New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-01
NEW YORK. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER !, IS9O.-FOURTEEN PA
WIS HE KILLED FOR HIS MONEY!
STRANGE DEATH OF A LONDON DRUGGIST
IN YONKERS

NOTE SAYING HE COMMITTED SUICIDE DE-
cLARED NOT TO BE IN HIS HANDWRITING
THE POLICE AT WORK on THE CASE.
| The man who registered at the Getty House, in
| Yonkers, last Saturday night as George Smith,
| OF New-iork and who it is supposed committed
suicide by taking morphine. was on II ursday
night fully identified by p II. Sumner broker,
| OF No. 19S Broadway, New-York lie said the
| dead man was James H. Edgar, a wealthy drug
| gst, of Chiswick, London, England. Mr.. Edgar
| l'ved with two of his ncphews George II. Edgar
| and Robert Roe, in flat in Nnth-ave, in this
| city. James II. Edgar was worth $50 600. Mr..
| Sumner paid him $1,000, the result of business
| transaction, two weeks ago. There was still a
balance due him of SIS, 900, which was subject to
| his order.
Mr.. Edgar used to wear a gold Howard watch.
He had this on his person when last seen by Mr..
Sumner. When his dead body was found in the
Getty House lie had silver watch and only sixty
six cents in his pocket A leather satchel which
Mr.. Edgar had always been in the
habit of taking with him was missing.
1t had been Mr.. Edgars invarable habit to take
the satchel with him wherever he went MIR.
Sumner says that the letter which the suicide
left for the proprietor of the Getty House is not
in Mr.. Edgars handwriting. Mr.. Sumner un-
hesftatingly pronounces the letter forgery. lie
declares it was written by some else. and not
by Mr.. Edgar. The letter read as follows:
To the proprietor OF the Getty House:
ask pardon for causing your guests any trouble
The nhumany OF few has driven m6 to despar
and death.
The entry OH the hotel register, "Geo Smith"
which was written by Mr.. Edgar when h. took
his room at the hotel, is in his handwriting. Mr..
Hail. the clerk, saw him sign it. The handwrit.
iIy in the letter differs in some points from that
Oh the register
Mr.. Sumner is positive that there has been foul
play. When Mr.. Edgar was found in the room
a revolver Of large calibre lay upon the bureau.
IL was then supposed that the man had intended
to shoot himself in case the poison he had taken
did not Kill him. All this looks to Mr. Sumner
as if it was a carefully prearranSed PLAN No one
recollects having seen any one In Mr.. Edgar's
room, although Edear told the clerk that he eX-
pected caller. Mr.. Sumner has no theory or
suggestion to offer but persists In his belief that
Mr.. Edgar is the victim of foul play. Mr. Edgar
was sixty years old.
Mr.. Sumner says that the dead man and his
nephews had some difficulty in England. Mr..
Sumner did not tell what the precise nature Of
the difficulty was, but said that it was of a
serious nature. Mr.. Edgar, the dead man. took
the name OF Smith In New-l0rk few months
ago. lie wanted Sumner to go 10 London and
settle some troubles there. lie offered to pay
Sumner $1,000 for his services. Sumner refused
to 90.
The authorities now have possession of the let
ter purporting to have been written By the sui
eide to the proprietor of the Getty House They
have also taken charge of his other effects, and
will make careful investigation of the whole
mysterious affair. Some clothing was found in
the room but il of inferior make and was
too small to TT the dead man.