The sun., 1895-05-25
SUICIDE IN a BATHIUB.
Clerk Thomas browns Hir,setr After ne
inE Caught IL dishonesty.

Charles 1. Thomas. q floor walker in A. A.
Vantine q Co.'S store at s7T broadway, was
found unconscious yesterday morning ia the
bathtub In his boarding house at AZ Lexington
avenue. Hc died shortly after without recover
Ping consciousness Thomas had been In the en-
ploy of Vantne d Co. for Ave yenrs, and was
implicitly trusted. He was the only clerk in his
department who was allowed to take cash for
the sale of certain articles.
a short time ago Mr.. Cotton, the manager Of
the store. discovered certain Irregularities in
the sales, which led him to suspect Thomas of
dishonesty. He employed two detectives, and
they caught Thomas in trap. On Wednesday
one of them bought fan from him for Si.5O.
and there was no return made for the sale. On
Thursday the detective bought another fan for
81, paying Thomas for 1t with marked bills. He
pocketcd the money. few minutes later he
was called into Mr.. Colton's office and accused
OF larceny. He readily confessed that he had
been stealing from the firm for some months
past, but he was unable to tell the amount of
his peculations. He was not at all fiustered, and
he only seemed anxious that the news OF his
crime should not reach his aged parents, who
live at Owego. MY.
Out of respect for his family. and in view Of
his long service with tho firm, Mr. Cotton de-
cided not to prosecute Thomas. Before he left
the store, however, he got the clerk to sign a
written confession of his thcfts. Thomas also
promised to make tour yesterday of the pawn
shops Of the city. for the purpose OF Identifying
n number Of articles which he had pledged. He
made an engagement to meet the detectives at n
downtown Office at $3.50 o'clock yesterday
morning.
About 30 o'clock yesterday morning letter
for Thomas arrived at AZ Lexington avenue. and
Mrs Eliza futile who keeps tho boarding house,
ordered it sent to his room The servant slipped
1t under the door, and Mrs, Tnttle saw tho edge
of 1t sticking out half hour later AtS:l5
O'Clock. when she passed by Thomns's room
again. the letter was gone: AT 0:30 o'clock the
servant was sent to call Thomas As she got no
TO force In the door. She lid SO, and they found
the room in confusonand the gas escaping from
and the door leading from 1t into the bathroom
was bolted from the inside. Mrs. Tuttle began
to get frightened. so she sent the servant to lind
Just as the girl was returning with Policeman
kenting they met Albert {. kutcAer. an en-
ives whom Thomas had promised to meet.
They all went up stairs. and. forcing in the door
of the bathroom, they found Thomas in the
his back and he was still breathing. An amhu-
lance was summoned and DR.. Heapy was called
In: lie e = and Ambulance Surgeon Eifer labored
efforts he d ell in II few minutes. There is no
doubt that he committed suicide.
of Thomas last night. He found the lungs full
of water. and also unmistakablc evidence OF the
Inhalation of gas; He made out the certificate
that death was due TO drowning after tho in
halation of illuminating gas.
Thomas came to this city from Owego about
bate helor. So far as is known he neither gambled
months he had lived at Mrs. Tuttle's 4 mum
ing to one. Thomas meyer called on any OF
them. The suicides's father and mother, who
Void he sSocK o the
news of the death OF their only son.