New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-26
DEATH DEEPENS MYSTERY.
.,,oNAs O. MORTON sUCCUMBs TO IN
EXPLAINED INJURIES.
WAS TAKEN TO Ills HOME A FORTNIGHT AGO
pApLY BRUISED AND WITH SEVERAL BONES
RRoKEN-NO RECORD OF THE CASE ON
POLICE BOOKS, AND THE MEN
WHO CARED FOR HIM MADE
NO EXPLANATION.

Thomas O. Merton. an aged manufacturer OF
-. eunnlics at No PA Franklin-st., Manhat-
.or died early yesterday morning at his home, NO
ooS raf,vcttc-avc from injuries received in some
,r,oUn manner on February II. On that day he
ca. horne into his house 10y cabman and another
- who arc unknown. He was hardly able to
Lii and looked as II he had been knocked down
- draecod along the street. In the confusion
..or5,rc Mr. Mortons arrival tie Catman and his
oo,,narion disappeared. They made no explana-
$50, 4 careful search has been fruitless in locating
~, and Yesterday the mystery TO the cause of
A. Nfor,ons condition which resulted in his death
MS as deep as II was two weeks ago
or February Il he left his office in good spirits
-. ,.eo o'clock. At AS o'clock he carried into
NJ home with broken bones and bruised body. DR.
!, u Clarke of No. 6SsA Greenc-ave., was sum-
,oned and found that there were three broken
ths his right ankle broken and his spine in
,,r,l soon after this he became unconscious. and
s,v. r4te~ res aimed consciousness hut his mind
as NOT entirely clear He remained in that con-
dition until De dled
c,~,rsr Delays physician. Clots Of blood were
,u,d in ,hc heart and lungs. They were due to the
,,rco ribs which pierced and pressed against
hos organs The collar-bones and other bones
80 found broken and shattered. To-day the
Co,ooer Will make personal investigation and
-,h.l,v VIII order inquest. The police have
aI,.afv become active and. although up 10 the
.,seut time they have been unsuccessful. the
death ~ Mr.. Morton has spurred them to increased
efforts
one o. the few things that NJ. Morton could
.,,e-,ber about his accident that policeman
,ood over him and was going TO call an ambulance
,ter be- gave MS address and asked 70 be taken
homo in cab In spite Of this no report Of any
s,,b accident has been made al any Of the police
Stations
He
u,ubers standing on a crowded platform. The
.e,or ~ usssng Sands-st came back 10 him be-
t-e he died. Tho mex, thing he remembered was
-, a policeman was standing over him. lie re-
rsmherol clearly The officers appearance and de-
scritcd him as "a large. handsome man with a
Nack rustache That he could identity him. II
r. found him Mr.. Morton was certain. He used 10
cav that II ho could get off his bed for four hours
ne whole affair could be solved
The family believe that Mr.. Morton was either
,rsbed If a crowded in front Of another car
~ had taken the wrong car. and in changing was
-,n down The mystery is that such an accident
copd occur without having a single witness VINO
can be found.
p e whitney a grandson. has devoted his time
:, clearing up the case. and has searched the
roice records for some clew- He has visited all
the sbors IN the ne.ghborhoOd of the BrookIyh
end Of the Bridge and watched for an oihcer VINO
answered the description. II has all ended IN
That Mr. Morton was not assaulted by robberS Is
shown hy the fact that his watch and walie''
Containing considerable money, were not gone, o,
Wr N0rton's funeral viii be held I0-morr92w,
night Al The house in Lafayette-aye. Inc DuIl az
NH i,S' he In Evergreen Cemetery He was born IN
NaVWYork Citv In lS26 At an early age he ana
~ Two brothers were LEFT orphans. The M0rtohs
race their family directly back 10 the Mayfower,
90 ne bows had rich relatives But they were
nevertheless obliged TO strike out for themselves
rboras was hound out to a man-of-war by
+elsiiye lie had nearly served his time when ne
Va, away Later he became apprentced 10 vi,
sr,i.b and went 10 live in Flushing. Long 1sland
1yhere ne remained until nineteen years ago. ne
US a iohher IN tinWare and hardware. ana manu-
foct,,red many articles on which he held patents
since 1850 he ma lived in Brooklyn, ana mas manu-
fectured bakers supplies in Frankin-st. lie vas
ouiet man and took part in social or cInD
srsrs He leaves three daughters, MIS- D W.
Wbegy Mrs l.. II. Bell and Miss A. z. Morton