The Jersey City news., 1906-06-07
Harry King Who Came Un
der Peculiar Circumstan-
ces to This City Dies of
Laudanam Taken In Ex-
change Place
WHO rs MARION?
/ yMpATHETIo LETTER IN HIS
POSSESSION SHOWS A WOMAN
IN THE cAsEAPoTTER's FIELD
FOR MRS. VAN AKEN'S UNINyI-
TED GUEST

Harry King, sixty years old, who gave
his address as No. 80 Magnolia avenue,
committed suicide in Exchange place yes
terday afternoon by taking an overdose
of laudanum. He was picked up and
sent to the City Hospital, where he died
a few hours later. The body is lying IN
Hughes's morgue, and from present IN
dications IT looks as though the old man,
who was evidently veteran of the navy
during the Civil War. will be buried IN
Potter's Field. The address given be-
fore he died is that of Mrs. Van AIKEN,
who knows nothing of the suicide. Sew
eral weeks sago her eldest son. Richard
a robust lad of twenty years, had occa-
sion TO visit ',Yestern New York. Some
twenty odd miles west Of Buffalo, In the
town of Ripley, he put up for few
days at a boarding house run by Mrs
e. Clark. On the piazza after supper
one evening he fell into conversation with
King. The old gentleman was very talk
ative and asked many questions OF the
young Jersey City man. The latter, who
was looking for companlonshlp. was
amiable and answered all the questions
the old gentleman put to him. lie toio
him he came from Jersey City and lived
at the ADDRESS above given. Young Van
AIKEN returned home and went to MS Of
fee duties. On his return home few
nights ago he was startled and surprised
tn find his chance acquaintance in Ripley
installed in his mothers home. The old
man had called during his absence and
told the mother that he was a friend OF
her eldest son. How he dropped from
Ripley to Jersey City can only be con-
jectured, but he dropped. He might have
ridden on a Pullman car or he might
have jumped a freight He showed up
at the Van AIKEN home and after intro
ducing himself as a friend of young Rich
ard. asked for a room. The mother OF
the boy did not have the heart to turn
the old man away. She gave him
room. The next day he attempted to
borrow some money from her. She said
she could not afford it. She sized up the
old man as being partially demented.
When he sent out for five cents worth
of candy for the child she refused to let
the child eat. it.
Demented or not, the old man had ere
dentials upon him that showed he had
served in the American navy.
The following letter was found among
the effects of the dead man.
Saturday afternoon
sDear Harry:-I was so relieved to re-
ceiye your letter assuring me that you
were safe in Jersey City and with friends
who will let you rest for few days.
'As you say, you can probably get
something to do right there and New
York and Brooklyn are full of mercantile
houses Certainly some of them will
need help. So after all your leaving
Ripley may not have been altogether un-
fortunate, although you We're so little
able to fake the trip.
81 am glad you are there in New York
for one reason. If your relatives will
not keep you, and if you should not get
better. you are near Station D, where is
the Marine Hospital for acute cases and
the ssSnug Harbor" for men who have
served their country as you have, to be
taken in and made home for. You
would be so much happier among "old
Sailors" for you would have so much III
common. So, at any rate, even though
things go badly with you. feel that you
are near help and shelter. You said in
a recent letter that the letters and the
Dictures and the blue robe were left
with Mrs. Clarke in case anything should
happen to you. l wish you would let me
send for them and let me send the robe
to you where you are, for when, pray,
could you need it more than now, while
you are i'll. or if you should be more i'll?
7 am afraid YOU are more ILL., dear boy,
than YOUR brave nature. being used 10
struggle and defiance of defeats. realizes.
IF you will give me note to Mrs.
Clarke / will send for the things and
paying for them will send the robe to
YOU. / want you to have it while you
need it.
aI enclose the $1.OO as ! promised.
shall be able to help you little, even d
only little, until you get on your feet.
It does seem as if with your clear. fine
handwriting you ought to be able to get
something some In that line. Sure you need
It. With deepest sympathy for you in
this time Of trouble. nr.nYor,,
Just who ssMarion" is the local author
tiles have 90 far been unable to ascer-
tain. .sz.ss. { 81 81 azlHE