The sun., 1900-12-09
THE SENTINEL A SUICIDE.
ASTOR BATTERY NAV. GrN ~ HAND.
HOLDS Up YIvE MEN.
Two Of Them Detectives lie Backs Them
Against . sisth Avenue House and kiiis
Himself In Front OF Them They
Had Feiiowed Him to Prevent II.

Against StHth avenue House ana ktits
Himself In Front OF Them They
Had Followed Him to Prevent II.
Theatresoers who had rot OF the cars
at Sixth avenue and Forty second street
about 7:<S o'clock last night saw 3 woman
come running up Sixth avenue from Forty
first street shrieking and endcavorina to
attract the attention OF Policemen Hasse-
miller and Lewes, who stood on tho corner.
Tho policemen didn't wait until the woman
had reached them. As she turned and
pointed down Sixth avenue. they started
on q run In that direction with the crowd
after them.
On the southwest corner OF Sixth avenue
and Forty-hrst street were FIVE men backed
up against the Forty-frst street wall Of the
building. looking into the muzzle OF revolver
which young man pointed first at one ana
then at another. A the crowd came up
behind the two policemen one OF the men
against the wall took step forward and made
a motion with his arm. Instantly the re-
volver swept the length OF the limo untn II
pointed at him. while the man who held 1t
shouted:
Damn you. get back there!
The menaced man stepped back. Tho
man with the gun had his back toward the
approachi policemen. Some one gave
cry and h, still keeping the revolver pointed
toward the FIVE men. turned when the police
men were within ten feet OF him, and saw
them. Before they could cover that dis
tance even to reach his arm with their night
eticks he had put the pistol close TO his own
temple and fred The crowd cried out as
he fell to the sidewalk, which for ten feet
around him was covered with his blood.
The five mon who had been his prisoners
started forward as he fell. but several OF them
we're sick from fright. Two OF them were
Central Offics Detectives Reidy and Arm
strong. who had followed the man who had
shot himself for a distance of block trying
TO prevent him from killing himself All the
way through the block from Broadway he
had Ike the two men at distance. and at the
corner he had pinned them up against the wall
with three other men.
Tho suicide was Philip Sondheim. who
for the past three months hns been living
at the criterion Hotel Mt Broadway and Forty
first street. Sondhelm was IS years old and
was a lawyer. Since taking up his residence
at the hotel however. according to those
about the place last night. he had done very
little business and yet had money. Most OF
his time was passed In the hotel and neiGhbor-
ing ones where he srent money freely in
providing a good time for himself and those
whom he met. His brother solomon and
two sisters live at the Nendome Hotel. which
is directly opposite the Criterion and all
seemed to be on good terms until Philip
began to make threats about killing himself.
This was about a week ago II was said at the
hotel last night.
According to the stories told there sond-
helm has had the idea OF suicide constantly
since then and frequently spoke to his brother
Of IT. week ago he got check for 5000
cashed and began to drink heavily. Then
he began talking suicide In every place he
went into. He seemed so much In earnest
that his brother. two days ago. went to the
West Thirtieth street police station and told
the police Of the threats he was making.
The police said they had no power In tho
matter unless he would mako complaint.
This the brother refused to do.
All day Friday Sondheim was about the
hotel corridors declaring his intention to kill
himself and asserting that Saturday night
would see him out OF the world.
Detectives Armstrong and Reldy mako
the criterion Hotel their headquarters at
nisht and they were among those who heard
sondheim talk suicide. They also heard
him say he would kill himself on Saturday
night Both Of them knew Sondhem. They
we're inclined TO treat the matter as Joke
at first Soadheim was In his room yester-
day afternoon and when he came out about
7 o'clock Reidy and Armstrong we're standing
in front Of tho hotel. One Of them asked
sondheim where he was going.
4 think I'll 60 and kill myself.' sondheim
said. and started to walk leisurely toward
Six tn avenue.
The detectives walked along beside him
and urged him not to talk 90 foollshly. sond-
helm told them he was going to kill him.
self anyway.
When they had got across the street and
were only a few doors east OF the Vendome
Hotel he suddenly jumped ahead OF them
and turning around so that he faced them
he pulled out the pistol.
I am" ne cried.
With the revolver pointed at the two men
he backed them over to Sixth avenue. Al the
corner ono OF the detectives asked him to look
down a cellar way. pretending that a man
had fallen down there. 1t was done to get
eondheim OF his guard. but It didn't work.
for he backed tho two mon up against the wall
with three others who had come running up.
and he kept them there until the Interruption
came from another quarter.
Solomon Sondhelnl came up as his brothers
body still lay on the pavement Turning
TO one Of the detectives he was heard to say:
well. you soc what It's done One kind
word would have stopped this whole busi- |
ness
Sondheim's body was taken to the West
Thirueth street station house and there II 1
was searched. In his clothes were found 1
nine letters. all stamped and addressed. The 4
police refused to give out the addresses |
Of these There was also 30 In money. The |
revolver had the mark on II OF the Astor |
Rattery Sondhelm had been n member |