New-York tribune., 1896-02-04

ful and hopeful disposition won for him the
friendship of many city politicians and helped TO
keen him in Office. He was fond Of excitement
and Of sport. and when he was In the Ponce
Board he frequently took part In games at carus
for large stakes at Delmonico's lie won anu
lost large sums Of money al cards and In bets
on elections. Upon the election Of General Har-
rison 10 the Presidency he was said TO nave won
$4,000 His sangune temperament led MIN 10
lose money in bets frequently against the ad-
vice of his friends.
The suicide OF Mr. French was shock TO many
noliticians and men in the Police Department,
and they declared that he was about the last
man that they would have expected 70 die In
that manner because his disposition made him
boneful under the most adverse circumstances.
Although he was known TO be In financial diff
eculties he kept his cheerful bearing 10 the
last and many Of his friends who saw him on
Saturday thought that they never had seen him
In better spirits. Mr. French was snort ana
compactly built. with round face that looked
Young despite his silvery white hair ana mus
tache and his sharp eyes seemed TO be always
twinkling with good humor or flashing with
enthusiasm Although he was sixty-seven years
old he was as brisk and erect and quick in his
movements as a man Of twenty
Mr. French spoke 10 his wife about his busi-
ness reverses several days ago. 1e vas the
nres,dent Of the West India Company. organized
under the laws Of New-Jersey which has an Of
ecs and q laboratory at No. AZ Broad-st. and
manufactures cordials. lie was In the Once or
the company IN Saturday, talking with william
p Hunt and Horace w. Campbell. his partners
IN the enterprise. and they had no suspicion
.her that he contemplated suicide. 10 his
uife however he said that his luck had com
nIetely deserted him and she would be better
~ y,ithout him His low spirits distr 'ssed Der
Greatly. He remained at home on sunday and
snsnt the entire evening in the house. retiring at
ii o'clock
FOUND By HIS WIFE.
Mrs French arose early yesterday. leaving
her husband in bed. She had breakfasted al
o'clock with her son. Lester. and an hour later
sbe went upstairs and found Mr. French dress
ing He complained OF feeling DUH but said
Tho, he would be down stairs In a few moments
and Mrs French went down stairs again ana
,usied herself about her househoid "u'ieS;
Nearly an hour elapsed ana thth shc re.dHri
o. ,ho bedroom and found Mr.. French !ylhg III
he'd groaning He was unable 70 answer re,
when she spoke to him, and ihere was Z, S'sli
~ burning powder in the ROOM She caiieu .ne
cook and they tried 10 raise Mr.. Fren N, VINO
onened his eyes and tried 10 SPEAK pioou
spurted from a bullet wound In his BREAST.
Mrs French became hystericai ana the serVaii.
oiiad tho gardener and horsemaid one OF
them called Policeman Charles IhoInseh' q .ne
West One-hundred d-and-twenty-hfth-st. a 'tation.
and the other summoned DIR. Franklin from the
Nonte0ore Home. only block away Dr.
Franklin WAS followed in few moments by Dr'
Lewold. who had been summoned from Man
haitian Hospital The doctors were unable 10
do anything for Mr. French, who died In Few
moments without being able TO speak "A heavy
fhirty-elght -calibre revolver OF American make
was found on the floor under the mantelpiece
Mr., Frenchs two sons and daughter were sum
uooned TO the house later In the day. Ills son
Ie.ter was in the office in Broad-st.. while
stephen D. French jr. was attending the faIe
Law School in New-Haven. The house In the
boulevard was owned by his surviving wife. lie
Formerly owned q handsome summer home In