Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1907-04-18
3Of a Man Who Lost His All In
Wall Street.
HE KILLS HIMSELF.
After the Recent Panic in the Stock
Market Had Ruined Him Finan-
cialiy. Tragedy In a Rich Home.
Where the Wife Discovers the
Dead Body Of the Husband, Who
Had Ended His Career.

.
Had Ended His Career.
.Commending his wife. to the care
and affection Of his parents and wish
Ing her all the luck" and happiness
the world could give. Samuel b. Van
.Slclen, broker, committed suicide
: While alone in his rooms, on the fifth
moor or the apartment house at No.
4oS Manhattan avenue. New York.
Luck was the dominant factor
In Van Siclen's creed of life, and be-
ueying that 1t had failed him when
ne met overwhelming losses in Wall
street, ne saw no reason for prolong-
ing his life. But his belief in the
feti }h of luck, and that it would af-
:: iect those whom he was LEAVING be-
shlnu, was 80 strong that his last
words TO his wife, written In q note
Just few minutes before he died.
composed prayer that good luck
should attend her
Like many others whose lives are
centred in luck and chance, Yam Sic
len was silent and seemingly uncon-
cerned by the turn OF fortune His
gains were pocketed with an impas-
slve face, and losses met without a
murinur. None knew, when he re-
turned to his home from his office
downtown between four and half
past four In the afternoon Of every
business day, what his luck had been
and his wife never for a moment sus-
pected that the recent panic in Wall
Street had brought him to the brink
.ef financialsfRin.
Van Siclen returned to his home
at the usual time Thursday after
noon. His wife was out at a funeral
and after he had entered his apart
ments nothing more was seen of him
by servants or others n the house.
Mrs. Van Siclen returned about z
O'Clock and was told by the elevator
boy that her husband was at home.
She entered the apartments with q
latch key and was surprised to find
the living rooms In darkness. She
called several times to her husband
searched through the rooms and was
nnally attracted by a light in the
kitchen. She went there and saw the
body OF her husband lying upon the
floor with bullet wound in the
head.
Her shocking discovery caused Mrs
VanSiclen to scream with terror and
she staggered from her apartment
She was met by hallboy. who had
heard her cries, and she sent him
Tor a doctor. On his way the mes
senger notified Policeman Mallen,
who went at once to the apartments
OF the Van Siclens, and when DR.. c..
IL. Dockstader. OF No. 483 Manhat-
tan avenue. arrived they made an ex-
animation of the body
1t was apparent that Van Siclen
had endeavored to make sure Of his
death. He had wound a quantity of
legal tape about his waist and tied
the revolver to 1t, SO that IL the first
shot should fall. he could regain pos
session or the weapon. although 1t
might fall from his hand from the
shock Of the first shot.
When Mrs. Van Siclen learned
from the ioctor that her husband
was dead size was prostrated. and DR..
Dockstader' remained to care for, her
until her relatives could be summon
ed.
On the table in the dining room
were two letters written by Van Sic
len just before his death One wal
addressed to Mrs. F.. Van Siclen and
Mr. A. Van jSiclen. Jamaict. Long Is
land" 1t read:
My Dear Father and Mother: For
give for this great wrong and please
pray for me. do not accuse any
one for my troubles. Father, ask
you, please help my dear wife.
49,. '.- SAM
The other letter was for his wife
and read:
My Dear Wife: Forgive me for thi.
great wrong. but my heart Is broken
over my luck in Wall street. I wish
you good luck and happiness. as W.
have been very happy together. You
loving husband, SAM.
Van Siclen was the son Of Abra
ham Van Siclen. OF Lincoln road
near Jamaica, one of the wealthiest
farmers and landowners In Long Is
land