The Washington times., 1907-03-16
CHARLES ABBOTT
ENDS HIS LIFE
WITH A BULLET
Promising Career of Brokers'
Assistant Closes at
Twenty Years.
Body Found in Office by
One of Clerks
Employers.

employers.
Craze for money and the handling OF
II, blasted a name and caused the death
of a boy last night
Charles Abbott twenty years old, after
writing note confessing a shortage of
2O0O in his accounts, blew out MS
brains with a revolver i'm the down.
town offices Of Wade & Hedges, brokers.
tO6 Fifth street northwest. His body.
locked in the back office. was found ,ast
night by Mr.. Hedges, a member of the
firm which employed young Abbott. and
which has its main offices in the Ouray
building.
Late last evening, Mr.. Hedges. sus-
pecting something wrong in the down
town office, Of which Abbott was The
manager went there with his attorney
to go over the accounts They found the
doors locked. After some trouble they
succeeded in opening one OF the win
dows fronting on Fifth street. In the
front room all was in order.
Shot in Temple.
In the rear room. the head almost
against the rear wall and the feet
crossed in an easy resting position, lay
the body of Abbott. Scarcely two inches
from the head lay the revolver, while
the right hand that had clutched Il had
fallen palm upward on the floor. Just
above the right temple was the gaping
path of the one bullent that had ap-
partntly caused instant death. The dark
green carpet was stained red by the
blood that had flowed from the wound.
Just above the young mans body hung
his derby hat and overcoat and on the
wall nearby was Christy picture Of
young girl bending from her horse to
kiss her sweetheart.
Abbott, who was a native of Wash
ington, was a striking instance of a
brilliant young fellow who had made
good from the start and had worked
high up from a humble beginning. His
employers regarded him as exemplary
in every way and trusted him implicitly.
He started out as a blackboard boy in
brokers' Offices, but his aptness in grasp
ing financial details resulted in his go
ing up until he became manager of the
branch office.
Lad of Great Promise.
His father Julius Abbott. who resides
and runs a cigar store at 234 Four-and-
a-half street southwest. had expected
great things Of the boy. and there were
few who did not share the same feeling.
He was immensely popular with all who
knew him. and bade fair TO figure prom
inently in local financial matters.
In the breast pocket Of his coat were
found last night two notes, one to his
employers. confessing the shortage in
his accounts. and the other 70 his father,
branding himself as The Liar. Charlie"
10 To g
March 10. 1907.
''Messrs. Wade & Hedges. City:
You will be surprised to learn that
am s.. 900 short In my accounts with you.
The c. notes, which you will find IN
my pockets, are all bogus. H owes me
nothing. and c. owes $25 I would like
to make good, but l cannot,
CHARLES ABBOTT
Letter to Father.
The lines to his father were as fol-
lows:
My Dear Father: I have been an
awful liar. I have not Cnly lost $1,000
belonging to Wade e. Hedges, but all
OF my own money, and not a small sum
of yours. To tell the truth, 1 have not
cent I could call my own.
THE LIAR, CHARLIE"
Took Life Deliberately.
At the main Offices OF Wade &c Hedges
H. was said today that the firm had
not decided whether II would follow w
the matter and go over the accounts, or
merely stand the loss. Abbott was not
bonded. The firm had suspected him
since last Friday. That was his day to
cali at the main Office and to render an
accounting, showing that his affairs
were straight. He failed to show up
then. and all efforts of the firm to get
an accounting had failed UP to last
night.
1t is believed that. realizing that de-
lection had TO come last night or today
Abbott. after closing up the office at
O'Clock yesterday afternoon. made his
preparations for suicide and carried
them out In calm and thorough man
ner.
Coroner Nevi't last night viewed the
body and gave a verdict Of death by siii-
eide The body was removed 20 an nm
dertaking establishment. According to
the present plans the funeral win take
place from the family residence Mon
day.