New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-10
AFFAIRS IN BROOKLYN.
"A RETIRED MERCHANT KILLS HIMSELF.


b. D. HORTON LED TO COMMIT SUICIDE BY AN
ATTACK OF THE GRIP.
Benjamin d. Horton retired dry goods merchant
committed suicide yesterday morning at his home' No
81 st. james Place. An attack OF the grip was 'he
primary cause Of the act Mr.. Horton wos aoouV
sixty years old and lived with his wife and daughter
the latter child of twelve years. About two weeks
ago he was attacked with the grip and he also suffered
from a felon on his thumb. He was attended by Dr.
s. Fleet speir of Montague-st, and was improving IN
health so rapidly that IL hoped that lie wouo pc
able 10 be out as usual before the week was over
He arose about 6 O'Clock yesterday morning ana
told his wife that he felt much better ana though. nc
would 70 downstairs for breakfast After ne was
partly dressed he read chapter OF the bioie anu
conducted the family prayers in his room WIN us
wife and child lie acted naturally and seemed 70 DC
entirely himself His wife left him in his room ana
went downstairs. After few moments she Returned
and found him sitting the edge o. the pea WIN MS
head leaning on his hand. She asked MN II hc was
coming downstairs and he replied 81 DON'T hno" as
7 am strong enough yet think VIII take u shor'
-. and NAV no able TO come down in half an hour or
So" , Ma
He also asked that DR.. speir be sent ior, anu yrs
Horizon left him ana sent servant lot the uoeUor'
Mr. Horton was then left alone for Tune, puV MS
WIFI was anxious about him and went back 10 MS roo
ahout 30 O'Clock. She alarmed TO ma inc
hrsband The frightened woman summoned the ser
wants INT they were unable to force the door, anu
word was sent for DIR. Robert F. Sper, Oh LaaS
ave- and Adelphi-st brother of DR.. D. Fleet spel.
He FASTENED 10 the house and burst open the door
~ The front room on the third floor where the I'M
,ortnnate man was. lie lay dead in the bed WIN d
buet wound in the right temple, which haa eVuc'.
nroanced instant death The fatal weapon was IN MS
right hand q new selfcocRing revolver, '<
the action Of which operated with much uiiiouiV' :
Mrs Horton would not believe that her husoahu was
dead and threw herself on his dead booy III III %
bvs,erlcal agony. DR.. Spcir saw that hothns oouiu
be done for Mr. Horton and led her away 10 c"iii '
grief. 49,. o,a married
him about twenty years ago. He had only one ol,lu
nv her. His only child by his first WIFE, fIoV 80
osborne Horton, took his own lie Oh ausu,o - -
He was twenty-seven years old ana weii'h"o" ~.
cietv man and was not in business. Wheh inc Ti,0i
latino craze was at its height the young man ire
ortad the Palace Rink in ClermOntave Iheie Ao
heeame smitten with the charms OF EN" NcP
fourteen yearold GIRL daughter OF Henry heppe .I,
75 Clermont-ave. They were seen togeIier 81 ~ o.
IL was reported that they were eheasou AVA
evening. vounc Horton met her near her hoino' ,u
- 9 c,n;,orSation they went TO her home ana nc
,srad her father 20 consent to their marriage I0
fa.er refused ON the ground Of the youth Oh ms
ter and said finally that he would nave Eui' ~
rested unless he kept away from her. -. mind
Horton went home in an excl'ea I" .' VA thon
wrote a letter TO his father late at nlghC au
went into the cellar of the house at NO. 20 r,o,,
ave where he lived with his father and sou I'm hi
IN the right temple His dead body was 1Gnnc Oy sT
father The latter had periods OF desponuetSb that
hat and he had been heard to express wSn yIIts
death woud come TO him. few weeks ago M W.T. t
fonnd him before the mirror OF his room PhinS OF
his temple with his finger. She Thought iO'"'''e %
IL at the time. - . x.orohor of the firm
Mr. Horton was for many years member o. T taU
of Horton Son. dry goods dealers IN lover nrton
and was associated with his brother T. n Soved
he
nd ~ Horton continued the business with ~ s9ils
in Fultonst, Smithst the tive ground and had
p5thing 10 do with each other for years ao anna UNA
Horton estimated TO be seq worth over now ocCnpd
lie 3 Wechsler q Bro. He large ana nne.loo .
Ing man weighing 200 pounds lie Went - tT i
LIZ, bS house on "Wednesday for short time ana u
snposed that he then purchased the revolver ne uSeo
10 kill himself his family did not Know ne h I'D
%esteTday aud gave permission for the burial adjourn
ing the inquest until to-day.