New-York tribune., 1901-09-17
MYSTERY IN SUICIDE.
EXPORTING FIRMS CONFIDENTIAL
CLERK SHOOTS HIMSELF AFTER
BEING ASKED ABOUT CHECK
-DEFALCATION DENIED

Sidney B. Cohen, twenty-seven years old. conf
dental clerk for the exporting firm of Davis. Allen
S Co.. at No "A Stone-st., committed suicide in
lis office yesterday by shooting himself in the left
breast.
Mr.. Davis, of the hrm denied that Cohen
defaulter. At the Shoe and Leather National Bank
all information refused 1t is, nevertheless,
known that check for 1880 drawn on the bank.
signed Davis, Allen & Co, and payable to Sidney
b. Cohen, received there yesterday. 1t came
through the Clearing House, which shows that it
had been presented for payment In some other
bank, and in due course of Clearing House pro-
iure had reached the Shoe and Leather National
Bank.
G. Z. Sayres, paying teller at the bank who is
handwriting expert and such figured in the
Molineux trial. discovered that there was something
irregular about the signature and called up the
firm on the telephone. Mr. Davis said to his clerk:
Cohen. what do you know about this check for
$500 on the Shoe and Leather National Bank
Cohen. under some pretence, walked into the next
room. where he fired bullet into his left breast.
The shot heard by Mr.. Davis and others in
the building. and considerable excitement was
created. Cohen was taken of and the police
called. At that moment the telephone bell
rang again. The paying teller at the bank becom-
ing impatient. rang to attract the attention of Mr.
Davis to the fact that he still waiting for
Mr.. Davis ran the telephone. Excuse me-" ne
teephoned II almost Frustrated. 1 spoke to
my bookkeeper about the check and the has
Cohen was in the volunteer service with the 22d
Regiment of this city. After the Spanish-American
War he elected first lieutenant of Company H.
and retained that pla up the present time. He
lived at Arverne, Long Island, with his mother
and stepfather.
Anson G.. Davis, senior member of the firm, told
the following:
Mr. Cohen whom have known a
Unable young and strictly honest, sit
ting on the ohe~ side of this fiat top desk from
There was nothing unusual in his manner, and
was talking to him more than three minutes
and walked into the office. Soon. afterward
beard the sound of the pistol shot and rushed into
The rear rccm Mr.. Cohen lying his back
en- the floor with his arms extended. He died be-
Asked about the ST. 500 chsck and the reports that
the confidential clerk had been short in his ac-
counts Mr. Davis said:
All of those stories arc absolutely untrue Ask
the Shoe and Leather Bank people whether I am
man whose word is to be relied upon. It's good
for sl50000 with them. Since the deplorable death
work his accounts They have demonstrated
that they straight to a penny. | have also had
my account in the Shoe and Leather Bank made
up 10 to-day. The bank account also is absolutely
correct. Mr.. Cohen was absolutely honest. / give
you my word as a man that he died not owing
lis one dollar.
Friends of the dead man called at the office
sexton of the Temple Emanuel for it's removal
Asked about reports that Cohen had been specu-
lating recently in Wall Street Mr.. Davis said:
Most of the boys here have been speculating at
different times. and perhaps he took an occa-
sionnl flyer with the rest.