The Portland daily press., 1893-07-28
Sad End of the Life Of Mr.. Solomon
Matthias.
FOUND DEAD ON THE BEACH AT
CAPE ELIZABETH.

Helped When Tired and Troubled,
and Matthias Was Greatly Troubled
Because Stock Investments Had Gone
Wrong.
Yesterday forenoon. Mr.. A. H. Jordan
of Cape Elizabeth, while passing along
the shore road by the cove, near Bluff
Cottage, which is little beyond Cape
Cottage, saw some clothes laid up on the
rocks, as they would be placed by some
one who had gone into the water. Seeing
no bather near, Mr.. Jordan investigated
and soon found the body of a man to
whom the clothing evidently belonged.
The body was lying on the beach, evil
IDENTIFY having been left by the tide, which
was just ebbing. The man had disrobed
on the rocks and had gone into the water
some little time before, and had been
drowned. This is all that was evident
from the surroundings, except the pres
ence of a team near by. 1t was evident
that he had come in that team. 1t was
about 1896 a. m. when the body was
found
Coroner E. N. Perry was summoned
and at once recognized the body as that
of MI. Solomon Matthias of this city. the
merchant tailor. The horse was one be-
longing to Sawyer, the Federal street
liveryman. The body was taken in charge
by Undertaken Martin and brought to the
city. Coroner Perry decided that an in
quest was unnecessary.
1t was not an unusual thing for Mr..
Matthias to go into the sea for a bath.
He wag probably one of the most con-
slant and enthusiastic sea bathers in the
city, although he was over fifty years of
age. A friend says that he would often
go in three or four times a week. He said
1t made him feel better when he was
tired OF troubled. He usually went to
Fish Point, however. That Mr.. Matthias
was troubled yesterday there can be no
doubt. Many of his acquaintance no.
ticed it. His financial affairs had been
had just passed out of his hands.
About o'clock yesterday morning he
came to Sawyer's stable, at the corner of
Federal and Market streets. Mr.. Mat
thias used to board his horse there until
recently, when he disposed Of it, and Mr..
Sawyer knew him well. He noticed at
once that he was very nervous. He
walked close to Mr.. Sawyer and whis-
pered hurriedly, "Give me horse" MI.
Sawyer asked him if Mrs. Matthias was
going with him; and, being told that she
might, remarked that he would send a
quiet horse. ''Oh, give me anything"
said Mr.. Matthias, impatiently.
Mr.. Sawyer went to get the horse.
Coming back to the Office, he saw Mr..
Matthias walking backward and forward.
Not knowing that money affairs were
troubling him at all, Mr.. Sawyer said jo-
cosely, II guess your finances must be
bothering you today. Why don't you sit
down and let the other fellows do the
walking?"
''Oh, my God, do not talk to me of
money" replied Mr.. Matthias.
When the team was brought he got in
and drove off at once. Mr.. Sawyer re-
marked how nervous he was, but was not
prepared for the news when Coroner
Perry drove in with the team and told
him what had happened.
A well-known man in this city, who
has known MI. Matthias for many years,
said last evening that he had been in
very respondent mood for some time.
For many years he has done prosperous
business as a merchant tailor and it seems
to have been only within two years that
the tide has begun to turn against him.
About two years ago he seems to have
begun to deal in stocks. Last November
he began to be distressed and was forced
to ask help of his friends. He easily got
it, as he was generally liked and trusted.
ellis word was as good as his bond,''
said the friend last evening, "and he
could command large amount of mon
ey.'' With the borrowed money he
only involved himself deeper, and in the
recent furry he was completely downed,
losing especially in the slump of the
general electric stock. He came to this
friend last Tuesday in the greatest dis
tress. 1T do not come to you for law
said he to the friend who is lawyer,
stfor law cannot help my situa-
ton, but want to unburden myself. I.
have gone deeper and deeper; l have
lost my credit and abused my friends
He was in the greatest distress, and the
friend gathered from what he said that
he was owing his friends about fifteen
or twenty thousand dollars which he
could not pay.
The story was about yesterday that
Mr.. Matthias had assigned. This is said
to be incorrect. He had borrowed about
$4,000 sof Mr.. Solomon Shine, giving
him mortgage on his stock in the store.
When he found that his troubles had Gull
minated he went to Mr.Shine and begged
him to take the store. He wanted
no+biprr ,,,ora RI do with If So NJ