New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-17
FOUND DEAD IN HIS ROOM
GEORGE r. PORTER KILLED HIMSELF IN
RAYMOND STREET JAIL
WORTHLESS CHECKS LED TO HIS ARREsT-A NEW
YORK COFFEE BROKER IN FINANCIAL
TANGLE-HE WAS A WE.L-KNOWN
CLUB NAN AND HAD BEEN
PROSPEROUS

George II. Porter coffee broker at No. %
Beaver-st. NewYork. VINO lived with his sister
al No 1863 Macon-st, committed suicide yester-
day morning by inhalirg Illuminating gasin Ray
mond Street jail Porter wac fogty-two years
Old and well-known about town. He was men,
Der Of the Union League Club, OF the Columbia
Boat Club in New-York, and prominent worker
in the Seventeenth District Republican Associa-
tion of the Twenty-third Ward. Until about .
year ago he was prosperous in his business VEN 4.
lures and was able to draw his check for thou
sands of dollars AT the death of his father he
received considerable property. About year
ago. when he complained of being pressed for
his dues at the Union League Club. he is said
to have remarked TO a friend that II come
of the members who appeared to be able TO
maintain their good standing in the club would
pay to him the back rent they owed on his
fathers property he could pay mis- way right
along. MI.
After his financial difficulties began. Porter
did not give up his air of general prosperity, and
continued to spend money generously. He had
an account at several OF the large drygoods
stores and as they had never had any trouble
In collecting the money due them from him.
he continued to have good credit and had no
difficulty in raising money when he was short
Of ready cseh. Some months ago his friends
were surprised to learn that Porter was raising .
money worthless checks
DRYGOQDs DEALERS LENIENT
One of the first firms to suffer was the Lieb-
mann Company. drygoods dealers. About two
months ago Porter visited the store. made
purchase amounting to 81 So and offered in pay
ment check on the Southern National Bank
Of New-York for slS 60 The check was accept
ed and Porter received the change. The check
was ehortly afterward returned from the bank
a fha n ron ont hnf Alr
had not had any account there since March,
1895. Superintendent Phillip, Of the Lehman
Company. visited Justice Walsh's court and
asked advice as to the course which he should
pursue. the firm did not wish to have Porter
arrested, both on account of his social stand
ing and the Insignificant amount OF the check.
No formal complaint was made and Justice
Walsh issued a summons for Mr.. Porter to APP
pear and explain the matter The next day
man who said he was a friend OF Porter, but
who IN reality Porter himself. visited the
court and offered to pay the money to the Coyrt
then and there stating that there had been
some misunderstanding Mr.. Quinn, the clerk
told him that the Court could not settle the mat
ter in that way. and advised MIN to the
complaining firm.
through Mr.. Porter He purchased a small article
from the Harding Manufacturing Company and
presented In payment worthless check for SIS.
which was accepted. Loeser & Co. also cashed
bogus check for Mr.. Porter for $25.
TACKLED THE WRONG MAN
plant made against him until he ran up
against Charles J. Sands. a real-estate dealer.
whose Office is at No. 1853 Bedford-ave. and who
lives a No. 11S7 Bergen-st. Mr.. Porter was In
troduced to Mr.. Sands by the lntters partner,
and few days later on October H. Porter visited
Sandss office and asked him II he would not be
kind enough to cash check for s25. He said
that he his way to New-York and needed
ready money. Sands said he would cash the
check and Porter, producing checkbook on the
Southern National Bank with his name printed
on the stub end, made out the check. The money
was paid over and in few days Mr.. Sands found
that he had been swndled as the others had
been before him.
and Porter. and the latter asked that the check
be held for few days when he would settle.
After waiting some little time the matter
put In the hands OF an attorney and warrant
FOR Porters arrest was issued. Policeman Wal
dron who served the warrant, found Porter at
his home early on Wednesday morning When
he found that he prisoner, Porter asked the
officer not TO let his sister know anything about
the matter. He then told her that he had been
called To New-YOrk on important business and
that II he did not come back early. not to worry
When the case was called up before Justice Walsh
the prisoner pleaded not guilty, and the case was
adjourned in order TO give the complainant a
chance to appear. Bail was fixed at $500. In
answer to his plea Porter was allowed to sit out
In the courtroom instead OF being placed in the
pen with the other prisoners he was we'll
dressed and evidently man OF culture and re-
fnement The magistrate allowed him TO stay
in the courtroom until 4 o'clock in the afternoon,
he said that bondSman would DE sure to ap-
pear and bail him out. AT that time. however.
as none Of Mr. Porters friends had appeared the
Magistrate told him that he would have 10 go 70
jail and instructed Policeman Mooney TO take
the prisoner to Raymondst.
DID NOT WANT TO co TO JAIL
Porter was visibly affected By the idea Of
spending = night in Jail and offered the police
man at first SO. and then $40 if he would take
n thof ha x-icbal hfo
sister and change his clothing The policeman
told him that he would be all right IN Jail and
that some of his friends would undoubtedly turn
up before the night was over TO bail him out.
The prisoner was delivered 10 Warden Stanley 2
on a criminal order, but he begged so hard and
piteousiy not to be locked up in cell the
other prisoners were that the Warden consented
To give him IA room on the top floor in the
debtors prison. Shortly afterward a civil order
of arrest for Porter came from the Sheriff Of
flee This civil order in the hands Of the
police at the time Of Porters arrest and was
the result of a judgment for $500 obtained
against him in the City Court by man named
Jennott.
The prisoner reached the jail about 49, and
looked at the matter of his arrest cheerfully,
expressing the belief that everything would be
cleared up and that he would be set free on
the following day. About 1890 o'clock he went
to bel In the room assigned him. Ii was a
little better than the ordinary rooms the top
floor, with n wooden door. and containing a
bed table and chairs. The room was visited at
midnight, and again at o'clock yesterday
morning by the man on duty. and at the latter
hour everything was all right in Porters CELL
KILLED BY THE GAS
Early this morning keeper detected an odor
of gas in the building but could not at first
find out where it came from At Z o'clock he
visited Porter's room and as he opened the
door. which was close fitting. he nearly
overpowered by the volume of gas that rushed
out of the room After waiting for few
moments to give the air in the room chance
to clear he rushed In and opened the window.
The two gas burners lust over the bed We're
turned on. and Porter lying on his cot I'M
dressed. His clothes were on a chair near the
l.1l. I'd. 2han MI infAr x,od nd