New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-24
HENRY J. NEWTON KILLED.
RUN DOWN BY A LEXINGTON-AVE.
CABLE-CAR.
THE GRIPMAN SAYS HE THINKS THE MAN THREW
HIMSELF IN FRONT OF THE CAR PURPosELY-
NEWTON WELL. KNOWN AS MANU-
FACTURER, PHOTOGRAPHER AND
.yPIRITTALIST.

yPIRlTIAIlST.
Whether Henry lothian Newton. Of No. 12S West
Forty-third-st one OF the best-known Spiritual
lists in the country, and a man widely known In
the commercial world. was killed by accident or
committed suicide Is doubtful. He was run
over by Lexlngton-ave. cabe-car at els o'clock
last night at Broadway and Twenty-third-st.
He was seventy-two years old
The doubt in the matter arises IRON. the state
ment of the grpman of the car which killed Mr.
Newton. George Miller. thirty-two years old.
who lives at No. l.497 Lexington-ave, says the
mans actions as he fell in front of his chr make
him believe he threw himself there, seeking
death. No cause IL known why he should have
committed suicide, however.
Mr.. Newton was walking along Broadway on
his way home. and carrying a bundle.
When between Twenty-second and Twenty third
SITS. he attempted to cross over To the west side
of Broadway, just the Lexngton-ave. car
came around the curve Miller had stopped the
car for passengers to aght, and had received
his egnal to start the car again. lust as he
frightened the grip Newton either fell or threw
himself in front of the car. The bumper struck
him in the pit of the stomach and he fell with
out any outcry. Miller managed to stop the car
within six feet, but Newton had by this time
become wedEed beneath.
TOOK THE MAN OUT.
Policemen Birmingham and Gallagher. of the
West Thrtieth-st. station, had witnessed
the accident and with the assistance of ten
or twelve citizens lifted the off of Newton
and carried him into the office OF the National
Express Company. An ambulance call was sent
to NewYork Hospital, and when Surgeon Lafetra
responded 1t was found that Newton had received
internal injuries. sustained fracture
OF the left arm and badly mangled leg The
doctor said that Newton dying. and there
would be no use In taking him to the hospital
Newton died within five minutes.
Policeman Birmingham had the body taken to
the West Thirtieth-st station in patrol wagon
and then went to the family home to tell Mrs.
Newton Of her husbands death. She asked that
notification BE- sent her sor. William J. Newton
at Nyack and sent representative Of the family
to the station-house to make arrangements for
the care OF the body. stephen Merritt an Eighth
ave. undertaken took charge : the body
In the mean time Policeman Gallagher had
boarded the car, and accompanied the gripman
to the end Of his route He then placed the
gripman under arrest. At the station-house Miller
said that ii must have been suicide. He said
the car had barely started when Newton threw
himself in front of the car and had been Knocked
down without an outcry. Tie fact that ne had
stopped the car within SIX feet was, n said SUI
fcient proof that he was in no way responsible
for the mans death
Newton was president Of the Henry Bonnard
Bronze Company. He was born in Connecticut
and has lived in this city for forty-seven
years. He was associated in business with ms
son,,n-law. A. 7. Merritt and son, Henry g.
Newton. Doth OF whom live at Nyack, y. u.
and have been informed Of the death. Newton
was the inventor Of the spritualists cage and
other devices used by mediums
SOMETHING OF HIS LIFE.
Mr. Newton was married about forty-fve years
ago lie went to live in Chambers-st., and en-
gagged in the manufacturing Of pianos soon after
he came to this city. For many years he was
a member Of the Lighte. Newton x Bradbury
Piano Company. lie amassed large fortune
while in the piano business. About year ago
he was estimated t. De worth a million and
hall Part of his fortune was made in real estate
and in the bronze business.
Mr. Newton was prominent among amateur
photogra piers for more than twenty-five years.
He took deep interest in the art and was known
as the Father Of the Dry Plate" A floor of his
house is filed with pictures taken by him and
others. He loved to SHOW his friends his col
lection. In his home the Theosophical Society
founded, Of which he was a member until a
few years ago. When ne left the society he de-
nounced its teachings. and in articles which he
wrote for local newspaper about a month ago
he told of how the society came into existence
and tried 10 prove that its teachings We're not
known hundreds OF years ago. but originated in
the minds If Madame Bavatsky and several
others who were prominently identified with her
work.
Mr. Newton was president Of the Photographic
section of the American institute succeeding
Professor Draper of Columbia. He was member
of the Camera Club the Amateur Photographers
Association, the Twilight club, the Brooklyn
Academy Of Sciences. the Geographical Society
the American Institute. the New England Society
and the American Museum OF Natural History.
Mrs. Newton is first vice-president Of the
Soross.