The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-12
LED ASTRAY BY POOLROOMS.
YOUTH TRIES TO KILL HIMSELF
AFTER GOING WRONG.
The Story OF Promising Young Mans
Downfall Brought Out by His At
tempted suicide-Didn't Want to Live,
but He WILLIS Folks stand by Him.


A caretaker in the Flatiron Building
passing through the hall on the tenth floor
early yesterday morning, heard moan.
Il seemed to have come from the vacant
rooms that had been used by defunct
get-rich- quick concern. The caretaker tired
the door and 1t opened readily enough.
The lock had been picked, he found later.
Living on the uncarpeted floor, barely
conscious, with little rivulet Of blood
flowing from his right wrist across the
boards, was Walter Solomon, young
man who has been learning to be land
scape architect as stenographer and general
aide in the office OF Daniel w. Langton,
There was a curious look about the young
fellows lips. They were streaked with
whitish powder and were blue and dis
colored.
The caretaker hastily called policeman
and an ambulance from the New YORK
Hospital. DR.. Lathrop found that the boy
had opened vein in his right wrist, and
that he had lost 30 much blood that another
half hour would have finished him. Young
Solomon had swallowed poison, too, the
doctor discovered, but whatever 1t was
he had not taken enough to hurt him.
The first words that the boy uttered when
a little of his strength came back and he
was able to talk were:
IDoctor. / didn't want to live. ! have
| robbed my mother and my employer, who
was mighty good to me. What's the use 70
| live after that?'
| They sent word from the hospital to the
bows mother, who lives at 405 BleeckeI
street Mrs. Solomon had been worried
because he had not been home for two days
She had asked the police to help her find
him. but she had got no word from them.
She went to the hospital and had a lone
talk with her son. When she came gu,
her ewes we're filled with tears, but there
was more 10y than sadness in them. What
ever had happened, her son was going x
live.
aWalter didn't steal any money from
me-" she said, 'and am sure ne dian
steal any from Mr.. Langton, because M
has been as much worried about "aNe
as have been. He came to see me aoou
it and told me how much he though' OF m.
son and what good boy he h.
aWalter told me In the hospital that NJ
WAS ashamed to come home because he hat
lost all his money playing the races IN
poolroom on Saturday. He worried aoou
it until he was nearly crazy, and thinkin
his whole life ruined by the one foolish act
he went to the Flatiron Building, crept u
an unoccupied room and did his best to XII
himself.
I'VE had a quarrel on Friday becaus
Walter had not paid me several week
board. His father and I require him to pa
his board, not because we need the money
, hut because it teaches him to pay his wa
, "a he goes and lets him know the value
money, He told me on Friday that h
couldn't pay me because he had lost nj
, money betting on the races. l scoide
him and he went away, taking some none
that had given him to use on his vacation
which was to begin to-day. .....
, Mr.. Langton, whose Offices are at lOl
Flatiron Building, said at his home
Waterwitch. N. j., last night:
Il gave Walter a check for 500 on Thur
!. day to cash for me. he did not return @
Thursday or Friday. When / went to 81
his parents they told me they had not heal
= from him. did not care for the none.
8 l wanted to find the boy and have ia
with him and see If we could not put him
v the right road. He is a good boy, steac
e and industrious, and did not want to 81
n him 20 wrong for lack of friendly wol
70 at the right time / never had suspici'
y Of his honesty and trusted him with fs
larger commissions than the check for 3lot
Solomon will be able to leave the hospit
to-day a thoroughly repentant boy.