The herald., 1896-07-10
WAS DRIVEN TO DEATH I"
A Hapless Barber Commits Suicide BY
the Gas Route
J. c. W. RszaIle flakes Careful Preparations
for His Exit From Earth-Flnanciai
Troubles the Cause

In room PA Of the Hollenbeck hotel
yesterday morning the lifeless body of
]. c. w. Razalle, barber. was found,
all indications showing that he had de-
liberately taken his own life, after
thorough preparations, by means of gas.
Razalle was 81 years of age, lived at
the corner Of Sixteenth and Maple av-
enue with his wife and little daughter,
and conducted the National barber shop
at 148 South Main street. Up to a short
time ago Razalle had had his shop on
North Main street, but had moved to
the new location. He had met with re-
verses and poor business. which neces-
STATED his negotiating loan from one
Of the banks. Richard Garvey indorsing
the same. This note was overdue, and
had been only partially paid. 1t was
undoubtedly an unbalanced mental con-
dition caused by brooding over his
troubles that caused him to take his
life.
Wednesday morning Razalle left his
shop early, and about IL o'clock regis
tered at the Hollenbeck and was as
signed room 274 Shortly thereafter he
went to his apartment and locked him
self in, not being seen again.
When one OF the clerks passing along
the hall yesterday morning detected the
smell Of escaping gas he caused the
door to be forced in, and Razalle was
found. The body lay diagonally across
the bed, and glance was sufficient to
show the manner of self-destruction.
To one of the gas jets long new rubber
Oft oh nd fIn ipfr
the room Razalle had turned on the gas,
taken the end of the tube in his mouth
and laid down to die. An empty box,
which had contained morphine, lay on
the table, which would indicate that he
had taken dose of poison before turn
ing on the gas so as to make u sure job
of it.
Lying upon the table was one of his
business cards, upon the back of which
was scrawled:
Il have been driven to death by Rich
ard Garvey and others. Good by. God
bless my family. ny life has been a
failure"
When discovered RaLalle had evident
ly been dead for some hours. but he had
carried out his plans so carefully and
silently that no one suspected or smelt
the escaping gas. although one of the
clerks of the hotel sleeps in the adjoining
room. The body was removed to Kreg-
elo e. Bresee's, where an inquest was
held in the afternoon.
Charles e. Neuer, foreman of Ra-
! zalle's shop said that his employer had
lately worried a great deal over his
financial troubles, and had told him that
he was unable to pay the note, but that
the bank people and Garvey were press
ing him for payment. He several times
spoke of suicide. and discussed with
Neuer the easiest method of death. He
wanted his funeral sermon when he
died preached by a barber, and asked
Neuer to perform that service for him.
The latter jokingly assented and thought
no more of it.
On the day before his death Razalle
had spoken to him and again mentioned
his troubles. He said il Garvey would
only show him q little mercy he could
pull out he hoped. The morning of
his disappearance he had gone out the
| door of the shop, but stepped back and
| asked Neuer whether he had rehearse6
that funeral sermon, and the latter, with
, a laugh said he was practicing on i
every day.
Charles L. Werner, another barber ir
| him of his troubles and of how despond-
| ent he felt over his inability to meet hi:
| obligations. None of the men had any
| idea that Razalle was in such a desper-
| ate condition of mind as he seems tc
| have been. Some other testimony was
| taken, but developed nothing new. and
verdict of suicide was rendered by
the jury after moments deliberation