The Washington times., 1902-12-04
HEAD CLERK OF BANKING
CONCERN A SUICIDE
Howard S. Goodwin Found
Dead mills Office.
BULLET HOLE IN HIS HEAD
No Apparent Motive for Deed-Body
Discovered by Night Watch
man This Morning.
BULLET HOLE IN HIS HEAD

PHILADELPHIA, Dee. Howard T.
Goodwin. young. wealthy and head clerk
Of the firm Of Csssatt & Co. bankers
and brokers, was found dead in the Of
fees Of the company in the Arcade build
ing. His body was discovered by night
Waterman. at 1879 this morning.
A bullet hole IN his head and re-
volver held il has stiGeued right hand
pointed 70 suicide. The police admit.
however. that the case is a mysterious
one. and dozen detectives are now at
work upon il.
10 Known Motive.
Goodwin was about thirty-two years
old and lived at Ridley Park in hand
some country place. There was no ap-
parent motive for the deed.
About ] o'clock This morning Edward
r. Woodward. The watchman employed
by The Pennsylvania Railroad. in making
his rounds, discovered a door unlocked
leading into the office OF the banking
firm Of Cassatt & Co. This firm oc-
cupies the entire second floor on the
south side OF the budding.
The Watchman entered the Office and
turned on the electric lights He found
the body OF man lying on a leather
covered couch In one hand the dead
man clutched revolver. the other hung
Imply to the floor. a stream OF blood
was rlckling down from d bullet hole
in lhe left temple
The Police Summoned.
Without disturbing the body Wood
ward hastened o the street and sum-
moned Fatrolmeu Davis and Casey. OF
the Twentieth and Race Streets station
house. Davis returned with Woodward
TO the Office room. while Casey rang for
the patrol wagon.
One glance by the patrol sergeant sat
isled him that Che man was dead. The
body was cold anu life probably had
been extinct for several hours.
Az the morsue the mans clothing was
searched Tor evidence which would re-
veal his Identity Numerous papers. let
ters and cards were found in Mss pock-
81. Lief which, bob che name or How
ard T. Goodwin
4 Pennsylvania Railroad annual pass
bore the same name. as did a recent
for twenty shares Of United Gas I'm
provement Company stock. gold
watch. fob and pair OF link Gun but
tons each bore the initials n. r. c.
roll Of bank notes aggreeating $3.50
also WAS found in the dead mans pock-
cts.
Among the papers found were several
blank checks and receipted bills. each OF
which bore The heading -Cassat, d. Co.
Goodwin was treasurer OF the Coium-
bi7 Coal Mining Co. and for twenty-five
years confidential clerk OF Cassa,t d Co
He enjoyed perfect health. and his re-
lations with his wife and child in their
home al Ridley Park are described as
ideal There appears absolutely no
reason Why Mr. Goodwin should have
taken his own life.
Mr.. Thomas. manager of Cagqatr a.
Co. confirms ttis view by stating that
Mr Goodwins accounts with the firm
are in perfect order. Coroner Duean
states that he can find nothing to ex-
plain the suicide
a revolver found ia Mr. Goodvin's
right hand has led the police TO aC-
vance the theory Of suicide. The inti-
mate friends Of the dead man refuse TO
accept this view Of the case and they
state openly that they suspect foul play.
They point out that it would be an easy
task for a murderer wishing to avert
suspicion to place the revolver in the
hand OF the victim
j. O. Kerbaugh. brother-In-law Of
Mr. Goodwin. went early 20 The moreue
today to identify Mr.. Goodwin's body
and arrange for its removal He does not
believe Goodwin is a suicide.