The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-03-19
A CASE OF SUICIDE.

and there appeared a man, somewhat de
sheveled as to hair and general appearance
and with eyes that were wild, but neyer-
theless the man whom I sought.
81 introduced myself, stated my busi-
ness and then began to talk facts and fig
ures with him.. For a time be seemed to
follow Inc, but frequently / caught him
looking toward the door Of the private Of
fee and making slight, seemingly involun-
tary movements in that direction. Finally
he excused himself and ven into the 9TH
er room. I was somewhat surprised and a
little i'll at ease, but remained where I was,
although the time was passing rapidly. and
I wanted to get out of the town BY the
next south bound train.
"Suddenly I heard the slamming OF q
desk cover in the next room and almost
Immediately aftefward the report Of q PTS
toll shot. At the first sound ] had started
to my feet, and at the second I rushed to
the office door and burst it open. b q
sight met my eyesl can see 10 yet Juss
as vividly as at that moment. The inner
office was a tiny room, and the only FUR
nishings were an office desk with aroh top
and in front of it an ordinary swing chair.
Beside this chair, face downward, lay the
manufacturer with his blood Streaming
ITCu q GGTflDl6 WOuuQ III 4 kcab ~kARsS-
"For the I'M I was paralyzed. My
first thought was that a murder had been
committed, but the sight Of o revoiger ly-
ing just beyond the tips of the fingers Of
the outstretohed right hand convinced me
that it was a suicide. But I wasted little
time in c~onjectures. Altheugh6 hated to
do SO, l rushed to the side of the fallen
man, turned him over on his back and
felt for his heart. There was not an APP
parent pulsation. Death had been almost
instantaneous.
H'The man was dead, and / was alone
with him. And then the danger Of my Eit-
uation dawned upon me. Here / was, q
stranger in the town. My name was
known, because I had registered at the ho-
tel. But then that would do me no good
Fully half a dozen persons knew Of my
visit to the place, because had inquired
the direction of that number OF people.
The man was dead. All the circumstances
would lead to the suspicion that ! WAS the
murderer.
"The situation was appalling. I stood
still in the center of that room with the
body of the dead man before me and
thought as never before. I could not go
away. That would be but another bit Oh
| circumstantial evidence I was afraid to
| ummon help because I feared TO face the
first person. 1 knew that they sometimes
executed justice somewhat summarly in
| the south, and I had no desire to ornaments
the limb of some tree or the crossbar OF a
telegraph pole for a crime which I had NOT
committed.
ssBut plainly I must do something. II
matters were delayed, some a might APP
pear upon the scene. Some way Of escape
must be devised and at once too. Sudden
ly / remembered the slamming Of the desk,
and something told me that the secret OF
the matter might be contained in 1t. i
turned to the desk and tried the rolling
top. 1t was locked tightly and refused to
bulge. I seemed to be foiled in this dirsc-
ton, but I was certain that the secret OF
the whole thing was in that desk, and SO,
horrible as the task was, / searched the
pockets of the dead ma and finally found
the desired key. With feverish haste I
threw open the desk and almost shouted
as I saw there, lying in a row, three open
letters. Hastily / scanned them, and then
/ knew that ! was safe.
sit was a case of premeditated suicide.
The letters were addressed to the mans
wife and to his two partners. All told OF
unsuccessful business ventures and of his
fear to face those who would lose because
of his acts. And fortunately for me there
was a brief note lying near containing n
hastily scrawled apology to me for his act.
with an expression of his hope that I would
not be at all i-nconvenienced by it.
"The reading of these letters gave me
courage. I ran to the Office door n
shouted for help. A passing man came to
my aid and soon others Joined US. They
knew the man, and it was only a matter
of a few minutes before matters were
Strengthened out all right as far as I was
concerned. | had to remain over until the
next day to appear before the %ooroner's
jury and tell my story. That duty per-
formed, I packed up and tool the first
train for home
"You shall be queen of my home" said
young Mr., Northside enthusiastically
when Miss Perrysville had given her
promise to marry him.
"I'd rather be- the chancellor OF the ak
chequer. George, dear, " replied the prac-
teal maiden. -Pittshurg Chronicle-Teie-
/ oraph