The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1894-09-19
AJ0KE THAT LEAD TO Death.
Philip Reav2s Hangs Himself After
Bcooatnx Over otter.

SEABRIGuT, y. J., Sept. 12.-Philip
Resves, a summer resident here hanged
himself yesterday. He was confiden-
tial man and bookkeeper for w. Bay
ard Cutting, and came to Seabright
June 20 to pass his vacation. He Sc
cured accommodations with Mrs.
Frank Martin. Reayes was exception
ally quiet and had little to say to guests
Of the house. His principal amusement
was bathing, and hardly day passed
but what he was seen on the beach
or in the water enjoying himself.
Strange as it may seem, his bathing
suit was the cause of his suicide. It
was not of the styles seen at As0ury
Park, which often nag at the knees
and have every appearance of being
made from a bloomer pattern. Reaves'
suit fitted as closely 20 his we'll devel.
oped body as pair Of tights on shape
ly chorus girl lr II Al opera troupe. It
was mace G. l;g2C weight flannel.
About three weeks ago several of his
friends secured note.head from the
Office Of 2. Hallacker, secretary of the
Seabright Borough Commission Mr..
Packers name aud title was on the
note head. Then they wrote ReaVes
letter and signed J. D. Dardo. The
contents were to the effect that his
bathing suit was disgracefui and if be
had any regard for himself he would
not wear it in the presence of the Wo-
men with whom ne had been in the
habit of bathing The letter worried
the bookkeeper He took 1t to Mr..
Packer and asked him if be knew the
writer.
Mr. Packer aid not, and said be be
lieVed the name to be fictitious one.
He made light Of the whole affair and
tried to impress upon Reaves the fact
that his friends we're playing joke on
him. Besides being secretary of the
Borough Commission Mr.. Packer is
also justice OF the peace. Raa0es wa s
anxious to bring suit against the au-
thor of the letter, but he could not
prove who sent it.
Then he wanted the matter brought
to the attention Of the commissioners,
and Mr.. Packer directed him to Mayor
J. ]. Reed. OF course, the latter could
do nothing. 1t worried Reaves consio-
erably and when he talked about 1t be
became very much excited.
However, he did not cease wearing
the suit whenever he went IN bathing.
Yesterday morning he arose at his
usual hour and after taking bath re-
turned to his room. Wnel Mrs NJ =
tins chambsrmaid began her duties she
went TO Rsave's rocm, but found the
door locked. When NOON time came be
had not made his appearance Mr.. Mar
tin told her husband and be started to
investigate. Oa looking over the tran
som Mr.. Martin Was horciGed to see the
body of his lodger hanging from the
closet door.
He broke into the rooDl and sent for
a doctor, but life had b9en extinct sew
eral hours. Reaves had procured a
clothes line and fastened one end to the
knob. He threw the rope over the top
of the door, taking care to put a small
piece of cloth under it in order that it
might not scratch the wood. Then he
stood on chair, and knocking it from
under him swung of iato eternity.
Coroner Oliver was notified. The
dead mans effects we've searched, but
there was nothing to show why be
committed suicide, except the worry
over the anonymous letter. Several
tags were found addressed to him at No
81 West Forty eighth street, New YORK
care of DR.. Maloney. W. Bayard Cut
ting, who has an Office in the Mutual
Life Insurance Building 10 this city
was telegraphed foE.-N. 7. World.