New-York tribune., 1891-05-18
PRICE THREE CENTS.
CHARLES A. BlNDERASUICIDE
HE WAS FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE.

DREAD OF ARREST on CHARGE OF EMBEz4
ELEMENT DROVE HIM TO SHOOT HIMSELF.
Charles A. Binder, the New-York lawyer and
ex-Assembyman, who absconded several days ago
TO escape arrest for embezzling $50, 900 of the
funds of an estate committed suicide Saturday
night in Elizabeth, ~ J. lie went TO New-Haven
after his fight from this city. lie next drifted
to Hartford, and from there TO Boston. The fear
of arrest was so strong upon him that he did not
remain long in one place. After wandering about
the country for nearly two weeks he reached Eliza
beth on Friday and went TO the Sheridan House.
He evidently was becoming discouraged and
despaired Of Gliding the law for that evening he
called at the gunshop Of Jacob Brucklacher, an
Elizabeth School Commissioner, and bought from
him for So so a fve-chambered 32-calibre revol.
yer. He returned to his room and wrote two
letters. one to his wife, in which he informed her
that the strain on his mind was too great He
feared arrest at any moment, and could not stand
the additional disgrace his conviction would bring
on his family and his mother, now seventy years
old He ended his letter by saying that his
nervous system could stand it no longer, and he
had resolved to put an end to his misery by kill
ing himself.
The other letter was TO Henry c. Botty, lawyer
at No 2O7 Bowery He informed Botty that he
was registered at the Elizabeth hotel as John
Roth. of Albany. and that he was about TO do
something dreadful He mailed those letters on
Saturday morning, and they reached their destina-
tion late that afternoon. Mr.. Botty and Mrs.
Binder held conference. and decided that no time
was to be lost in hunting up the embezzer as ne
clearly meant TO put an end to MS lie' ihey
reached Elizabeth about 10 o'clock, and went 70
Rvan's Hotel made inquiries and searched the
register, but without success.
They next called at the Sheridan House, and
on looking at the register found Binders assumed
name entered there. He was occupying Room No.
on the first floor. They sent James Z. lanlson'
the night porter, to Binders room to inform the
latter that somebody wished to see MN IN tne
paror When Tanison reached the door OF Room NO.
he found it unlocked Opening it, he saw stretched
on the bed, clad only in undergarments, the pody
of Binder, blood flowing from two Duuet hoies
in his right temple. The revolver lay beside
him with two chambers empty and two loaded
Binder was lying on his back breathing falntly'
The news was gently broken to Mrs blhcer' VINO
tainted. Drs. Bridgman and Grier were sent for
and found that the Shots after passing through the
front of the head had come out over the left
temple and lodged in the wall of the room The
suicide was diving, and lived only until o'clock
Yesterday morning. Beside the bed was found
sheet of paper on which written IN ink, In
good hand, the following:
To whom it may concern send my body to my
wife at No 100 Seventh ST. New York City. l nave
money in my pants pocket TO defray all expenses
''F" ~ CHARLES A. BINDER.
The suicide had carefully put his white SHIRT
md cufs on the bureau in the room. Chlet
Tenny had the body removed to j: c. Ogdens
morgue. who put it in a plain coffin: county
Physician Westcott after an Investigation OF 'he
affair gave permit for burial AT the request
of Mrs Binder the body was Sent by tram yester-
binder represented the Xth Assembly District
in the Legislature for two years. lie stood mgn
in his district and at the death Of Mrs: Barbara
Uauseman under her will he and Frederick Burg
hard. of No. 327 Fourthave. became the execn-
TORS of an estate left by her, valued at $50 600.
The property was in stocks and bonds. Binder
was n LAWYER and he took active charge OF the
settlement Of the affairs Of the dead woman;
When the woman died it was found that her VIII
made no provision for her son, on the ground that
he was an ilegitimate offspring. lie brought
suit to have the will broken, but met defeat III
the courts The beneiciaries under the Will were
the eight children of Jacob Schmttt, who nves
in Bavaria They were to receive the amounu
willed 10 them as each reached his majority.
When the oldest son, Henry Schmitt, was twenty,
one he began a suit TO obtain an accounting, ana
Binder opposed it, The Surrogate ordered an ac-
counting to be made on May B. On the previous