Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-30
{ NOS HIS CAREER
William R. Travers Commits
Suicide.
SEPARATED FROM WIFE
DESPoNDENT OVER DOMESTIC
CONDITIONS.
Fired Bullet While Alone In His
Apartments in New York
City.

A New York dispatch of last night says:
William Riggin Travers, millionaire son Of
the late W. r.. Travers. clubman, fnancier
and noted wit. killed himself today by put
ting bullet through the roof Of his mouth.
In his apartments at 156 Madison avenue.
where he lived alone. Mr.. Travers and his
wife were separated. and she has been liy-
ing abroad. She was Lille Hartman. a
daughter of Oliver Hartman, and sister
of Mrs. W. X. Vanderbilt, jr.
MIR. Travers had been dead two hours
when his body was found. He was forty
four years old He has been living at the
Madison avenue apartment nearly two
years, but his time was equally divided be-
tween his cottage at Newport, his villa at
Aiken. g. c.. and his apartments in this
city. He spent most of this summer at
Newport, and closed up his cottage there in
the latter part of August. Then he went
to the Virginia Hot Springs
He returned ten days ago, and since had
been a daily visitor at the Knickerbocker
Club. He Inherited good deal of money.
and he never engaged in business until a
few months ago. Early in the summer he
told some friends he was going into busi-
ness. On July l he became a member of
the brokerage firm of HUM. Edey & Co.
of 81 Wall street with the understanding
that he would try business life for six
months and that if he liked 1t he was TO
continue with the firm. If he did not like
1t he was to quit on January 1.
Dead Upon His Bed.
For a short time Mr.. Travers took an
active interest in the firm. Then he went
to Newport and devoted little time to busi-
ness. When he came back to town he paid
several visits to the brokerage office, and
was last seen there on Tuesday.
week ago he developed a cold that
seemed to worry him. He awoke soon al
ter o'clock this morning and ordered his
valet. Martin Noon, to get him some break
fast He ate his breakfast in his pajamas.
He was still at the table at noon and he
told Noon that he had no intention of leaV-
ing the house
Noon went out at 1o o'clock, and return
ed about O'Clock He found Mr.. Travers
lying across his bed dead, with pistol in
his right hand Apparently he had gone
from the breakfast table to the dressing
case, where he kept his revolver. and had
then sat down on the bed and shot him
self. He must have done it soon after his
valet left the house.
Had Been Despondent.
Noon telephoned to the Office of HUM,
Edey G Co., and Fred Edey hurried up to
the house and set about notifying the dead
mans relatives. One of the first persons
notified was Clarence II. Mackay. Mrs.
Mackay, who was katherine A. Duer, Is
niece of Mr. Travers. Mr. Mackay ar
rived at the house soon after Mr.. Edey.
After talking with Mr.. Mackay, Mr.. Edey
made this statement:
II cannot give the least reason for his
taking hts life. He had everything to live
for, and I don't think his trouble with his
wife had anything to do with it Of course,
that is only a surmise. Billy was one OF
the whitest men l ever knew. He was pop
uIar and had a host of friends. He had no
financial trouble and nothing to worry him
so far as his friends know.
THAT he had been Respondent for
month is true. and l don't know the rea-
son of 1t. 1 don't think any one else did.
He was a little worried about his health.
but not enough to make him commit sui
eide. His death was a shock to me, and
will be to any one who knew him.
Mr. Travers' body was removed to an
undertaker's and will be held there to
await the decision of his family. His near
est relatives are his sisters. Mrs James
Wadsworth of Genesee, N. Y, and Mrs.
Walter Gay OF Paris They were both noti-
fed
Came From Virginia Family.
There were some people In town tonight
who had an idea that Mr.. Trayers' de-
spondency might havs been due to the at
tacks made on him recently by society
paper, which had been calling him social
outcast,' and has said that his wife was
well rid of him. That these attacks hurt
MIN, MS ITieHuS say, was SHOWN Dy MS VS.
tting District Attorney Jerome, a distant
relative, and asking him what redress he
had
He left several letters all relating to bust
ness affairs, and giving no cIew to the
cause of the suicide.
Travers was born near this city In 1861.
and was educated in st. Marks School,
Southboro. Mass Later he was graduated
from Columbia. In 1880 he married Miss
Hartman. He devoted a good deal OF at
tention to sport. and was a well-known
whip. He had two brothers. John and Rev
erdy Travers. Both are dead
w. r. Trayers. their father, died in 1887.
The Travers' come from an old Virginia
family, and w. r. Travers married Maria
Louise Johnson. daughter of Reverdy John
son.
NEWPORT. r. L.. September 29.-News OF
the suicide of William r. Travers. which
was received here tonight, caused great sur
prise among his acquaintance. Mr. Tray
ers was well-known among the cottagers
and business men OF Newport His legal
residence was In this city, and his prop
erty holdings here amount to about $780,
coo.
He was always prominent figure at
the Newport horse shows, and frequently
participated In other society events He
had no house in Newport. but owned a
bungalow on the ocean drive.