New-York tribune., 1903-07-17
SUICIDE LEFT SHORTAGE
CONFEDERATE ARRESTED.
Grand Larceny Charged by Com
merciaL Union assurance Com pany.

L
Unable to face the disgrace which awaited him
because Of his defalcations G. P. Osborne. head
of the claims department of the Commercial
Union Assurance Company of London, put a
bullet through his head in the Hotel Rocking
| ham, Portsmouth, N. H, yesterday. Warrants
were out for him and his two confederates one
of whom arrested last night. The arrest of
the other is hourly expected. Local officials of
the company not greatly surprised at the
suicide, for they knew that Osborne knew of the
examination of his books; in fact, he made
partial confession before he left this city.
On July Osborne went away suddenly and
an investigation, begun at once. revealed queer
methods of bookkeeping and an apparent short
age of between 5000 and $4,000 Several per-
sons seemed to be implicated in the crooked
work, and the authorities were informed.
Yesterday official of the company to
Magistrate Breen, in the Centre-st police court
accompanied by Assistant District Attorney Per
kins. and obtained warrants charging grand
larceny These were given to Detective Ser
geant Robert McNaught, who succeeded in get
ting one of his men at his country home last
night.
The plan of operation simple. Confeder
ates would insure odd jobs. repair work or
something similar. Claims for loss would then
be turned in. Osborne would certify to the cor
rectness of these. presuma bly, dividing the profits
with his coufederates. Through their books the
officials of the insurance company learned of
these affairs and if Osborne had not killed him
self he would have had to face charges.
On July Osborne left the city suddenly go
ing to Montreal. From that city he went to
Portsmouth, registering at the Hotel Rocking
ham last Monday Alfred Ross, of New York
He was quiet, even retiring there but dressed
well. Mail came to him addressed in his
sulned name
Yesterday Acting Manager Miller heard a re-
volver shot in "Rosss' room. Reaching over
the transom, he managed to remove some fur
niture braced against the door, then found the
suicide stretched the floor. still breathing
He was fully dressed On the dressing table
a pencilled note:
My name is not Alfred Ross but c. P Os-
borne, No. 5S Wiiam-st. New-York City"
There were also several letters. addressed to
Mrs Newbod. Second-ave., New-Brighton,
Staten Island; P. S. Osborne Walter Pears. No.
90 Broadway, New-York; A NJ. Mitchell, attor-
ney, Mutual Life Building Nassau-st New
York Edward Walker, Fifth-ave. and B. F.
Quackenbush secretary, New-York Council
Royal Arcanum. No. 763 Greenwich-st, New
York. There was, too, list of persons to
whom he asked that word of his death be sent
by telegraph. package containing 1920
gold watch and two revolvers was found in his
baggage.
While not surprised at the suicide local Off
cials of the insurance company could conceive
no adequate motive for the defalcation Os-
borne had no bad habits-in fact, he apparently
lived exemplary life A desire to provide for
his family luxures beyond his means was the
only reason they could give.
Osborne was about forty-five years old. and
was born in England He lived with his wife and
two children, in England. at the Perrepont
apartments in Brooklyn. where he surrounded
them with every comfort. The family asso-
ciated with good society there. and spent money
freely. For sixteen years Osborne had been
with the company in the claims department.
Possessing good education. he careful,
temperate. and enjoyed the confidence of his as
sociates.
Among the letters left by the suicide was one
to Arthur A Mitchell a lawyer. with offices
in the Mutual Life Building. Mr.. Mitchell is
out of town at present A telegram sent to
him from Portsmouth telling of the suicide.
Walter Pears of No. 20 Broadway an official
of a mining concern, said that P. S. Osborne
was the dead mans son. He had made arrange
ments to have the letter left In that name for
Warded. Said he:
I've known Mr. Osborne for long time, in a
business way, but never intimately. We were
both EngliShman; in fact, that's the way 1
came to be introduced to him. I never at
his home, and never went out with him. 1 al
home life, and considered him to be of the
highest character. I'm greatly shocked to hear
of his death under such circumstances
Colonel A. H. Wray, the local manager of the
company, confirmed yesterday the stories of
Osbornes stealings. We don't know yet said
he, Just what the amount will be- but we think
somewhere between $1,000 and $4,000 We sus-
pected him, and for two weeks have been exam
lining his books. Mr. Osborne had been with this
company for sixteen years, and had the conf
dence of every one connected with the estab-
llshment. He was church member, and cid
not drink gamble. He spent more than he
made, that's ALL
Portsmouth. N. H. July 16.-G. P. Osborne, of
No 5S William-st.. New-York City, committed
suicide by shooting at the Hotel Rocking
ham to-day. Osborne arrived here Monday
night, and after dinner wrote several let
ters to New-York people. This forenoon en-
ployes of TIE hotel heard a shot in the room
forced the door, though it was locked and barri-
caded with chairs and found the man dying
He lived about half an hour after the shooting.
but was unconscious He apparently was about
fifty-five years old