The sun., 1896-09-24
JOSEPH HARR1soN,s SUICIDE.
A Young Bank Clerk Shoots Himself Altar
Being ReprImnnded.

Joseph Harrison. the son OF John f. Harrison
of 23 West 120th street. ended his own life yes.
terday because, as he said in q note he left be.
hind him. he had nothing more to live for
Harrison was 2S years old. For eight years, or
more. he held the lowest position in the Mount
Morris Bank. at the corner of Park avenue and
125th street lie was taken into the bank as a
messenger because his father was friend of
the officers of the bank. Tho elder Harrison
wanted his con to work. and thus, in time, to
become self-supporting. AS the years went on
the bank officers found young Harrison to be
lacking in business ability and without
ambition. he was not in their judR-
ment man who could be promoted with
safety. His work was done in an altogether per-
fupctory way Had it not been for the esteem in
which his father was held by Preside ent Payne
and Cashier Livermore the young man would
have been discharged long ago. Lately Har-
rison had been particularly lax in the perform
ance of his duties. He stayed away from the
bank altogether one day last week. and Mr..
Livermore notified him not to return to his du-
ties until the President of the bank had an OK
PLANTATION. The explanation was lame, but. for
the old reason he was still permit ed to remain
On Tuesday President Payne reprimanded him
again.
VINO @ Is 10 years olG, nis wrongdoing was not
keep father in constant grief and suspense
since Mrs. Harrlsons death, fve years ago the
son had grown more and more out of his
fathers control. Young Harrison was very fond
OF his mother.
on Tuesday Harrison was at the bank rs
usual. Even after his reprimand from Prosi-
dent Payne he did not seem to be troubled or
chagrined. friends who met him on l25th
street on Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night
did not notice that he was at all detected. After
dinner he joked with his sister while he was
writing the note which gave the reason for his
sclf.destruction. He went out when he had
finished the note, and did not come In until
O'Clock yesterday morning. His father heard
him enter at that time. No one In the house
heard any unusual sound after that.
At aquRrter past O'Clock yesterdy morning
one of the servants, Minnie Henuessy, came
upon young Harrson's body in the furnace room
In the cellar. She saw that he had shot himself
while sitting on wicker clothes hamper that
was placed against one OF the cellar pillars. He
had tied himself to the pillar with n piece of
clothes line. The screams OF the servant ca used
Mr. Harrison and his daughter 10 90 down
into the cellar. When they saw .JosepL's body
they both tainted. The servant had tainted be-
fore they reached the room. Tho neigh bors,
who alarmed by the cries of the women had
entered the house. found Mr.. Harrison recov-
ering. The others were still unconscious. For
O. moment 1t looked as though they had all been
shot,
Frederick w. Livermore. cashier of the Mount
Morris Bank, said yesterday:
while Harrison was not q capable man and
did many things we did not like we have no
reason TO doubt his honesty. In hia position he
hnd no opportunity to do wrong here What
ever money he had To handle in his connection
with the collsctinR department was finally set-
tied up ench day before he went home"