New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-28
MONEY LOSS NOT CAUSE.
SUICIDE DUE TO ILLNESS.
Friends Say DaUid WiUcOr Had
Little Financial AmTiety.


Those who we're closest to David Wilcox. the
former president of the Delaware & Hudson
Company. who shot himself TO death last
wednesday on the North German Lloyd liner
Barbarossa, secuted yesterday the idea that
mr.. Wiloox's act was caused by any worry over
his financial affairs or the depreciation Of his
stock holdings in the recent severe slump in
Wall street. All were unanimous in the belief
that 81 health alone drove him 10 end his life.
At The time II pretty generally ad-
mittted that depression and disappointment over
the affairs Of the Delaware & Hudson Company,
with which he had so long been associated as
counsel and president. were chiefly responsible
for the undermining OF his health
AEr. Wilcox had always been keenly sensitive
% parsonal criticism or TO adverse comment on
his management OF the Delaware & Hudson 1t
was recalled yesterday that after the end OF
the big coal strike in 1903. during which the
coal roads and their officials came in for a large
amount OF unfavorable criticism. Mr.. Wilcox
had found It necessary 10 go away to recuperate.
A man in the financial district who knew Mr..
wilcox intimately said yesterday:
ssaIE. Wilcox never classed himself as a rail-
mad man. He had been bred TO the law, but
owing 20 his long and faithful service for the
Delaware & Hudson, when he was elected TO the
presidency, he strove TO do the best he could to
SafagPv stockholders
bilious sense Of duty that where another man
would have paid no attention TO unjust criti-
clsnl he always Jet it worry him. His concern
Cor the welfare OF the interests with which he
MAS Entrusted broke down his health. and
he finally relinquished his position regretfuly
T.ven then, although he had plenty Of money.
he could not get away from the thoughts OF the
road with which he had been so long associated.
The thought Of coming back TO New York WITH
out the prospect Of returning 10 the work which
had so long engrossed his best efforts. did not
aid in lifting his depression, and 1 suppose that
rather than go on in his poor state OF health. he
decided TO end It ALL
Mr.. wiIlcoxs cousin. William C. Wilcox, who
is the head of the insurance brokerage firm OF
WILCOX. Peck & Hughes, ct No. South Will
lam street. was on the pier with three other
close friends of the dead man when the Bar
barossa was warped into the pier at Hoboken
Yesterday After having a long conversation
with Captain Langreuter in his cabin, arrange
ments were made for the removal Of the body
10 the house at No. 10 East 6Sth street. owned
by David Wilcox.
William @. Wilcox was a partner OF Albert
WILCOX in the insurance firm OF Albert VIII
cox & Co. up to the time Of Albert WillcoXs
death last summer. Albert Wilcox and David
Wilcox were brothers and their attachment for
friends Both of them were bachelors, and the
last surviving members Of the family. David
WILCOX felt keenly the death Of mis- brother and
never fully recovered from his loss.
william G. Wilcox said yesterday afternoon
that before starting for Europe in search OF
health his cousin had given him power Of attor-
neys He had not had an opportunity TO go over
the dead mans papers thoroughly. he said but
so Ear had discovered 10 will Neither did he
have any knowledge Of what disposition OF his
estate the late president Of the Delaware Hud-
sen intended 10 make. He said the estate would
be found 10 be worth 100000 at least. De-
spite his close intimacy with E. H. Hartman
and his dictatorship in both roads. Mr.. WILCOX
held only one hundred shares Of Union Pacific
and a like amount of Southern Pacific stock.
The greater part Of the balance Of his estate is
invested in Delaware & Hudson Company stock
This would indicate that the shrinkage Of his
holdings in the present year reached hundreds
OF thousands but even at that he had enough
left TO keep him from worrying about the future.
An the stock held by him is deposited with one
OF the trust companies. William c. Wilcox was
emphatic yesterday in his assertion that his
cousin never speculated TO any great extent, al
though he always interested in the move
ments Of Delaware q Hudson stock
The theory that Mr.. WillcOX's breakdown,
which led To his suicide, was due TO worry over
losses in the March panic received credence,
perhaps, because he departed for Europe shortly
after the stock market began 70 go 10 pieces.
Mr.. WillcoXs friend T.. II. Hartman was hard
hit at that time and IL was said yesterday that
soon after the slump had reached its lowest one
thousand shares Of Delaware & Hudson com
pany stock, valued at a minimum Of $4,000,
were ofered for sale by broker supposed TO be
acting for the company president
Mr. and Mrs. II. q. Shaw, of Boston, and
Sardfer Y Lyon, Of Oswego, y. Y, with his
daughter Miss Anna Lyon, came over on the
bafbarossa. For the first few days out from
Gibraltar they saw much Of Mr. Wilcox Sew
eIal bridge games were played, and Mr.. Wilcox
seemed 10 take pains to make things as cheerful
6hu lively rs possible. II was recalled yester-
cay by the Shaws and the Lyonses that Mr.
WILCOX complained on several occasions Of the
weather, which had been stormy almost all the
way across. Last Wednesday night. when Mr.
WILCOX took his life, the toughest period
OF al, and most of the passengers retired carly
TWO days before his death Mr.. Wilcox handed
letler 10 Captain Langreuter, with a request
70 have IL mailed when the Barbarossa reached
quarantine. Captain Langreuter could not re-
car Yesterday the name Of the addressee on the
letter, which was mailed when the Barbar ossa
got INTO port on Friday night.
Although Mr.. Wilcox lived al the NetrODoIi-
tan club. there WAS nothing lavish about his
mode Of living. He primarily a student
The fact that he voluntarily waived the claim
some months ago 10 his share in the estate Of
ms brother, Albert Wilcox, IN favor of the
Iuskegee institute and the Audubon Society