New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-14
THE FATAL GAMING TABLE.
1T LURES ANOTHER MAN TO SUICIDE.
A JEwELLER, DEsPoNDEST OVER HIS LOSSES.
KILLS HIMSELF IN A HOTEL.

JEwELLER, DEsPoNDENT OVER HIS LOSSES.
KILLS HIMSELF IN HOTEL
Another suicide caused by the gambling craze
came to light in the city yesterday JULIUS
Spier, manufacturing jeweller had killed MIN
self at the Sturtevant House, at Broadway ana
Twenty-cighth-st., on Thursday night, as george
r. Lawrence had done at the Everett House Oh
Tuesday night, by sending bullet into his Driih'
Spier was unmarried and had lived Win DIS
widowed -mother. at No. 165 East Onehundred-
and-twenty- y-fourth-st His father, who died sew
cral years ago, was a wealthy drygoods merchant
in Norwich, Conn, and julius was born there
thirty years ago. After the family moved
to this city julius was employed in
the store of Silverbcrg Brothers, dealers in
lace in wooster-st., until last July, when his
mother purchased for him the interest of Charles
Meyerhoff in the firm of Sampson & Meyerhon.
manufacturing jewellers at No. 06 Spring-st be
fore that the gambling habit had been firmly
fixed upon him. His mother had paid several
of bis gambling debts and he had promised
time and again to reform. 1t was with the
hope that the responsibility of a business OF his
own might keep him from the gaming table that
his mother purchased MeyerhOffs interest in the
jewelry firm. wish to see Julius married was
another motive. He was engaged to marry
Jennie Epstein, the pretty daughter of cloth
ing cutter living at No. 153 East
Seventy-third-st. The girl was fond OF him, but
her parents objected to the match. Her father
said that man who gambled, as julius did,
never would be able to seaport wife properly
The young couple had ia "a about getting mar
red some time in January, but the day for the
wedding was not named.
Spicr was small man, with weak-lookins
features He wore full beard, light in color to
give to his face a more manly appearance. After
he became partner in the jewelry firm he under
took to increase the sales by going to retail stores
in the city and displaying samples. He was away
from the factory in Spring-st. nearly every Gay,
but he got so few orders that his partner was
puzzled until it was known that Spier was spend
ing most of his time in gambling dens and pool
rooms, instead of attending to business
Sper lost all the money he obtained
from the business, and he became sui
len over his losses. On "Wednesday
evening he took supper with Miss Epstein at her
home, but excused himself at an early hour, saying
that he would have to go to his Office and work at
his accounts the greater part of the night His
manner was so peculiar that Miss Epstein feared
that he was ill., She went down to his office on
Thursday to inquire about him, and was told that
he had gone out with his case of samples as
usual. She also learned that he had not been
near the office on Wednesday night
Late on Thursday evening, Sper went to the
Sturtevant House, registered himself and paid for
room. 1t supposed later that he had gore
to bed, as no unusual sound in his room was
heard The door of the room locked yester
day afternoon when a chambermaid tried to get
in and she called porter who broke in the door.
Spier's dead body partly dressed lay on the floor.
He had shot himself standing in front
of mirror, and hal killed himself
with one bullet Letters and cards in his pockets
told who he was, but he had written no eXpana-
tion of his suicide His sample case. containing
jewelry worth 81 500, was in the room.
when she was informed of her lovers death Mrs.
Spier was shocked by the news Her other son,
David Spier. who is in business for himself in
the city, took charge Of his brothers body.