The sun., 1900-08-31
RANKIN COMMITTED SUICIDE.
He wrote 20 His Mother-in-Law. Declaring
His Intention TO XIII Himself.

The mystery In the death Of James Rankin.
whose body was found on Wednesday floating
near Fort Wadsworth with two 6atirons fast-
ened 10 II by picture wire was cleared MP yes
terday by the receipt by the police here OF
letter from Luke Colleran. chief OF Chicago
detectives The letter was one which had
been sent by Rankin TO his mother in-law, Mrs.
Hannah Britain Of io3S4 Avenue NJ, Chicago
on Aug 25 telling her OF his intention TO COM
NIT suicide. This letter was dated Dock
street Morris Heights where Rankin was
boarding, II read as follows:
DEAR MOTHER I am sure YOU viii be glad
TO hear that this matter Is settled AZ last, Your
patience bas been tried more. than enough
and thank YOU all for the KIND WAY yoH nave
borne with me- | CAM bear 70 i've thls way
loathe myself but Today will end II all before
you receive this shall he dead. IL Is my In,
tentiop 10 drop myself from ne staten ISAAC ,h
to Boston, @ and you S can get IllI 70 write you
letter saying was there. and my head iei' BAD
III IS such a pity did not die in the hospital
but II seems as Il must only make uoppie ana
sorry for her. II | had been any good a. al l
need not do this way, for Kate tried 50 hard 70
make me do good. She deserves a good nus sPahd.
and you know how 10 manage her. so lel her
what u wretch have bean, and make her hate
me and turn 20 some other better man Inc
furniture is all stored az That place N pnilG, a.
my trunk. IL would cost more 70 express my
trunk TO you than they are worth. so DOM
snd fSGH' % S % much Se money
SO, sood-by 70 all andtorsive me ior NE uo10is
ih9Se gyensOS gssSss dom, write 20 AMSs MY People in
Scotland about me, Itwould only make them
miserable and would mott do any good; lwrlte 70
let you know, because | think II you knew was
dead Kate will be free again, and you neea nov
be afraid OF my troubling you any more j., NJ
Mrs Britain turned the letter over TO the
police in Chicago. hoping that the New YORK
police might be able 10 prevent Rankin from
killing himself, but the letter arrived too late
The letter shows that Rankin must have been
the man who jumped OF the staten Island
ferryboat Westneld last Saturday afternoon
2s she was making her $50 trip from 81 george
Those who had chance to see this man peioro
he leaped over the rail into the sea noticed mat
as he walked TO the rail he carried MS Tlgnt
hand against his waist as though he was holu-
ing something up that was inside his coat; Nheh
the police. after finding Rankin s BODY, re-
mcmbered this fact about the suicide on the
ferryboat they we're pretty sure that thS nun nun
TO have been correct, as Rankins body had been
flve days In the water when found
Yesterday afternoon three fellow workmen
of Rankin's from the shipyards at Norris
Heights went TO- Staten Island and asked Cor
oner Seayer TO hold Rankin's body for Few
his burial. The men said that Rankin had had
no trouble at the Morris Heights yards, as far
after getting his pay and told the boarding
house people that he would not be home that
night. When his body. was found "Wednesday
his friend Bateman told the police that he was
confident that he had been murdered because
Of the troubles he had had as non-union man;
As such Bateman said no had been ho4nded
for years by union men. who prevented MN
from getting work. Bateman's theory was
Knocked out pretty well, however. BY, the au-
the body and that death was due TO drown
ing. II was not discovered where Rankin
got the fatirons. They looked As though they
They weighed together twelve pounds, They
were tied under his coat and vest and would
therefore attract no attention. although RAN
kin probably had TO hold them up when he
moved.