The evening world., 1894-08-24
willie DAY
| A SUICIDE.
The Famous Runners Body
Found Hanging from a
Tree at Bayonne
HAD BEEN DEAD TWO DAYS.
Said to Have Been Virtually
Hounded to Death by a
Girls Brother.
RECENTLY SHOT FROM AMBUSH.
A Tardy Exsnsration Now Made by
the Man Who Accused Him
Of EmbezzIement.
RECENTLY SHOT FROM AMBUSH

The body of Willie Day, the famous
amateur champion distance-runner, was
found hanging from a tree in the woods
back of the New Jersey Athletic Club
boat-house, at Bergen Point, this morn
ing.
He had doubtless committed suicide,
and from indications had been dead two
days before his body was discovered.
Days body was found at II o'clock
this morning hanging to scrub oak in
the stretch of woods on the Newark
Bay shore, near Fifth street, and in
full view Of the athletic club house.
II was discovered by John Wintz and
| Edward Magner, boys who were mind
ing cows. The boys promptly notified
| Policeman Dwight Lord. and he cut the
| body down and had 1t conveyed to the
Morgue at Avenue d and Tenth street.
According to Lords statement, Day
had evidently climbed upon a lower limb
OF the tree, and after adjusting a piece
OF cotton rope about his body, feet and
neck swung one end over a limb above
him and made 1t fast. Then he must
have jumped off the limb upon which
he sat. An examination of the body
shows that the neck had been broken.
Days feet nearly touched the ground.
The remains were considerably de-
composed.
1t is the opinion OF the police and
others that Day hanged himself on
Wednesday morning about s o'clock.
Day left his parents house. % Lin
den street, near the Athletic Club
House before o'clock Wednesday
morning. and was seen by Mr.. and Mrs
Lewis and Mrs. Hyde, who were at
Capt. s II. Ryder's boat-house.
Nothing unusual was observed in his
actions or appearance by his mother
and sisters at his house. When he left
them he evidently proceeded directly to
the spot where he committed suicide
He left no note indicating that he had
contemplated the rash act.
pencil and 20 cents in money were
the only things found in the pockets of
his clothes. He was dressed neatly in
plaid pantaloons and a black cheviot
coat and vest, white dress shirt and col
lar, blue necktie, cuffs with gold but
tons, black socks and lace shoes.
bay was arrested last week on a
charge of embezzling $3.50 from NJ. A.
Stoner, manager of the Manhattan
Laundry in Jersey City, by whom he
was employed as collector. The case
hdS W nave Deel nedFu OH lueSuay De-
foie Justice Potts In Jersey City.
On that day the prisoner failed to APP
pear. anu his counsel. Lawyer Benney,
OF Bayonne. urged postponement. He
was unable to say where his client was,
but promised to produce him In court
on Monday. Justice Potts agreed to de-
fer the case until that day, and Lawyer
Benney deposited bond of $500 for his
appearance.
When it became known that Days
body had been found and that he had
committed suicide, the people became
much excited, and gathered at the
AIorgue. where they commented severely
on the action Of the parties who had ac-
cused Day OF embezzlement. for they
had been in sympathy with him ever
since his arrest, which was made on
Tuesday night by Detectives McNally
and Patro!man Anderson.
None OF Days friends believed him
guilty, and said that Phean was not
Justlied in making charges agans,
DAY.
This letter, received by 1.-THE Evening
World" at noon to-day. entirely exoner-
ates Willie Day from the charges made
against him:
To the EditC,
greatly Tssrs. the , unpleasant no,orie.,
lcHc Club roucernlnE the charge OF embezzle-
ment Of trnds belonging to our Company.
desire to state that owing to grave error
the charge was made. the same being recthed
.ni True accounting made. Therefore. | ar
most anxious TO remove the unjust stain at
MANAGER sroNER.
Manhattan Laundry Co. Jersey city.
hay was a son of Col. Thomas p
Day. one of his brothers. Thomas j.
Day, jr., is a lawyer at IS Exchange
place, this city. -Four brothers and twc
sisters survive him.
Coroner Woke took charge of tn.
body and will hold an inquest as soor
as possible.
Days parents were grief-stricken ove
The occurrence. Col. Day intends I,
prosecute those who made the charges
against his son.
DAY was entered to run in the Lnbo
Day Olympiad of the New Jersey Ath
etic Club, and none OF his clunmate
could account for his non-appesrance a
ene trial, as all thought him guiltless
Willie Days most intimate associate
eiaiin that he was practically hounde
70 death, and that his act OF self-destruc
uon cannot he attributed in any name
70 the financial troubles which culm
mated in his recent arrest.
About ten days ago Day was shot g
from ambush. He was returning hom
a. night, and heard the report of re
VpiVer from behind a tree. At the sam
Tune he experienced a singing sensatio
IN his left foot. and on reaching hi
nome, but short distance away, foun
the bullet had just grazed his foot.
had broken the skin. and caused tn
blood TO flow. HIS friends in the Ne'
Jersey Athletic Club were anxious 10
MN to apprehend the person who she
At him. but he refused.
1t then became known that a woma
was at the bottom OF the trouble.
demand was made that he should MARI
the girl. but he refused. and the thres
was made that unless he did 30 b