New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-07
A BULLET IN HIS TEMPLE.
W. NJ. RUNK, A WEALTHY MERCHANT, KILLS
HIMSELF.
HE HAD DECEIVED HIS PARTNER AND LACKED
THE COURAGE TO CoNFEsS-HAPPY IN HIS
FAMILY RELATIONS AND PRoMI-
NENT IN RELIGIOUS WORK.

FAMILY RELATIONS AND PRoMI-
yENT IN RELIGIOUS WORK.
Philadelphia, Oct e.-Buslncss circles were startled
oday by the announcement of the suicide OF William
NJ. Runk, member of the firm of Darlington hui'n
& Co.. importers and dealers In fancy drygoods al
Nos 4 1o6 and 1l28 Chestnut-st Mr. HrhK WIS
one Of the bestknown men In the drygoooS trade' an"
his house does a large business Win the "eai'ei
class Of purchasers. The tragedy occurred at o'
Davids PENN, few miles from this city. wnere Mr.
Runk's country home is. On returning home az the
close OF the DAYS work. Mrs. Runk noticed that her
husband was irritable and unlike himself speaking
somewhat Irraonally at tines though she dld nob
dream OF serious consequences shoruy Deiorc o
O'Clock Mr. Runk sent his little son TO The rairoaa
station near by =" meet messenger from the s.oic
When the boy departed his father Immediately waihea
into the stable connected with his house. Hardy t"o
minutes had elapsed when the gardener entered ths
building and discovered his employer lying dead upon
tho floor a small calibre revolver in his hand, and
bu,lethole in his temple
For some time Mr. Ruhk had shown mental de-
preeslon and his partner, Mr.. Darlington, upon his
return from Europe week ago, endeavoed 70 ies.ore
his lost spirits. 1t was found that Mt. huhh I'D"
been for some time. during Mr.. Darlngtohs ABSENCE
dealing I'm stocks. lie became a familiar ngure In
Third St and I'm and about OF the minor ex-
cba,ecs II appears that Mr. Runk, whose personal
estate is said to be handsome one, DID not MAKE
these ventures with his own funds, but aded Dy Ihe
absnce of Mr. Darlington he employed the moneys
Of the firm TO an aggregate Of about Sooooo' Ipoh
Mr. Darlngton's return he made inquiries rs TO the
course of business while he was abroad, ana was III
| formed by Mr.. Runk that certain bills which had
accumulated In the interval aggregating the total
stated above had been paid When IL was founu
Yesterday afternoon that such was not the caSe DIT.
Runk went directly to his home at 81. DaVlds' HIS
wife was exceedingly socitOus over MS cohdiuoh'
which WAS one OF great depression and tried to cheer
him ND. Later In the evening he wrote Two letler"
and left them upon his library table, addressed 10
Mrs Runk and to Mr.. Darlington, acqmintnS them
with tho causc OF the act. 1t evident that the
unfortunate mans resort to suicide was not because
of an irretricvablc embarrassment, because his own
estate would have made good the loss ana the hri Is
too soundly based to be seriously affected by IL. IL
seems probable that the reason for the deed was that
he had deceived his partner, and lacked the courage
TO make a clean breast Of his transactions
Mr. Runk for;y-sx years old ana ehtered the
dry goods trade As boy In the employ Of his uncle,
stacy Bancroft. IL Bancroft Co.. In this CITY. lie
remained with tho irm until 1t went out OF business
Fourteen years ago he associated himself WIN joseph
G.. Darlington In what has proved TO b. succesSr"
enterprise He was prominent In the Sunday school
Association II the Diocese Of Pennsylvania AM nieni-
har NJ the Roard OF Mana OF the American Church
sunday school Institute and Of the Joint diocesan com
mittee on sunday school lessons for the Eplscopai
Church. As a member Of the brotherhood OF ST. An
drew he exhibited great activity In flrtherihg the
growth OF the society. He was also member OF the
southwest Convoca alton and OF the last diocesan con-
yenton and on Tuesday next to have gone tn
Baltimore TO represent the Sunday schools uf this do
rese at the American Church sunday school lrlennl
Institute. His family rclions are sad 10 nave beeh
hopuy Mr. R,nk's first wife died se.eral years ago.
leaving two sons Three children We're the result OF
nj, second marriage all Of vnon are living with uler
mother. ,
The death OF Mr. Runk may prove to be a heavy
loss TO the life Insurance companies lie was dl,
rector of the Penn Mutual Company OF this city ana
CARED an insurance Of 55"5,OoO upon his lfe. .
The announcement OF the suicide Of William NJ
Runk startled many brokers In Wall-st, who were
aware that he had at times operated considerably IN
stocks II thought at first that ms ACT Hilknt
have been duo t. heavy losses In spccuation but IL
could not be learned from wel-informed persons
warrant the suppositlon. L. W. Blciley, OF Bickey
lee Johnson, said "On January 81, 1891. when
the firm Of Humbert, Hopkins 4 Blckley was aus
solved e stock aoco;nt Of the Philadelphia liim OF
Co. was transferred 7 think. to Glider, Fart a Co.
w. VI. Runk's account transferred, I know, to
F. NJ. ! lockwood q Co. first met Mr.. Rnnk ihrongh
C. D. Barney & Co., and he subsequently opened a
small account with our frm-Rickley. Lee 4 Johnson
| Ills losses with us extremely moderate, ana
| | was asOnishcd at the news OF tie suicide IL Is
| nnIv a few DAYS since received from Mr.. Runk a
nleaeant letter O2 matters not connected with bus
ness In all OF our relations he was the s0n OF
Yesterday IL he uld he Involved IN business should
have emphaticalv sold no. llc always had tne pest
n; credit and standing In Philadelphia, whore his
firm was on par with Arnold. COnStahn a Co
hcrr Others who knew NJ Runl in Philadelp a
expressed the warmeSt appreciation Of his character