New-York tribune., 1907-10-31
HOTEL DEATH UNS0LVED
WALDORF PATRON SLAIN.
III. B. Potter Either Victim of
Poison or MurderouS Assault.

y
the coroner. have received his injuries just be
| fore he died: he may have committed suicide, or
he may have succumbed to the effects OF the
choral administered to him Saturday night in
the form of knockout drops, when he robbed.
At the autopsy performed by DR.. OHanlon at
the MorgUe yesterday. traces of poison were
found in the viscera- faint odor. similar to Bit
ter almonds or beech nuts, was not noticeable
Either chloral cynande of potassium will give
that odor. Acting Captain Keleher found an ONT
ment jar in the clothes closet containing a crystal
of this latter poison large a cube of sugar.
If the victim had taken this poison with suicidal
intent he would have died instantly. The occu-
pants of the next room, however complained to
the management of the Waldorf of the sounds of
distress made through the evening by Mr.. Potter
On the surface this would dispose Of the suicide
theory, but the man may have taken the poison
because of his suferngS due to the reputed assault
committed Saturday night. He was arrested
that night, charged with intoxicaton after he had
been found by patrOlman seated the stoop of
the house at No 16 West 18th street. He
taken to the night court and discharged by Magis-
trate Corrigan.
The patrolman says that when Mr.. Potter was
arrested the only wound his head
deep cash across the nose. When the body
found there was not only this wound but deep
cut under the right eye and a serious scalp wound
from the OF the head to the base OF the
skull While the bone bruised from this last
wound the skull not fractured there
any evidence Of a concusson Of the brain. Several
soed towels found in the bathroom, but
while they had been used since Saturday of
them bore any bOodstains. This In itself would
indicate that the wounds had been inflicted after
the fight OF Saturday night. for OF the
had been dressed by surgeon and they would have
left traces OF their existence on the towels II in
hicted long prior TO Mr.. Potters death
The theory Of suicide IS that held by the police
This is borne out in part by the letter which
he left addressed to his wife at DoyIestown Penn
quoted in yesterdays Tribune.
This letter may prove to be the OF the whole
situation. The body of II written with a fine
pen in Mr.. Potters characteristic hand but the
signature. ''Heman.' written In what appears
to be an entirely different hand A different style
pen was used and blacker, heavier ink. That
might indicate that Potter wrote the letter
delayed signing II for a while and then added
his signature. but Of the letters In the name
corresponds in shape to any of the letters in the
body of the letter or il the memorandum books
left behind
Tho vscera have been sent to Professor Law
ton, of Columbia, for examination but on the ex-
terror evidence Or. OHanon, the coroner's ply
slcan. IS inclined to believe in the suicide theory
in which he agrees with Acting Captain Bernard |
keeher. of the old Tenderloln police station The
crystals OK cyanide of potassium when dissolved in |
water form prussic acid. and this is what the coro-
ner's physician believes caused the death OF Mr. |
Potter
When Coroner Harburger reached the room on /
the fourteenth floor he found Mr.. Potter lying face
downward on the heavy carpet IN the little aIcove
next 10 the clothes press and opposite the bath
room. The body was nude with the exception Of a |
short undershirt Besides the wounds already de-
scrloed about the head. both shins we're laid open
almost to the bone. the wounds being apparently
about three days old Although Patrolman Fin
eran. who arrested Potter Saturday night saws
that the only wound he saw wCS the cut across
the nose. the other wounds received appar-
emily in night on Saturday night in which Potter
knocked out two OF his assailants
The first appearance OF the body suggested a
mn or m 1
tho hotel officials assured him that such a thing
was an imposshility. Dr. Adams. the house ply
sician. suggested that hemorrhage the cause |
Of death. but this theory obviously untenable
After some difficulty the police. who had reached
the room. took charge OF things. It was found
then that a brown and an outing shirt and !
collar bore blood stains. These were the clothes
Potter wore Saturday night. None OF the other
clothing except the undershirt in which the body
was clothed bore any marks of blood /
Potter was, it said. at time a heavy
1rinkcr. His friends here I'm this city said. how
ever that he had not tasted liquor for at least
Ye years. In spite Of this It is the theory of the
Coroner that he may have taken a few drinks on
Saturday night and in some one of them knockout
drops had been placed After the autopsy his body
was sent to Doylestown, Penn. two friends accom-
panyng II.
DR. Frank B. swartzlander and oscar O. Bean
Of Doylestown, Penn. who came here take
charge of the body. believed that he had commit
ted suicide While neither would explain his
son for this Dr. Swartzlaudcr said that Potter
had shown signs Of worry for at least month.
DR.. Swartzlandcr added that Potter came to him
a month ago and complained Of being ILL., He was
advised To take rest for few weeks
Il nave been the family physician for many
years" said Dr. Swartzlandcr. and | have known
Mr. Potter personally FOR nearly fifteen years But
why he should want to have taken his life when
ne had everything TO live for is more than I can
explain"
Asked II Mr.. Potter had any financial trouble.
tY1.,, |
rom what he had learned from his friends his
financial standing in good condition. Tho ply
'Ician added that Mr.. Potter had been in the in
'urance business Tor more than fifteen years and
1ad accumulated large of money Previous
% that Potter was travelling salesman for
irm in New York.
Mr. Beam. who for many years was Pottcrs
awyer said that he agreed with DIT swartzander
hat Mr. Potter had committed suicide
I'VE quite intimate" said Mr. Beam "and !
vc had worked alongside each other FOR more than
fifteen years"
Mr.. Potters body was taken across the 23d street
cry to Jersey City There it was pie I'd on a ,
'ennsylvana special for Doyestown Penn. whore
viii b. buried in the family plot.
Doylestown. Penn, Oct 30-II. Bradley Potter ir q
gas prosperous insurance broker, of this place
lis house. at Maple and Cottage avenues, was one
the prettiest in the town. With his wife and
wo small children he had lived there seven years
he news of his death came to his home at Doyles- Z
own while his mother and sister were irving to
omfort his young wife. Not having received any
7ord for him for four days, she had become al
lost out by grief and anxiety.
He left home about two weeks ago in i'll health /
lie went short trip to Atlantic city. by which {
e hoped to combine business and remuneration A
'eek a letter announced that he was going IN I
lew York for a few days Later another letter told
nat he was staying at the Waldorf Since then his
elatives had word from him. His wife has no {