The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-09-28
COL. CkNADAYS SUICIDE.
Tragic Death of an ex-0fioial of
the Senate. .e
eELF MURDER TO ESCAPE ARREST.

Indications That the Former Ser
Partners Money to His Own Use
and Could Not Face a Criminal
Prosecution.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2s.-Colonel w.
r, Canaday, x-sergeant-at-arms of the
United States senate, committed suicide
yesterday by shooting himself in his
room, No. 712 Tenth street, N. w. Since
ms retirement from the senate Colonel
Canaday had been engaged in the gen.
eral brokerage business in partnership
with j. Q. A. Houghton, who furnished
the financial resources of the firm. Sincs
his connection with Canaday. Mr..
Houghton said he had invested $17, 200
In the business, 81, 900 of which he had
placed in the safe, of which Canaday had
the combination, on Monday night
Yesterday morning Canaday was found
In his office, tied with slender hemp
string and loosely gagged. On being cut
loose he said that three negroes had
broken into the office and, after COM
pelling him to unlock the safe, had
bound and gagged him. He said that
they had taken the money from the safe
and had destroyed NJ Houghton's
papers. Mr.. Houghton, who arrived at
e. the office shortly after Canaday was
found, expressed doubt as to the ac-
curacy Of the story, and went at once to
inform the police.
Found Drenched with Blood.
On his return with an officer to serve
the warrant he had sworn out he found
Canaday lying on cot in an inner room
with his brains blown out. Tho cot was
drenched with blood, and the suicide
held q revolver in his hand. A note
Mgned by Canaday and addressed to
Houghton was found on one Of the desks.
a. stated that Canaday, after the doubt
houghton had expressed as to the alleged
robbery, had mo further use for life"
On desk, written on large manila
envelope, was the following note to Miss
Moore:
"MY DEAR FRIEND: am not guilty Of
any wrong. You may trust in me. The
people who are prosecuting me are worse
than l am. He is Il villain (sic) of the
largest. God bless you always is the last
prayer of your true friend,
CANApAy."
I Colonel Canaday had been separated
for several years from his wife, who,
with her only son, young boy, lives ut
Wilmington, N. c., and rumor connects
his name with that of young woman
who has been in his employment The
police are looking for her, in the belief
that she may be able to tell something of
the whereabouts of the 81 900 that disap-
peared.
Previous Financial Troubles.
Colonel Canaday had been in financial
ItrUuble for some time. This was the
cause of his retirement from the Office of
sergeant alarms of the senate. At that
time his difficulties were of very serious
nature. Several senators, including
Quay, Jones, Of Nevada, and Spooner. Of
Wisconsin, accused him of questionable
methods in connection with the manage
ment of corporation in which they
were all interested. Proceedings were
begun against him, but some settlement
was made by which they were discontin-
ned, Since then Danaday has not been
prominent in any of his dealings.
Colonel Can Sdny was native of North
C6rolina, and aftlr the war took prom
inent part in politics. For number of
years he was a member of the Repub-
iican national committee, serving until
the Minneapolis convention. He was a
supporter of Senator Sherman's presi-
dsntial aspirations. and took Il leading
part in the campaigns preliminary to
the nominations of 1880, 1884 and 1888.