The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-03
ENDED HIS LIFE BY GAS.
"A Retired Banker CoolIy Commits
Suicide by AsphyxfatiOn.

Suicioe ny
NEW YORK. Oct. 2.-Robert McCurdy
Lord, retired banker, who for the last
six months had lived with his wife and
children in Bayonne. N. J., was found
bathroom OF house in Mount Vernon.
which he had hired expressly for his sui
eide. The preparations he had made for
the deed were extremely elaborate. Des-
pondency over money matters and a de-
sire to put his wife in a position to collect
$50 900 insurance on his life in order that
she might live in the manner to which
she was ACCUSTOMED before reyerses over
took him, are believed to be the cause of
his suicide.
He was a banker in Kansas until six
years ago. His mother died, leaving him
and his younger brother a fortune of
$500, COO. His brother is now a student
at Columbia University. The elder
brother received his Inheritance in a
lump sum, and he was made the executor
o: his brothers share Henry, his
brother, was to receive sf0e month
until he reached his majority When
Mr.. Lord came into his inheritance he
moved to New York. bought a steam
yacht and a string OF race horses and
lived extensively. Two years ago he
realized that he had spent the greater
part of his fortune, and attempted to re-
! gain his money by speculation. He lost
heavily.
About a year ago Mr.. Lord took out an
insurance policy for $50, 900 In the Mutual
Life. The policy was one which, after a
year, suicide does not iuvalidate. Mr..
Lord had not seemed downcast lately. but
he said to his wife Saturday morning:
Good bye. Annie. I'm going to the thea
tre with my brother Henry, and perhaps
l shall not be home until Monday"
He kissed his wife and children and took
a train for New York. He was going TO
Mount Vernon to kill himself He had
been in that town a few days before, and
had hired a house at 34s Summit Avenue,
Chester Hill from real estate agent He
paid S25 down and secured the keys. Then
he went to the gas company and had the
gas turned on from the street main into
the pipes in the house. He did not return
to the house until Sunday.
When Monday came and Mr.. Lord did not
return home his wife became anxious about
him. She went to Rev. Frederick NJ. Kir-
kus, whose parishIoners the family were,
and asked Mr.. Kirkus II he had seen any
thing OF her husband The rector had not
seen Mr.. Lord and at his suggestion Henry
Lord was communicated with. He had not
seen his brother, but Monday night, he re-
ceived this letter. which had evidently
been written in New York and posted in
Mount Vernon:
Dear Brother: You did not meet ms
today. ! have hired house at 34S Sum-
NIT Avenue, Mount Vernon, and IL YOU
come there you will find me in the bath
room Tell Annie. ROBERT"
The younger Lord and Mr. Kirkus went
at once to the address given.
On the floor in the bathroom was Mr.
Lords body. swollen to twice its natural
size. His head rested on a satcheI In
his mouth was a gas tube attached to a
Jet, above his head. The tube was held
securely in his mouth by strap and a
string. His eyes were bandaged with his
handkerchief and he had removed shoes
and coat. The coat hung over the side
of the bath tub. Beside him was a pot
of paste and brush. With them he had
pasted newspapers over the crevices in
the door and window and over the over
flow bath tub in the bath tub. In his
pocket the police found a loaded revolver
which he had evidently bought TO use II
the gns failed to kill him.
To nerve himself for the deed Mr. Lord
had drunk pint Of champagne and a half
flask OF whisky.
Mr.. Lords body was removed to the
morgue and will be sent to Bayonne to-
morrow. His wife is Frustrated.