New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-28
PRICE THREE CENTS
A. s. SEER KILLS HIMSELF
SUICIDE IN THE OFFICE OF HIS PRINT.
ING ESTABLISHMENT. =,

SUICIDE IN THE OFFICE OF HIS PRINT
ING ESTABLISHMENT :
WORRY OVER HIS BUSINESS AND ANXIETY ABOUT
HIS HEALTH SUPPOSED TO HAVE UNBAL-
ANCED HIS MIND-wELL KNOWN
AS A THEATRICAL PRINTER.
A. s. Seer. whose name has been for many
years familiar to every one who knew anything
about theatres. committed suicide yesterday He
shot himself in the head in his private office. at
Ills place Of business. No. 10 East Seventeenth-st.
Mr.. Seer was the pioneer in this city In his own
special line Of theatrical printing He had been
| in business for thirty-fve years For long time
he did the best and most artistic work OF the kind
! that was done but more recently numerous other
workers entered the field, and about equally fine
printing was done by Mr.. Seer and by rival firms.
The announcement Of the suicide yesterday
afternoon among those who knew Mr.. Seer natu-
rally caused much surprise, and at first II could
not be understood what reason he could have had
for taking his life. 1t appears, however. that
those who were nearest to him. his wife and his
superintendent, had already feared that he might
kill himself His wife visited his Office yesterday
morning and had long talk with him. In the
course Of which loud talking was heard 1t
afterward proved that Mrs. Seer had discovered
that her husband had taken his pistol from home
with him and she had come to try to get 1t away
from him. She succeeded In doing So but when he
went out to luncheon he bought new one.
It appears that the cause Of the suicide was
anxiety about his business. to which he had
been constantly and scrupulously devoting him.
self with the addition, perhaps. Of worry about
his health. 1t is believed that through one or
LoI
balanced.
DYING IN HIS OFFICE.
Mr. seers was found just after he had shot
himself by the superintendent Of his establish
ment Frederick Hegeman, and several OF his
clerks This was about BIS o'clock, only min
ute after they heard the report Of pistol shot.
| Policeman Rohrs. OF the West Thrtieth-st. sta
tion sent an ambulance call to the New-York
Hospital When found by Mr.. Hegeman and his
clerks. Mr. Seers was still breathing. but he died
before the ambulance arrived
! Mr. Seers reached his office about o'clock ye0-
terday morning. and those who came into con-
tact with him thought he acted peculiarly then.
! He however. transacted some business up 70
| 10 30 o'clock. when Mrs. Seers called upon him.
| He was closeted in his private Office. with her
for some lime during which loud talking indi-
! eating a quarrel. heard by the clerks II
was learned af,erward that Mrs. Seers had dis
covered that he had taken his revolver from
home and fearing that he intended to commit
suicide she had gone to the Office 10 get 1t
/ from him. He denied having IL at first but she
| finally found it in his clothes closet and took 1t
away.
After the departure Of his wife. Mr.. Seers met
several customers and about noon went TO
| luncheon, returning about o'clock. In that In
terval II is supposed that ne purchased revolv-
er for the one with which he killed himself was
| a new weapon. In the early afternoon he met
| several customers and held g consultation with
Nj Hegeman about several new contracts. At
O'Clock he retired to his private office at the
Elghteenth-st. end OF the store. on the ground
floor.
Fifteen minutes later pistol shot was heard
and a rush made by the clerks TO Mr.. Seers's
| Office from which the sound came. Mr.. Hege-
| man. who led burst open the door and found his
employer lying his back with a bHllet hole in
| his right temple. The revolver we/ grasped In
| his right hand Blood was trickling from the
! wound One Of the clerks rushed 10 the street
and informed Policeman Rohrs who sent In an
| ambulance call.
! While awaiting the arrival OF the ambuance.
Mr. Hegeman called Mr.. Muller, who was made
executor under Mr.. Seers last will, and he ar
rived few minutes later. After viewing the
! body he drove to the Hotel Bayard. Broadway
| and Fifty-fourth-st. to inform Mrs Seer or ner
husbands death She accompanied Mr. Muller
ID the office and told those about her that she hao
| feared her husband would take his life and. IN
| consequence had watched him carefully She
! was heartbrOken and had 10 De led away py MI.
| Muller.
| Deputy Coroner Hub'r viewed the body ana
! granted a permit for Its removal 10 the Hotel
! Bayard.
COULD NOT AGREE WITH HIS PARTNER
Mr. Seer had been in business for thirty-hvs
| years without a partner. He was man OK
| nervous temperament and extremely melan-
| choly at times About year ago he sold q
| quarter interest In the business 10 Joseph n:
| Tooker ir for $1,000 Mr. Tooker Is son or
| Commodore Joseph H. Tooker who controls the
Metropol!tan Printing Company. The men
! could rot agree so about three weeks ago. Mr.
! Soer bought back the interest and PAID SlVVoV
| for IT, The disagreement. II Is said. anected
| him greatly and made more frequent ms meiah-
cholv spells Mr.. Muller the executor, said tnat
| Mrs Seers health had not been good, and that
she had only recently returned from South-
ern Trim Mr. Seer mad been ordered 10 go Soutn
! on account of his health. and this worried MIN.
| Mr. Seer left three letters, one TO MIS- wite,
one TO his superintendent and the other 70 hls
executor Mr. Muller. Although none OF them
were made public. Mr.. Muller said they all
| smoke of his business. OF its good hnanciai con-
Sition and left instructions how 1t should %
! conducted in the interest OF his wlfe
Mr. Seer leaves two young chilureh- w.