New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-26
A RICH MERCHANTS SUICIDE.
NATHAN STRAUSS. MEMBER OF A WELL
KNOWN FIRM, SHOOTS HIMSELF.

OF HIS sELFDESTRUCTION - HIS
BROADWAY OFFICE THE SCENE
or THE TRAGEDY.
A reure long familiar in the leading drygoods
houses Of the city and on every racetrack in the
East will this morning be missing from It's ac-
customed places. Nathan Strauss. for years known
throughout the drygoods trade and among racing
men as the buyer and NewYork representative
Of the large San Francisco house OF Lew strauss
& Co. yesterday ended his life with the ald OF q
revolver bullet. The news of his dreadful DEATH
spreading almost instantaneously through the
trade district occasioned more excitement ana more
speculative conjecture than any similar occurrence
in recent years
The house of Levi Strauss & Co. is house OF
miionares. Its commercial standing is uhques-
tionable Mr. Strauss was not only wealthy put
so far as the outside world knew enJoyeu the
happiest family associations. He had been
married nearly twenty years, and hved
with his wife and two little children IN
the Grenobe Flats, West Fifty-sevehth-s'' l"e
house with which he was associated was 1ounoeo
in 1S49 by his father, Jonas, and his uncies Lew
ard Louis Strauss, David Stern ana "hii"''
Suhleen completing the original firm or these
senior members only Levi Strauss. now in San
Francisco survives Nathan Strauss, receiving MS
education in New-York Joined the house IN 1919
After three years apprenticeship in san iran
CISCO he returned to NewYork, and ever since hau
had charge or the NeW-1 Olh DiahS"' INV
at No. IS West Broadway.
THE FATAL SHOT.
When he stepped into his office at the usual hour
o'clock yesterday and cheerily babe everyone
good morning" the clerks noticed that his eye
was more than ever bright. his step more imam
usually elastic his manner retained all It's accus-
toned buoyancy. About twenty minutes iater ne
walked out through the main office and then
turning to the left opened the door OF the shoit
Corridor leading to the lavatory and disappeared
Timothy Geoghegan, the porter eiilployeu a ~
the rooms. had occasion TO go into TINS corrd9r ,
he was stopped by the sound OF reVo, NsS
opened the door and looked in. Mr.. Strauss lay
back against the wall in semi-rechning Pos,t,Chh,
the blood oozng from bullet wound IN me rism d
temple The smoking fve-chambered revolver had
slipped out of bis nerveless fingers to the I hoSr
the bookkeeper and crowd of clerks to Inc icH
Detective Bet Foley and Roundsman Lanigan; of the
Fifth Precinct, happened to be in the neighborhood
pnd secured the services OF an ambulance
surgeon Mr. Strauss still breathed, but from the
he was dead His wife reached the hospital too
late to her husband before his heart hau ceseu
to beat.
Ills ACCOUNTS CORRECT.
An examination Of Mr. Strausss accounts re-
vealed nothing which could by any possibility
suggest an rreguarity One explanation, however,
of the temporary alteration of intellect whch re-
suited in his death may be found In his heavy
ter of common gossip among drygoods men, ms
latest speculation was in coal and II is reportea
and Western coal stock had left him several
thousand dollars short of the market. .
had long been familiar TO every horseman Few
We're better or Tde a heinz me- dne Of he
most successful bettors that ever entered ring
mainly to the exercise of good judgment. He was
willing to spend any amount OF money Tor good
His last visit to the racetrack was made
dem T snS when the he na
of his quality by backing the 60 to shot Foxhonnd
thousand dollars won by him awaits collection in
the ring: .,oo.,,o .,.. oil ,s heov,sst winnings
were made on outsiders. Mr.. Strauss was mem.
Der Of the Coney Island and NeWh GrK JOCKEY
HIS KNOWLEDGE OF TURF AFFAIRS.
Mr. Strauss was well known to nearly every turf
man on both the trotting and running tracks in
the neighborhood of this city. He was a we'll
known road-rider and one of the old brigade
that drove Fleetwood Park every pleasant day
in the summer. His knowledge Of records was nn,
often made small wagers with his friends that he
could tell how fast trial heat was trotted wth3ut
second, to the utter establishment of persons who
not aware Of his fHcu of 'ua o9 ns s1w
the time of each quarter 80 accurately that ola
turmen we're ere o ah Visited the club
house at Fleetwood Park every pleasant SUNDAY;
Strauss became a devotee of the sport summer or
winter It made no difference TO him. No matter
If the weather stormy or lair, ne was req
ular attendant at the races 90,
He was not a believer in tips. but relied on his
own Judgment He loved to talk over the races
with his friends, and To exchange opinions WIN
them as to who would be the probable winners OF
Mr. Strauss was not, horse owner. but loved
the sport, and desired to elevate It's standard
A few years ago Mr. Strauss offered a $cW llf-
fanny watch that was to be presented to the owner
the Sheepshead Bay track
In regard 20 Mr.. Strauss betting, he was not
what is termed a pluneer. although he frequently
bet 81 900 on a He said that he had won every
year he had been betting on the runners. AT times
his winnings race would reach $1,000 as he
horses previous form showed that the horses
chances, in his opinion, excelled those OF his op-
ronents
GENIAL COMPANION.
Mr. STRAUSS home life pleasant. he was
devoted to his children, and delighted to tell OF
his sons proficiency builder OF model yachts
He frequently accompanied the boy to the park to
see him sail his toy vessels against the miniature
fleets OF his companions. His suicide a great
surprise TO all who knew him. he so
methodical In his manners and in his business
Nathan strauss was a short rather thickset
man. smooth shaven with snappy black eyes. He
was extremely active and quick in his movements
and looked many years younger than his age. He
was cheerful companion. and his death Is sin
II any. not caused by his turf speculations.
telegram received last evening from San Fran
cisco stated that Mr. Strauss had been specializing
heavily in Wall Street and on the racetrack. and
a tangled condition. This statement was denounced
by MIR Strauss family in this city last night
being absolutely without foundation.