New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-18
NOT ACCIDENT BUT SUICIDE.
ALEXANDER AGNEw's SUDDEN DEATH.
SHOT HIMSELF APPARENTLY WITHOUT ANY

SHOT HIMSELF APPARENTLY WITHOUT ANY
REAsoN-ATTEMrTs TO CONCEAL IT.
Alexander Mcleod Agnew. whose death was
announced yesterday, did not die from natural
causes, but ended his own life with pis'ol-shot
wound in the head about : 80 o'clock on FIJI
day morning at his home, No. "a East Twenty
frstst At the hour mentioned he rang for the
servant and told her that he wanted to take q
warm foot-bath, had been his custom daily
for long time Having supplied the means neces-
sary, the servant came TO the door some time
afterward to remove them, and receiving no
response to repeated knocking, opened it. In the
passageway leading to the bathroom Mr.. Agnew
was lying unconscious He had on his slippers,
trousers and dressing gown. The servant ran out
frightened and gave the alarm. When the body
was examined, buet-wound was found in the
side Of the head and pistol close by on the
floor. No one in the house had heard q shot.
doctor, according to the statement of a men,
ber Of the family, whose name was not remem-
bered, was summoned hurriedly, and when he
appeared lie pronounced Mr. Agnew dead Dep
uty Coroner Jenkins, who was the first to visit
the house after the report OF the mans death,
pronounced it case of suicide. although con-
siderable effort was made to have it appear that
this was not so, but that the dead man had merely
fallen in fit and struck his head against the
corner of the bath-tub. This the story
told by his brothers, who refused to admit that
it was case of suicide. The funeral will take
place at his home tomorrow morning. and the
burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery.
Concerning the dead man, who was member
Of the Union League Club, prominent business
man and also we'll known in social and philanthropic
circles in this city, his brother John T. Agnew, of
No. l3 West Nlnetecuth-st., gave yesterday these
facts to a reporter for The Tribune Ny brother
was born in this city on September 81, 1918. When
he was grown up he joined the firm of William
Agnew d Son. This was in 1S45. We were then
in the tobacco and foreign and domestic commission
business in Front-st When my father died In
1869, my brother and / constituted the firm under
the name of Agnew & Sons. lie was q trustee
for many years Of the House of Refuge on Ran
dals Island and for several years an inspector
of schools for this district in which we live. To
the business pertaining to these two Offices nc
gave unremitting attention. Although Demo
crat, he was a member of the Union League CLUB.
lie succeeded my father as director of the Green
wich Savings Bank Besides being vice-president
of the Hospital for the Ruptured and Crippled,
he was also president of the Northern Dispensary."
WAS there any reason why he should have
committed suicidep"
None whatever" said Mr. Agnew,, except, per-
haps, sudden insane emotion brought on by i'll
health But do not admit that he committed
suicide / believe he died Of effusion Of blood on
the BRAIN You can judge Of the condition OF his
health from these two letters, which were found
in his 6esk in the bedroom:
No. 10 East Twelft-st., Sept. II, 1901.
My Dear Mr. Agnew: As your medical adviser ana
In view Of your present state OF health, thnk IL
Incumbent on myself to odyss you to withdrew ~ E Nnrh 4
ern Dspensary believing that the responsibilities at
vour 70 s oS Sos nUS HSu are
'''''D '''' ''''''''' ''" JOHN \. BEEKSIAN.
- 49, , NsviYoyk M Hs,s,sdptn sept; 80 6s5sG 1s9I larv
compelled, owing to my inability from impaired heath
to discharge the responsible duties pertaining TO the
Office Of president Of the Dlspensary and nd hereRy
hce%an and herewith eRSSe SSS ,yc written @ % opinion b1
to adopt. With great respect yours W sI sincerely
The resignation will take effect Immediately.
ALEX. Mel. AGNEW
lie lived in this house continued his brother,
(which he owned aud which was built by my
father since 1s40. We were associated since
boyhood and got along well. Everything was
prosperous. and my brother had, as you can see,
n splendid home He never married. He suffered
from nervous depression dIlSinB lIoin lhulScSlOu
for many years. lie went to Europe in 1888
and remained away four months; but though he
rallied somewhat, the trip did not prove Tor him
of any permanent advantage. lie dlned at my
home Thursday and appeared then in his usual
health. The excessive humidity Of last summer
prostrated him greatly, and found him OCCASION
ally worrying and complaining of his inability to
sleep At such times, as he rubbed his forehead
with his hands, / have heard him say Il can
stand this and then he would drop back in his
seat exhausted. He was member OF Dr van
| DYKES church. though he has not attended reSu-
| Iarly there during the last few years -
Another brother of Mr.. Agnew was Dr. Cor
nelinS r Agnew. the well-known surgeon.
Dr. Beekman, when seen at his home NO a. "
| East Twelfth,st. expressed no surprise at the
| death of his patient. " He was suffering SAID
| he from neiIrasthenia, and was in state ol
| nervous collapse the last time l saw him. nav
| found him sometimes In that state when n man
| is responsive TO any sudden mental emotlon no
matter what. r...l -.
DR. Henry Schweg, Of No 26 East Twenieth.st:,
| said that about 0 80 o'clock Friday morning an
| old gentleman and lady called at my mouse, anu
| told me there was man around on lWehty-hIe.,,
ct at No "a who had met with an accident ana
| to come quick as ne was dying. When caieu at
| the house found the man was dead. l saw @ clot
| of blood on the right temple, but as the man Was
dao1 and II was Coroner's case, dld not examine
the body carefully. | told the family that IL was
| n Coroner's case. and the best thing they could
do was 10 lock the door aud notify the proper a!l,
! fborities The body had apparently 6een lald
out His hands we're Mt his side; saw no
weapon, but the actions Of the relatives seemed
| rather peculiar
ARRESTED on SUSPICION OF STAGE RoBBISG
LinkevlIe, Ore, oct. 17.-News received from Lake
view. Ore. states that the thirteen men have been
| Of pnrfi nat