Evening star., 1907-10-30
MURDER OR SUICIDE?
Waldorf Mystery Awaits De-
Cision of Coroner.
MAN FOUND DEAD IN ROOM
Skull Fractured and Many Wounds
on the Body.
FAREWELL LETTER TO WIFE
Prosperous Insurance Agent Told
Story of Attack by Thugs, After
Arrest for Drunkenness.
FAREWELL LETTER TO WIFE

NEW YORK. October 30-The autopsy.
which is to be held today is expected 10
clear up much of the mystery surround
ing the death of Herman Bradley Potter
1r, a prosperous insurance agent OF
Doylestown, Pa. whose body was found
late last night in his room at the Wal
dorf-Astoria. Wounds on the head and
body, including a fracture of the skull,
inclined Coroner Harburger to tn opin-
ion that the man was murdered letter
left by Potter for his wife, written In
fine hand. and apparently without nerv-
BUSINESS, or anything TO show that the
writer was dying, certain statements in
the letter and the finding of a small Jar
which contained the remnants of pow
der led the police to express the opinion
that possibly Potter had committed sui
eide
In the letter Potter bids his wife and
children goodbye, and tells his wife
where to find certain documents relating
to his business, which were in his desk at
his home. He also tells~of an attack on
him by three thugs last Saturday night,
two of whom he knocked down, but the
third, he says, managed to sandbag him
and render him unconscious, and while in
this condition he was robbed.
Remained in His Room.
After the assault, apparently, Potter
was arrested for alleged intoxcation, but
was discharged in the night court. He
made no report of the attack and robbery
at the time, nor did he say anything
about it at the hotel. Since his return to
the Waldorf late Saturday night Potter
is said to have remained clos to his
rooms, sending out for light lunches and
drinks occasionally. He made no COM
plant of his wounds and did not realize
their seriousness. The police think it
strange that he should have written the
letter to his wife arranging his aHiirs
and bidding his family goodbye, unless
he had suicide in mind.
Telephone communication with Mr.. Pot
ters home in Doylestown, early today,
developed the fact that he left home q
week ago yesterday to come to New
York on a pleasure trip. He was in poor
health and his physicians suggested that
the change of scene might be beneficial.
1t was stated positively, however. that
neither financial nor other troubles
weighed on Mr.. Potter when he left home.
1t was said that he was not melancholy
and that there was no indication that he
conte mplated taking his own life.
Police Call It Suicide.
That Potter was not killed by the blows
of thugs, but committed suicide, was the
conclusion announced by the police today.
Inspector McCafferty, head of the detec-
tive bureau, said that he was convinced
that it was q case of suicide and not
murder, by the discovery of poison in Mr..
Potters room, by the statements of em-
ployes of the hotel and by the tone of Mr..
Potter's note to his wife, in which he
coolly made arrangements for winding up
his affairs.
Police authorities stated today that M.
Potter was IN their custody for short
time last Saturday night, and that he then
bore no marks which would indicate that
he had been the victim of an assa ait. He
had no watch or otner vaiuabies at that
time, however, with the exception OF $oo5
in cash. which was returned TO him when
ne was released from custody.
Was Prosperous Insurance Man.
DOYLESTOWN. Pa. October 30-H.
Bradley Potter. jr.. who was found dead
in New York last night. was a prosperous
insurance broker of this place. His
house at Maple and Cottage avenues was
one of the prettiest in the town. With
his wife and two small children he had
lived there seven years.
The news of his death came to his home
at Doylestown while his mother and sister
were trying to comfort his young wife.
Not having received any word from him
for four days. she had become almost
worn out by grief and anxiety. He had
left home about two weeks ago in Ill
health. He went on short trip 10 At
lantic City. by which he hoped to COM
bine business and recuperation. A week
ago a letter announced that he was going
to New York for few days. Later an
other letter told that he was staying at
the Waldorf.
Since then his relatives had no word.
His WIFE who. with two children, survives
him has no relations. Left alone, she be-
came almost frantic because of her igno-
rance Of his welfare. Last night his mother
and sister stayed with her, and 1t was
while they were assuring one another
that all was well that tidings of the terri
Bile tragedy came.
Potter was about forty years OF age.
His son Allen is fourteen years OF age
and his daughter Virginia few years