New-York tribune., 1903-03-30
YALE NAN A SUICIDE.
Shoots Himself at Hotel Manhattan
Had Consumption.
WAS 1905 CLASS ORATOR.

Herman Bowman Esher, twenty-five years old,
of the class of 05 at Yale University, one of the
most popular men in the university, a member
of The Yale Daily News" editorial board, a
prominent candidate for the Craftsmanship of the
board of editors next term, and the orator of his
class, whose home is at No 234 Winchester ave-,
Chicago, killed himself by putting bullet
through his head time yesterday in his
room at the Hotel Manhattan, in this city. De-
spondency due to the knowledge that he was
incuraby i'll with consumption is supposed to
have caused the act
Esher registered at the hotel from NeW-Haven
on March ~. He had no baggage other than q
small hand bag He was quiet and had little to
say to other guests Of the house., and was rarely
seen about the hotel corridors. On Saturday
evening he was about the hotel. and is thought
to have gone to his room early.
1t being Sunday little was thought Of it when
Esher did not appear during the day. At 1880
p Il. a maid went to his room. She found the
door locked. She knocked, but received no re-
sponse, and informed the hotel management.
The door was forced and Esher was found lying
dead on the bed, clad IN pajamas. At the edge
of the pillow lay revolver. In the right temple
was gaping bullet wound. No one in the hotel
had heard the shot fired.
On a table in the room was found pencilled
note, which said:
Please notify my parents, ,. n6;tE B Esher No RaI9 4
banks, No e CoIlege-sf,. New-Hayen- Better hold
letter until he comes BOWMAN ESHEh-
On the table also were two letters, sealed One
was addressed to "E. B. Esher, No. 234 Win
chester-ave, Chicago and the other to "R. M.
Fairbanks. No % College-st,. New-HaVen'
Conn"
There also was found a letter on the letter.
head of the Marine National Bank, Of Buffalo.
and signed IS. NJ. Clement, Pres" This letter
was addressed to Bowman Esher, No. 2O3 Dur
fee, New-Haven, Conn" It was written under
date of March % and read as follows:
Dear Sir. ineIose telegram Just Teoeysd ns4 Ts9 fF0
you I very much regret his decision. It may Be
you can bring some influence to bear upon him m TO-
viii probably follow the telegram ! find anything
that will be of use TO you. I will wire you to-
morrow.
Coroner Jackson took charge of the letters. and
informed Mr.. Fairbanks, of New-Haven, Of the
suicide.
The police said they learned that three men
called to see Esher in the afternoon between
5 and o'clock.
dressed to Mr.. Fairbanks. 1t was OF purely
personal nature, the coroner said, and in 1t the
writer intimated that he had not long to live.
He had been told. he said, he was afflicted with
a severe type Of tuberculosis, and that two years
would be a long time for him to live. In the
letter the writer said he left New-HaVen be-
cause he did not think tie &ir there was good
for him. It weakened him, and he came here
on that account.
Coroner Jackson said he understood that Mr.
Fairbanks would reach here this morning.
Buffalo March 29.-The letter from S. NJ.
Clement, president Of the Marine National Bank
Of Buffalo. found among the effects Of Herman
Bowman Esher, who shot himself in New-York
to-day, did not refer to anything that could
have caused Esher worry or anxiety. Mr.
Clement explained the letter tonight as follows:
"Esher was student at Yale University He
wrote chairman Of one Of the Junior socie-
ties asking me to use my influence to induce my
nephew Lowell, to become member OF the or
ganization. l wrote to Lowell, and he replied by
letter and also by telegraph. Lowell did not want
to Join the society. The letter found among
Esher's effects one wrote informing him
of LoweI's decision. Beyond this correspondence
l know nothing about Esher. He had no hnan.
cial dealings with the bank"