment at tho New \ ork iostoIiice is opened to-day a portion, at least, of the missing funds will be found.
 Some others believe, however. that there was dark domestic cloud on the Cashiers life. The story is that the wife had an u::coEtrollahle appetite for strong drink. md that liquor was also the bane of the husbands life, and finally drove him to suicide. Still others holieve that disappointed ambi tlon preyed on his mind, and some of the cashiers acquantanccs seen yeSter- day declared that jealousy was the cause of it all.
 In following out those theories.
 
 them. but mono at all for tho third one. It is true that Mrs. Lounsberv indulgel. too much at ono time in drink. So great was her passion for lntoNicantS that it nearly ruined her health and put her husband ill fear of being obliged to place her in an inc ebri- ate asylum. LounSberry loved his wife. and her failing almost broke his heart.
 Mrs. Lounsbery first became addic- ted to 1ntoXlcants when she Was on tho stage, when she would take am on- caslonal glass of wine. Dr. St. Joh1. says he believed she was entirely cured of the habit. although hc cannot say whether or not she drank to excess be- fore tne suicide of her husband He believs she did not.
 Mrs. St John says that late one night about nine months ago Mrs. Lounsberry called at her house unde the influence of liquor. Since that time she believes sine has not indulgeu In strong drink in the least.
 Tho Rev. Mr. Holly, rector of the Episcopalian Church, did not believe domestic troubles caused Cashier Lounsberry to end his life. He said that he knew that Mir. LounSbery was broken-hcarted over failuro to secure promotion promised him in the post office, and he believed that was the cause of his rash act.
 Continuing the Rev. MT. Holly said:
 "Mr. Lounsbery had been a sufferer from rheumatism and he was attacked with Ia grippe. l called on him and he was very weak and dispoulcnt. That was little over 10 days ago. feared he would do some injury to himself and so condoled with him. He was not d q church man.
 i,ellglon WAS no consolation WhcE trouble came, and he lid not have the moral stamina to stand up against ud- verSlty. When it was rumorcd that he was short in his accounts. his partner, Mr. Hoffman, called on him swnila he was still ill. Mr. Hoffman told hinl about the rUmored dclalration. and the knowledge that he was accused of Wrongdolng was perhaps the death blow. He must have become partially dcranged. and while in that condition killed himself. l am of the oplniun that after his accounts are thoro urhlv examined it will be shown that the deficiency is rcallya very small affair."
 Mrs. Holly. the rector's wife. has been attentive in her care of Mrs. LounsDery. She says thcro is no truth to the story that it was domestic troub- les that caused the cashier to kill him. self.
 Mrs. Lounsbcry is in a very critical condition" said Mrs. Holly. ''Sho is unconscious from Griof, and opiates arc administered to induce Slccp,anu fear she may not live
 Proprietor konkright Of the IIacl<en- sack house, where the Lounsbcrys at one time res ded. said tho rumored story that Mir. Lounshery drank to cx- ccss while there was not true so far as he knew.
 EX-PostmaSter-Gcner James viewed the body of his friend and old time em- ploye during the afternoon He was greatly affected.
 Ut is great mystery to me- said General James. "l do not believe that 1t was monetary trouble that caused my friend to end his life, and l cannot imagine what it was. 1 think his ac- counts will be straightened out after an investigation of the secret safe com partment to-day.''
 Mir. Hoffman. the dead mans business partner, was at the Lounsbcry residence for several hours yesterday. IIo had little additional news to give. He is of the opinion that some of the funds will be traced to-day.