Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-04-20
TRIES SELF-DEsTaUcTIoN.
Benedict Gimbel of Philadelphia At
tempts Suicide at Hoboken Hosiery.

New York, April 19.-Benedict Gimbel,
the wealthy Philadelphia merchant who
was arrested in this city yesterday on
the double charge Of eXeITting Improper
influence oyer War Clark. a l;-year-old
boy, and attempted bribery Of the police
officers who made the arrest lies tonight
in ST. Mary's hospital, Hoboken, N. j.,
unconscious from self-inf'icted wounGs
j is thought that his injuries will prove
fatal.
Bleeding from gashcs on his throat and
severed arteries in both wrists, Gimbel
was found at : O'Clock tonight in room
which he had engaged for the night at
the Palace. hotel, in IToboken. SenselesS
from loss of blood he was re.loved to
tie hospital, while an examination OF
his effects made certain his identity.
Late last night Ginibel was released
fr0r1 tn. Tombs under 5000 bonds ana
whore he then went vas rot known to
his friends today. He was generally
supposed to have been at an uptown no
tel. though it was reported that he haG
returned to his home in Philadelphia.
1t now appears that Immediately fol
lowing his release Gimbel crossed on Il
ferry to Hoboken and went TO the Palace
hotel, where ne registered as Wilson
Hedge Of Trenton, y. J.
lie was assigned to 4 room on the sec
ond floor, ana Il haif-hour later ordered
luncheon, which was served Ill his room.
Among the dishes was a glass OF water
ana a pitcher, ana this was later broken
by Gimbcl who used the pieces in in
fl!cting his injuries.
Nothing was heard from Ginibel dur
ing the night or this morning, and at J
o'clock this afternoon a chambcrmaid
went to his room. Gimbel was in bed
and ordered the maid from the door. say
ing that he wished to sleep. The girl
returned to the room early this evening
and found that the door had been secured
from the inside. The door was forced ana
{ Gin-hel discovered stretched out on the
: floor, bleeding freely from his wounds.
He was clad in trousers and -undershirt
and the garments were red with b.Gdi.
Hood had spattercd over the floor and
or the bed coverings, while trail OF
blood from the bathroom to the bed H.
dicatcd that Gimbcl had cut himself while
in tho bath room ana then thrown him
self on the bed, from which he later
arose. 10 fall unconscious IN the floor.
, Physicians who attended Gimbal at the
. hotel stopped tha bleeding and after his
removal to the hospital his wounds We're
dressed in such n way that the patient
vas enabled to breath with less difficulty
At 10 o'clock tonight Ills condition was
said TO have improved. although it was
still critical Gimbcrs identity was es-
ta1liShcd from papers found in his cloth
ing.
Further examination by tho police de-
V"lor,G that the cracks III III" doors ana
windows had been stuffed air tight with
surgeons artis"rtic gIuzn. There was.
however, no gas in the room. which was
lighted by electricity.
G.mbcl was to have h"cn given n hear
ing in court hero tomorrow. His attor-
ncy, Daniel O'E"rlly. has stated that
GimIcIs defence would be that blackmaiI
was attempted.
At II o'clock tonight Dr. Farr of st.
Nary's hospital said that there was no
darg'r If Gnnb"l dying during tho night.
ScN' rIl members of the Gimhcl fam
ilE. Including Benedict Gimhels' wife
arrived At tn" hospital tonight. Or
William JuriSt Of Philadelphia also ar
rived late tonight ana went into con
s"ltntion with the hospital physicians
Lat" tonight bernard Gimhcl. speaking
f": tic family, said:
"E"ncdict's brothers have been urging
Him recently to take a vacation. At in
t"rv,lls during I'll" past week Mr. Gin
bol's mind has been n blank. Mr.. Gimbcl
has ;.lways enjoyed 4 spotlcss reputation
| ana his domestic life has boon one Of
compIct" hapIincss.'
The physicians "nnounccd late tonight
That Gimbrl's chances Of recovery wcrn
good.