The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-09-19
AJCKE THAT LEAD TO DEATH.
Philip Reayss Hangs Himself After
Brcoa!ng over Letter.


SEABRIGHT, Y. J., Sept. 12.-Philip
Reaves, a summer resident here hanged
himself yesterday. He was confden-
tial man and boOkkeeper for W. Bay
ard Cutting, and came to Seabrlght
June 20 to pass MS vacation. He Sc
cured accommodations with a Mrs.
Frank Martin. Reaves 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 be was seen on the Deach
or in the water enjoying himself.
Strange as it may seem, his bathlnS
suit was the cause of his suicide. 1t
was not of the styles seen at Asbury
Park, which often bag at the knees
and have every appearance Of being
made from a bloomer pattern. ReaVes'
suit fitted as closely 20 his well deVel-
oped body as a pair Of tights on shape
ly chorus girl in in an opera troupe. 1t
was made of light weight flannel.
About three weeks ago several OF his
friends secured a note.head from the
office of p. Hallacker, secretary Of the
Seabright Borough Commission. Mr.
Packers name and title was on the
note head. Then they wrote ReaVes
letter aud signed J. D. Bardo. The
contents were to the effect that his
| bathing suit was disgraceful and If he
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 CT bathing. The letter worried
the bookkeeper. He took it to Nc.
Packer and asked him if he knew the
writer.
Mr.. Packer did not, and said he be
Iieved the name to be fictitious one.
He made light of the whole affair and
tried to impress upon Reaves the fact
that his friends were playing a joke on
him. Besides being secretary OF the
Borough Commission Mr.. Packer is
| also a justice of the peace. R9aves wa 8
| anxious to bring suit against the au-
thor of tue 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 Mayo I
J. J. Reed. Of course, the latter could
do nothing. 1t worried Reaves consid-
erably and when he talked about 1t ne
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 aud after taking bath re-
turned to his room. Wnen Mrs NJ
tins chambermaid began her duties she
went to Reave's room, but found the
| door locked. When noon time came he
had not made his appearance Mr. Mar
tin told her husband and be started to
investigate. On looking over the tran
som Mr.. Martin was horriied to see the
body of his lodger hanging from the
closet door.
He broke into the rooDl and seat for
a doctor, but life had been extinct sew
eraI 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 a chair, and knocking it from
under him swung off into eternity.
Coroner Oliver was notified. The
dead mans effects we've searched, but
there was nothing to show why he
| 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 te!egraphed for.-N. Y. World.