The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-07-12
Y, Was Chicago Manager Of the Stand
ard Oil Company and a
Millionaire.
WAS SPECULATION The CAUSE?
a. v,cs. President Of the Linseed Oil Trust
He Managed Great Busi-
ness Interests.

CHICAGO, July n.-Philander c. Han
Cord. Chicago manager Of the Standard
M company and Second Vice-President
-, the ,lnseed Oil Trust, committed sui
,,lde by shooting himself in his apart
,,snts in the Metropole Hotel this morn
ing. Mr.. Hanford was a millionaire and
entertained lavlshly, and his death was a
treat shock to his friends. Business
losses, caused by heavy speculation, is
said to have been the impelling motive.
His wife and daughter occupied the ad-
Joining apartments. The Linseed Oil
Trust is in a bad way, and not long ago
+. A, Coauard, of st. Louis, attempted
TO have a receiver appointed for it.
Mr.. Hanford's business and family life
seemed happy, and although his wife
was an invalid her condition was not
alarming. They formerly lived at No.
zoos Calumet avenue and owned richly
furnished house, where Mr.. Hanford had
fine collection of paintings. Since last
spring the residence has been closed.
Mrs. Hanford was absent for some time
at a health resort, afterwards joining
her husband at the Metropole.
Deputy Coroner O'Brien held an in
quest at the hotel at 100 o'clock. Miss
Blanche Hanford. a daughter of the dead
man. was the first witness. She testified
that It had been the custom of her father
to open the dining-room door at $500 clock
each morning. SO that breakfast might be
served. This morning Mr.. Hanford did
not appear. and at 8 o'clock his daughter
went to his room. AS she opened the
door she discovered him lying on the
floor, she said, and Immediately notified
her mother. She also sent at once for
DR.. Hale.
Miss Hanford said her father appeared
to be in his usual health and spirits
when he retired on Tuesday night. The
witness added that for some time her
father had been worried over business
matters, but she never saw or heard any
thing in his actions or conversation that
indicated her father contemplated sui
eide
Dr. Edwin NJ Hale, of No. 200 Prairie
avenue. testified to having been esilte en az
Mr.. Hanford lying dead on the moor ana
near his body a revolver Blood had
flowed from wound In the left breast
In the region of the heart, and also from
the mouth. 1t was the opinion or me
physician that Mr.. Hanford had been
dead two or three hours
TIE Jury found that the deceased came 10
his death from a pistol-shot wound In
ficted by himself with suicidal intent:
Years ago Mr.. Hanford controlled the
Hanford OIL Company, and at It's mead
waged determined war against the
Standard. About five years ago he sur
rendered and the great combine ab,
sorbed his business. He represented
the trust in Chicago for a time, but
five years ago became an officer or the
National I4inseed OIL Company, posi-
ton which he held at the time OF his
death. Mr.. Hanford's wealth Is est,
mated at a million. In ADDITION 10 ms on
interests he had mines IN Montana ana
voted to private enterprise, and his as
sociates in the Old Colony Building
office knew little of the exact condi-
ton of his affairs 1t Is thought the de-
preston in prices for the last year may
have cost MIR. Hanford large sums.
The National Linseed OIL company
controls much OF the trade In that prod
the western linseed oil mills; Alex
that a meeting Of the directors Of the
National Linseed OIL Company had been
called for to-day, and 1t was surmised
there might be some connection pc
tween that and Mr.. Hanford's suicide.
That was denied at the office OF the
company.
to be held to-day" said Assistant
Secretary Rugg. Indeed. l am the
only officer of the company now in the
city. The regular monthly meeting or
the directors is called for next week,
but that is called simply for routine
business. So far as this office Is con-
eerned, we know absolutely no reason for
was no reason in any of his connections
with this cOmDany.'