New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-10
SUICIDE AT SHERRY'S.
MERCHANT SHOOTS SELF.
III Health the Probable Cause of
Deed, 1t Is Sad.

Moses Well. forty-two years old vice-president
OF the j. Spencer Turner Company, commission
merchants OF No. Sc Worth-st found in
his apartment, on the ninth floor of sherry $.
No. 522 TO 52S Fifth-ave.. yesterday afternoon,
dead. with two bullet wounds in his body. The
case. it finally decided. one of suicide.
though there was at first some doubt about this.
According to Sherry's manager, Eugen Flau-
rand, a revolver with two chambers empty was
found lying across Mr.. Wells breast. The room
seemed to be in absolute order.
Michael Boyhan. the night clerk said that he
saw We'll take the elevator for his rooms about
midnight on Wednesday with a whom both
he and Mr.. F1aurard understood to he his uncle.
named Dreyfus Both had never seen this
uncle before
About p. m yesterday George Fisk whom
We'll had employed for some time as q valet.
went to his rooms to make ready his clothes as
Mr. We'll had intended to sail for Europe on
Saturday He found the morning papers. which
are usually left at the door. still outside and i'm
mediately his suspicion was aroused. He opened
the door with passkey and, MY Flaurand says.
found Well lying the bed with blood pouring
from wound in his right temple. In haste he
summoned the manager. who called in DR..
Henry G.. SpOoner Of No 3J West Forty fourth
st. The physician said that he found one bullet
wound in the mans breast just above the heart
anu diloJheT III lhe GlSflt temple. MY WeA ntlu
been dead at least six hours the physician
thought. DR.. Spooner later declared that there
was no doubt ir his mind that a bullet
wound in the heart caused death. He said that
he believed the first shot. in the temple. had not
brought death, and that Mr.. Well almost in
stantly fired a second shot into his heart
Coroner Goldenkranz and Coroners' Physician
O'Hanlon arrived, and after a superficial
examination Coroner GoIdenkranz said he was
certain tha- the bullet that caused the wound
in the temple had penetrated the BRAIN and
would have caused death. He was unwilling
10 say whether it was suicide or not declaring
that that all depended the autopsy, which
Will be made to-day. The rooms in per-
feet order. he declared and he had rot been
able to discover any letters notes which had
any bearing on the cause of Wells death
Mr.. Flaurand said that Well had been serious
ly troubled for some time with his eyes, and re-
Gently had spent two months in a sanatorium
in West Fortieth-st He declared that an opera
eyes TO relieve his failing sight and that ne was
In constant terror that another such operation
would be necessary.
Herbert II. Lehman of No. 40 West Fifty
eighth-st.. OF the j. Spencer Turner Company
said last night that Mr.. Wei had been i'll for
the last month. He had been troubled greatly,
he said with a facial absceSs, and because OF
that had not been at his Office for three WeeKS.
Various members of the company" said Mr..
Lehman. had been 10 see him. taking him out
driving and the like II is my opinion that the
poison i'm the absCesS went into the blood, and in
that way affected the mans brain, causing him
20 DO what he did. The optical trouble he had
am certain had nothing 10 do with this matter.
That was OF long standing snd deep rooted. 1t
had no effect OIL his death l am convinced
that the abscess was the direct cause
Mr.. Lehman did not appear to have any doubt
that the death was one Of suicide.
IL was learned that Wednesday evening
Mr.. Well ard his uncle, Edward Dreyfus were
a. the Harmonic Club, in West FOrty-secOnd-
there yofp IN
the formers apartments at Sherry's. He had
occupied his suite there. which was a fine one.
for five years.
Captain Lantry, of the East Fffty-hrst-st. sta
tion, after his Investigation of the case said
there was no doubt that il one OF suicide
Coroner GodeGkranz later ordered the body
removed To the undertaking rooms Of j. * J. w
Stoltz. at No. 40 East one hundred -and-stxt
ST., where the autopsy will be held to-day.