New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-17
THE DEATH OF JOHN BIRDSALL.
DEPUTY CORONER CONWAY THINKS 1T WAS
SUICIDE-HIS CAREER.


SUICIDE-HIS CAREER.
The body Of ex-senator John Brdsan, who was
found sufocated to death in his at the United
States Hotel Wednesday night was claimed by his
relatives yesterday and taken to an underakers' shop
TO be embalmed. II will be taken to his home in Glen
Cove, l.. l. There fresh clew obtained yester-
day to prove whether death by accident suicide
Deputy Coroner Conway is of opinion that it was
case of suicide. The exSenatOr's son, twenty five
years old was not communicative, but did say
that his father had not been home for four
weeks, but would not say what lad been the
cause Of the long absence. 1t was also learned at
No. 80 Nassau-st, where Mr. Birdsall had an Office,
that he had not been there for some days.
John Birdsal belonged to one Of the beStknown
families on Long Island. His great grandfather was
one of the early settlers Of oyster Bay and afterward
lived at Jerusalem, L. l. His father James Bird
SAIL of Flatbush, where he was born in 1910. While
he was a boy the family lived In Brooklyn for few
wears and then removed to Glen Cove, L. L. where he
made his home permanently. When the war broke
out he enlisted in the 18th Regiment, and he rose to
the rank of major He was appointed TO the rank
of captain OF the Regular Army at the close Of the
war by President Johnson at the request Of General
Grant But he soon resigned and entered commercial
life lie married at Glen Cove in 1868 and had one
son. In 1872 he was appointed to a place In
the Custom House, and remained there until
1870 when he became the Republican cand
date for state Senator in the Ist District, comprising
Queens and suffolk counties. He was elected by a
plurality of nearly 5000, despite the Democratic ma
iorty in the district. lie did good service at Albany
and was renominated in 1881. Aaron A. Degraw was
mt in the field against him. but withdrew week before
election and Congressman Covert was put in the field
against him. and by tremendous efforts succeeded In de-
fcating him.
Major Blrdsa lost his interest in public affairs after
his defeat and for the last few years his health had
been failing and his fortune declining. For some
months he had been in state Of mind that unified
him for business and his actions were strange TO such
degree that some Of his friends wondered that
hts family did not put him under restraint
ON March "a he registered at the Clarendon Hotel
Rrooklyn under his own name and remained
tbere three DAYS lie then went TO the United states
Hotel and under assumed name registered win a
NV clerk who did not know him, although he was a
frennenter of the house The pawntckets found in
his poSsessiOn showed that he had been living upon the
proceeds of the watch and chain he pawned. lie had
been interested I'm financial schemes by which he
boned 10 retrieve his fortunes and he said TO friend
Vic saw him In his law office, at No. 80 SaSsau-st on
saturday that II had $500 he could push business
crternIIse 10 a successful termination.
MIR Birdsa was the political leader OF queens
Comfy and served the Republican State Committee