The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-07-17
THE BODY OF J. c. DURANT
IDENTIFIED BY HIS SISTER, MRS
 YARD NICHOLS, OFlTHIS CITY.

Despondent Ovor Death of His Wife Jumped Overheard from New Haven Liner-Relatives Expected Him in This City Yesterday.
 Mrs Ward Nichols of 57 Williams street left early yesterday morning for New York to take charge of the re- mains of her brother, James c. Durant, who committed suicide by jumping into the sound from a New Haven line steamer. as detailed in yesterdays is- sue of this paper. While in New York city, MT. Durant lived at the Chapin Home for the Aged, at No. 155 East Sixty-sixth street. Shortly after the departure of Mrs. Nichols for New York yesterday, let ter arrived at her home, directed to her. It was from the Chapin Home in New York, and read in part as follows:
 New York, July 15. Mrs. Nichols:
 Your brother left the home Friday morning, saying thatshe was going over to Staten Island for the day. He has mot returned since then, and we thought perhaps he may have gone to your home in New Haven Will you kindly let us know if he Is in New Haven, as we feel worried over his absence?
 (Signed) The Matron,
 Chapin Home, New York
 MT. Durant started for. this city Fri day night, the same day he told the n,atron he was going to Staten Island He was coming in response to a letter written by his sister Mrs. Ward Nichols, and which was found in his coat. It was @ private family note and was addressed to My Dear Brother, !" and signed by Mrs Ward Nichols. It was dated June g. The letter asked him to come to New Haven and board a few weeks in the country for the ben eft of his health.
 BROODED FOR FIVE YEARS.
 The despondency of MT. Durant is traced to the death of his wife, which occurred five years ago in New Hamp- shire. At that time Mrs. Durant went to the home of her mother in New Hampshire, who was i'll with an attack of la grippe. She expected to take care of her mother during her illness. Af- ter a short stay in the country, how ever, Mrs. Durant was taken suddenly i'll with pneumonia, and she died week later.
 After the death of his wife MT. Dur ant went back to New York city, where he was employed by the firm of Christy Brothers in Pearl street, wholesale manufacturers of confectionery. The Messrs. Moses and James Christie oi this firm were uncles of the deceased After their death he continued for some time to work for their successors His business was that of salesman Nearly two years after the death oi his wife he retired from active busi- ness, and spent several months a, fIillsdale, N H. He didn't enjoy the cold winters In the country, and re- turned to New York city, where he has remained since. Although his healtf has been good of recent years, relatives noticed the despondency of Mir. Dur. ant caused by the death of his wife. Il was to overcome this despondency that Mrs. Nichols invited her brother to come to New Haven.
 Miss Nichols, a daughter of Mrs Ward Nichols said that the family haG planned to take an excursion to thu country yesterday, and they expected the brother to be present. She saidrthe marks upon the clothing gave the fam lily an opportunity of identifying thu body easily.
 Miss Nichols said that MT. Durant who Is her uncle. had visited New Ha ven often, but had never lived here He was well off and in no distress financially. She assigned despondenc. as the cause for his jumping into tn, water.
 Mrs. Ward Nichols is the only on,