New-York tribune., 1906-10-17
TEA DEALER ENDS LIFE.
Papers ShoSO Pope WW Probably
Receive Estate of Il. Il. PheLan.

Thomas Alexander Phelan a tea merchant OF
No. 90 Front street, committed suicide yesterday
afternoon by shooting himself at a boarding
house at No. 162 Lexington avenue. The body
was found by the landlady, Mrs. Mary Bulger.
The bullet entered his right temple and he used
a hand mirror to make his aim certain
According to Of his personal friends. MI
Phelan had been in Ill health for several years.
and on several occasions had told him that he
would like 10 get away from business for several
months to recuperate, but unable to do so.
Four weeks ago Mr.. Phelan removed to the
Lexington avenue house. According to Mrs
Bulger he kept very much to himself. On sew
eral occasions she said that she was compelled
to wait until late at night before fixing UP his
room and finally arranged to have him leave
the key of his room with her. AS was her Gus
TOM she went to his room yesterday afternoon
and found it locked
She entered the room with the aid of a pass
key and saw Mr.. Phean lying on the bed. fully
dressed. with blood streaming down his face.
Patrolman Cousin. of the 35th street station,y
who was summoned, found that the bullet had
passed through the mans head and lodged n
the wall In his right hand Mr.. Phelan still
grasped revolver. while in his other hand was
a small mirror Coroner Harburger, who
rived soon after the body was found. said that
death had been instantaneous A clipping from
newspaper. telling how "Al' Adams shot him
self in front of a mirror, found in Mr..
Phelans pocketbook-
Checks found In the room indicated that Mr..
Phelan had handled several hundred thousand
dollars during the last few years. In his pocket
book was S17O in cash, also a check for $500 GO.
payable to Phelan. and drawn by Jarret Nagle,
October IL on the Metropolitan Bank. There
was receipt. showing that on October l he
TOy,o n
city. S236 23 on a bond of G. P. de La Mere for
$4,000 for mortgage on property at No. 133
East 18th street. the bond being held by the
trust company as trustee for Elizabeth Ann
Bate.
In the room was a letter from Corbin &
O'Ryan, lawyers, at No. % Broadway. stating
that they had been authorized to give Mr.. Phelan
no more aid. and requesting a check for 500 for
rendered services. A check, dated January I,
1905 and drawn TO his order for $4,000, was
also found
Among his numerous papers and checks was
an extract from New York newspaper, pur-
porting to be a clipping Of greeting from the
Supreme Court" of this state "to be sent to
the Vatican at Rome directing sarto Pope
Pious X to defend a suit in the Supreme Court
of this city in which he is named Of the
defendants Justice Ammend, in the Supreme
Court Part II. signed the order for the same
10 be made the Pope by publication and
signed on the application of George Flint War
ren. attorneys for Charles G. Koss. executor Of
the will of the late Marie Louise Phelan, for
the construction Of the will Of Mary E. Phelan
who was the mother of Marie Louise Phelan
The mother died on September 6, 1883, leaving a
will naming the Pope as beneficiary on the death
OF the last child
The case. which is pending IN the Supreme
for ria1 aEt
month. It was learned that Mr. Phelan was
the last child" named IN the will. and that the
Pope will probably receive the money and es-
tate left by the late Mary E. Phelan.
Mr. Phelan was director OF the American
Asiatic Association. president and director OF
the United States National Tea Association and
director OF the Security SILK Storage Com
| many. He was a member Of the City and Down
! town clubs and Chamber of Commerce.