The evening world., 1891-05-04
" YOU'LL FIND NE HANGING u
Salesman Rathburn Wrote to His
Father and Committed Suicide.
Had His Photograph Taken and LsfI
Il with the Letter.

The deliberate suicide after two veeks' prep
arAtion Of Charles RAthburn. . youhg sales
man. was reported 70 the Coroner tuis morn
ing. He had hanged himself with Clothes
line from . telegraph wire eross-arm on the
roof Of his home. 100 West F1fty-third street.
His body, which vas warm. vas found
shortly before midnight By his father, william
Rathburn, Q decorator. whe had started out 70
ma his sou AFTER reading letter left By the
,.rst declaring thai he vas about 70 end hin
life
Young Rathburn was eighteen years old and
lived with his parents on the top aoor Of the
house which stands on the southwest corner
Of F,fty-third street ana slxth avenue
For several weeks ne had BEEN uorkinG in
Hanrahans eents' furnishing store In Sixth
avenue near Forty -eighth street. He wss re-
gsrded - . promising yoang man by hls en-
ploysr. His parents considered him . modal
son
He spent most Of yesterday In the house. and
was in unusually cheerful spirits. and toward,
5 O'Clock in the evening he accompanied his
sister and TWO younger brothers on visit %
cousin on Second avenue
The three RAihburns returned 70 their home
about O'Clock. Charles bringing with him q
box Of ice-crsam OF which he partoot.
About 10 O'Clock the young man bads M,
parents EoOd-nieht and retired to his room,
Raihburn retired later.
Towards II. 30 O'Clock Mt. Rafhburn had
occasion TO leave ms bedroom
He went into the front or sitnng-room, and
was surprised 70 1nd his sons bedroom dooi
wide open.
He peeped INTO the room, but the young man
was not In bed. Thea Mr. RAthburu stumbled
on something on the earpeted moor and TO his
RmaLement he found . letter addressed 70 him
and a newly taken photograph Of hls son.
lie tore open the envelope and ai oacs saw
By Its oontenh that hia son vas q suicide.
He called TO his vile and gave her the letter
and AZ the same time rushed out and dArted NJ
the slendeT BtAirs leading 10 the roof.
tss - as s.aI q. Sasi .ass sop
RAthburn quickly cut down -. body. which
was stin warm, snd, with the AID Of his wife.
who was frantic with grief he earned II down
A doctor Was sent for, but when he came he
proaounced tae Young man dead.
When an BvKEING WonLD reporter visited
lay M on s the noor sss,sine I Inc arrival Of Inc
Mr.. Rsiheun said ne vas ii Q loss 70 aeoouni
/ Ior hh 0o1B raan Nct- he hao po1n ~ umel
1 subjeet 20 nIs Of meiaacholy. Uus aside from
this he knew Of no motive shat would promp
HIN TO kill himself
| He gave The EvENpcg woHLp reporter ths
letter which was wutten by Charles befors
killing himself II was In lead pencil ana
read as follow:
..NEw YonE, Maya
"DIAK PATHKR: You have been very kinc
| 20 me. but think vii have 70 leave you Al
| forever.
II hope viii meet zoo ail In heaven
81 have had no trouble with any one.
'I have been on special good tefms win ny
| employer for the ra5t three or four weeks
| am disc01raRed with everything There n too
much troubie IN this world
"NoW. my darling father. ! k0ow there vil
| be dagraee 10 the family from my Act. b1i
| - soon a. you read this tear II up in pieces %
no one viii zee H.
''Yoa viii 1nd ne banging on the roof
Kisses 20 yon all The neKt world II hAppisl
| thAn thii an all ready 10 be pug 10 ths
coma think Is viii Be better 70 hang than
al know thn VII b hard On you all
Father. you must Bos think nave had any
| trouble. have had none
Your loving son.
CHAKln"
portion OF the lett.r vas devoted 70 be-
queating mis- personal effects 70 hh fliheI,
mother and brotherA