Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-08-17
BANK OFFICIALS SUICIDE
Leonidas Darlington, Citizens Bank TEL
Ter at MiddlGlGWn, Shoots Himself.
DEED COMMITTED AT HIS DESK
III Health and OverWork Prob
ably the Cause.
HIS FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS STRAIGHT

HIS flNANUlAL AGGUUNlo 3 SlhRl61l |
Leonidas Darlington, teller of the
Citizens National Bank of Middletown,
was found dead in the bank about 8
o'clock Saturday morning with bullet
wound in his head. He is believed to
have killed himself on account of i'll
health or overwork.
The dead body was found by John s.
Crouch, the cashier of the bank.
Cashier Crouch announced Saturday
that Mr.. DarlingtoE's IS accounts with
the bank and with other institutions
are correct, and those who knew the
man express the belief that his deed
must have been inspired by overwork
or poor health and not by any trouble
with the bank. Tho dead man left no
letter or message explaining his deed.
In addition to being the teller in the
bank. Mr.. Darlington was treasurer of
| the town, treasurer of the Middletown
| Building and Loan Association and
treasurer of the Middletown Light and
Water Commission. His accounts in
| all these organizations are reported to
| be all right.
| A striking thing in connection with
the story of the suicide is shown in n
statement made to the Gazette
reporter by Edwin II. Cochran, Jr..
| Saturday. Mr.. Cochran resides in
| Middleton and left there on the early
train, unconscious that a tragedy had
been enacted at the bank. When told
that Mr.. Darlington had shot himself,
he was very much surprised and said:
Il heard Joseph Biggs, the presi-
dent of the bank, as came by rattling
4 : ny,,l
heard Crouch. the cashier, yell to Biges
that Lea was in the bank and he could
get in.
Up to the time Mr.. Cochran passed
out of range of the bank, Mr.. Biggs
had not gained entrance.
CASHIERS WIFE HEARD REPORT.
1t was not long afterwards that Mrs.
Crouch-the Crorch residence adioin-
ing the bank, which is On Broad street
heard the report of pistol shot.
Fearing that something was wrong, she
sent word to her husband, who had
gone up town, to come back. He re-
turned and unlocking the door of the
bank, entered. Behind the iron screen
in the rear Of the window where the
deposits were received, he found Mr..
Darlington's body lying on the floor.
The teller had evidently stood in front
of the window when he had shot him
self, using the 40-calibre, Remington
revolver that is kept in the bank for
emergencies. A wound over tho right
ear, from which flowed his lifeblood,
testified to the determination to kill
himself.
Mr.. Crouch had DIR. Irving s. Val
landigham summoned immediately, and
the doctor pronounced Mr.. Darlington
dead. The body was removed to the
Darlington home on Green street, a
stones throw from the bank, and a
mat was placed over the pool of blood
on the bank floor. Word was sent to
the coroner in this city. and he left on
the 1l.04 train to make his investiga-
tion.
ACCOUNTS REPoRTED STRAIGHT.
An audit Of the books of the bank
was begun at once, and the statement
is officially made that the accounts OF
Mr.. Darlington at the bank are correct.
His books as treasurer of the several
, organizations were also examined and
they were likewise reported correct, SO
far as the examination had proceeded.
Mr. Darlington was about 48 years OF
! age. He was a son of Samuel Darling
: ton and was born in Newark. In 1861
he became clerk in the general store
! of William Reynolds at that place, and
Z afterwards was employed by George
, Evans. He went to Middletown in 1877
and was clerk and cashier in the store
l of S. M. Reynolds Il Co, remaining
, there until 1884 or 1885, when he
! entered the bank as teller upon the
! elevation of John S. Crouch as cashier
!. to succeed j. r. Hall.
, Since residing in, Middletnwn Mr..
: Darlington married Miss Margaret
n Jones, daughter of Charles r. Jones o.
Middletown, and she and one son, agec
about - years, survive him. Samue
Darlington of No. 1912 West ThirC
street, this city, is a brother.
q Mr.. Darlington was a past master O.
u Union Lodge, No. 8, A. J.. A. M. Hi
!; was an occasional attendant upon tn,
9 services of the Methodist Episcopa
n Church, of which his wife is an activ,
I, member.
n A month or so ago, Mr.. Darlington
! was appointed by Resident Associat,
!. Justice William G. Spruance to be on'
of the auditors of the accounts of tn,
road commissioners of New Castlt
y county. The other auditor was Calef
Q R. Steward, cashier Of the Nationa
It Bank OF Wilmington and Brandywine
r of this city.
It In politics Mr. Darlington was 1
G Democrat, but he was not an activ,
n politician.
o His deed was great surprise ant
shock to the people of Middletown, ant
especially to those who knew him best
who trusted him in every particular
n Citizens discussed his death with tear
,f in their eyes. lie is described as
d home man, and according to account
n lived unostentaticusly. His estat
n may aggregate 800, 600. 1t is said tina
% ne never made any threats to take hi
l. life.
t. DUE TO ovERwoRK. &c.
Magistrate William r. Reynolds d
Middletown, who had close scquaint
ance with Mr.. Darlington, ascribes hi
y deed to the effects of overwork. II
8 says that he had been working at hi
Is books Mt the bank after hours. and wa
d frequently there from II until l o'clocl
ii Mt night. He would drop in at tn
l. magistrates office, and Mr.. Reynold
ID noticed that he was very nervous frog
ovorwork and was afraid he woul
break down.
MIR. Reynolds last saw him aliv
D. about 10 o'clock Friday night, when b
1t came into the Office, and was YER
d nervous. The teller arose Saturda
l. about Gas o'clock, and went to tn
Is bank without eating breakfast. No
N long afterwards he was lying dead
le The magistrate satisfied himself b
looking over the audited books at th