The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-04-16
DEAD IN HIS OFFICE
Ex- Judge Charles H. Voor-
his Killed Himself
Yesterday,
SAD END OF ANEVENTFUL LIFE
Left a Letter to His Wife Telling
Her He Vas Going to Die
His Career.
'AD END OF ANlEEV,EINTFUL LIFE

Ex-Judge Charles H. yoorhis, one Of
the best known lawyers in this State.
killed himself last night in his Office on
the third floor of the Davidson Building,
Washington street.
The discovery was made by the ~janitor.
who, a few minutes after six o'clock, as
is his usual custom, opened the door of
Mr.. Voorhis' office to sweep it out.
He was shocked TO find the lawyer lying
on the floor. A thin stream of blood
frickled from a hole in his right temple
just above the eye and the head rested
in a pool of blood. Mr.. Voorhas was
lying on his back and his right hand
clutched a revolver. one chamber of
which was empty.
On the table under which his head rest
ed were three letters. The first of these
was addressed. Deliver this to Mrs.
Voorhis, ia Clinton place Tt enclosed
a five dollar bill and briefly added that
he intended to commit suicide and begged
she would forgive him, but he could not
live any longer. He asked her to take
care of his watch and chain. The writ
ing was in the lawyers usual clear and
deliberate style, but there was a change
in the line telling about the suicidal act
he intended to commit. your unhappy
t1uSbdtlQ MAS SIdhIy WFlutcu, Jul tilc
signature was firm.
The second letter was to the Greenviile
Building and Loan Association respect
held by the institution. and the third was
addressed to the Historic Publishing
Company of New York. These two let
tiers were not opened, but were sent to
their destination.
When the janitor made the sad dis
covery he at once sent word to Mr..
Voorhls' house, and the dead man's
son hurried to the Office. When he ar
rived there a policeman was on guard
keeping back a crowd of curious people.
Clerks from the adjoining offices in the
building damned the stairway. Young
Mr.. yoorhis took charge of the letter
to his mother and the property of his
father, n then went back nome to
break the sad news to his mother and
sisters
a few minutes after his departure DR..
Converse, the county physician, examined
the body and gave a permit for its removal
to Clifton place. 1t reached there about
seven O'Clock. and the scene in the house
hold was extremely affecting. Mrs. VooI-
his has been suffering for many years
and the news, of her husbands death il
is feared, will kill her. She has been in
an hospital and only returned a few days
ago. no, - ssaat
Mr.. voorhis was born, in Hackensack,
Bergen county, sixtE7fye years ago. He
studied law afteEsshese graduated from
Rutgers College, ard was admitted to
the bar in 1856. In 1868 he organized the
Bergen County National Bank and the
made President of both institutions. At
that time he was repHted to be the wealth.
lest man in Bergen county He became
interested i'm politics and was elected to
Congress in 1879, and again in 1881. Prior
to that time heehad been appointed Law
Judge. Of the county. He speculated
heavily unreal estate, ard became so much
involved that his two banks failed. That
was about the time he was in Congress.
Some time after he was indicted by the
United States Grand Jury for ~misappro-
and was tried IN the United States District
Court at Trenton.
But his lawyer discovered that the
words in the indictment, against the
peace of the State some one had run a
pen. and as this is one of the most essen
fial parts of an indictment, Mr.. Voorhfs'
lawyer had no difficulty in quashing it on
the ground of "a flaw" Before a new
indictment could be found, the statute of
Limitations operated, and Mr.. Voorhees, es-
capped trial.
He afterward took up the practice of
law in Jersey City, but although he was
full. He had been despondent for some
time. and his family and intimate friends
feared that he would kiln himself. He
leaves a wife. a son and two daughters.