New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-25
PART ii.
PAGES 10 TO IS.
SUICIDE OF A DEFAULTER.
THOMAS DROWNED HIMSELF IN A BATH
TUB AT HIS HOME.
HAD STOLEN FROM a. A. VANrINE CO.. HIS
EMPLOYERS. AND HAD CONFESSED HIS
QUILT - A PROMISE OF IMMUNITY
FROM PROSECUTION HAD BEEN

QUILT - A PROMISE OF IMMUNITY
FROM PROSECUTION HAD BEEN
MADE TO HIM.
Overcome with remorse or possibly fearful Of
punishment for his misdeeds. Charles T. Thomas.
the confidential noorwalker for A. A. Vantine e.
Co. the importers. OF Nos. SIT and $40 Broadway.
ended his l!fe yesterday morning by drowning
himself in bathtub at No. Al Lexington-ave..
where he lived. Thomas entered the bathroom
about $50 o'clock and remained there so long a
time that his landady. Mrs Eliza Tutte, be-
came alarmed about 10 O'Clock. and was the
point Of sending for policeman when the door
bell rang. The visitors proved to be Alfred d.
Kutscher from Vantne & Co.. and a private de-
tective They said they had had an appoint
ment with Thomas for o'clock, and as he had
failed to keep 1t they had called to see him. Mrs.
Tuttle told them of her fears that something
the matter. and the two men called in
Policeman Heating. The door Of the bathroom
was broken in and there Thomas was found I'M
conscious in the tub. He lay partly on his back.
with his face under water with which the tub
was filed to the top. An ambulance call was
sent in to Bellevue. and a neighboring physician
was called in. but medical appliances were UNI
availing Thomas died without regaining con
seriousness An investigation then made OF
the dead mans room which adjoined the bath
room and II was found to be in great disorder.
The windows were tightly closed and the gas
was escaping from the jet, which was turned on
full. 1t was evident that Thomas had first at
tempted to destroy himself by asphyxiation.
Thomas was forty-four years DID, and had lived
at Mrs Tutte's house nearly four years. He was
unmarried and came TO this city from Owego. n.
Y where he has a sister and a wel.-to-do father,
who has retired from business. He had been In
the employ Of Vantine & Co. for about five years
At Vantine & Co.'S a great deal Of light was
thrown upon the case and the cause OF the suicide
of Thomas was in a manner explained Charles w.
Cotton, the manager for Vantine Co. said yes
terday that Thomas had been caught stealing
from the firm, and had the day before confessed
his guilt Several months ago Mr.. Cotton became
confident that some one was robblng the nrn put
It was difficult to place the guilt. ABOUT three
weeks ago two private detectives were employed
n And the thief After some time they reported
that Thomas was doing the stealing. Thomas
had risen to position Of responsibility and trust.
and was looked upon as one OF the best men IN me
employ of the firm So implicitly was he trusted
that ne was allowed to collect cash from custom
ers for sales made thing which no other sales
man or employee was allowed 10 DO Ihis hoeiS
was what got Thomas into trouble
On Thursday he called into the private
Office and accused of the populations he I'M
mediately made a full written confession ne
was informed that II he told the truth he would
not be prosecuted. He said that he had approprl-
ated money which he received from customers
but denied that he hal ever taken any
from the store and pawned them. lie promised
TO meet a detective and employe or the nrm
at o o'clock yesterday morning ana make tous
of the pawnshops to convince them that ne hau
not pawned any goods. -,
II is believed that the thefts have been going
on for long time and will foot up TO con-
adorable amount. Those who knew Ihomas De-
Weve that he became doubtful OF the promise
made that he would not be prosecuted or tnat
ne had pawned large number OF valuable ar
ticles and feared TO make the trip 10 the pawn