New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-07
A BROKER CUTS HIS THROAT.
DISMAL END OF HALSTED WATROUS.
ONCE AN INFLUENTIAL LEATHER MERCHANT-HIs
FINANCIAL TROUBLES.

ONCE AN INFLUENTIAL LEATHER MERCHANT-IiIs
FINANCIAL TROUBLES.
Just why IIalsted Watrous. once of the
boSt known men in the leather business. cut his
throat yesterday morning may never be known
Mr.. Watrous man Of fine attain
mcnts and engaging personality, was once
the posscssor of fortune derived
mainly from his operations in the
swamp" Unfortunate speculatons. however. de-
prived him of the greater part of his wealth lie
was born in Ncw-Jcrocy of wcllknown ana Ola
family When he was prominent In the lca'her
trade of this city he had branch house In los
ton lie was estimated to he worth S73'ooo a
dozen years ago. but he failed in business ana lost
much of his property For several years Nv h'''
made examinations into railroad properties ior
capitalists and houses in Wall Street. and his
work was considered Of high class. His Income
largely rested upon the royalty paid for thc nse vi
n patent car SEAL which was In use OIL
several important railway systems. some ~ii''
ago the companies adopted another sea-, al" MI
Watrouss income was cut of 1t is believed by
his friends downtown that these Pcc""''''
troubles led to his mental depression. lie was
not spccuator IN the ordinary sense oi 'i'
term hut he conducted al times small operauohS
for a few friends and generally with success.
For three years he had occupied small room
on the top floor Of No. "a East Twenty -secohd-St
Ills habtual rcticence and reserve made hlm some
thing of a mystery TO his fcllow-lodeerS, ana he
hardly ever exchanged more than haf-dozch
words with any one in the house IL was lus'
after ) o'clock yesterday morning when Ut. MI"
Mrs Curtis. who occupy rooms or the thro moor
Immediately under that rented by the S"iciuc'
heard Mr.. Watrous 60 up the stairs. IL" niin-
utes afcrward came the sound Of heaVN 'an
Four hours later Maggie Hanna, a champernhaiu.
,nockcd at the door of Mr. WarOuss room ana
ccttino no reply. went in. Then. screaming
wildly, the frightened girl rushed down uc STAIRS
IN Dr Curtis CRYING that Mr.. Watrous had tainted
or vos dead DIR. Curtis went to the room. ON
tho noor at thc foot of the bed, lay Mr. Watrons.
Ills head rested in the bottom OF ba'htuo
,rasped lightly in his dead hand was small, bacK'
handled razor The body was cold and. III Dr- 'uf-
ISIS opinion, Mr.. Watrous had been dcad ior az
least four hours The dressing table, when s'"hds
next 10 the loot Of the bed. was covered win
stains.
II was mainly evident that Mr. Watrous. having
undressed, had stood in front of the looking
lass and with Two sweeping strikes of the razor
severed his carotid artery. Then he had tumhlcd
forward 80 that lis head and neck rested on 'n'
,.lcc of the hath'nb and slowly hlcd I" drath. IN
tlp were fONOd a HuDil"l ~ -
anon, Them bene one addressed 70 Head (" 20,
leather merchants. of the Mills Bullding An
other letter. unaddrc~>cd and uns.al"i sPohr
bitterly of "A debt Of $500 owed 10 Mr N"'i 'uN
nv a steamship company for hides sold on com,
mission But there was nothing when w2uld
giye a clcw 70 his motives for taxing MS ne
7Ic was Gftv-two years old, and unmarried.
" ~ Fxci = Commissioner Alexander Meaiim, who
livcs in tie hou~e OF hearing Of the suicide = M
message to Mr. Watrouss brother, de WV
nr,oi,ivnn Nr Watrous at once took charge Of
The body. and obtained Coroner Shcn's permit Tor
;ts removal. In addition TO his brother, the dead
man Lad "A sister who il the wife OF John James,
"ne of tbe partners I'm the spice house OF Pack
ard & James 40. 1913 Maiden Lane