The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-11-12
FELL ITO FEET.
Harvey w. WattersOn, Son of the
Louisville, Ky. Editor,
Plunges to Death From His Of
flee Window.
1T WAS AN ACCIDENT
Almost Every Bone in His Body
Was Broken.
He Was 80 Years Old, a Lawyer
and Married.

New York, Nov. 12.-Harvey w. Wat
terson, a lawyer and younger son OF
Henry Watterson. editor of the Louis
vile Courier Journal, plunged to his
death. from the nineteenth floor of his
office building at 81 Wall street late
yesterday afternoon. His body shot
downward for ITO feet and landed on
the roof of a building adjoining. AL
most every bone was broken and the
head crushed and death was practical
ly instantaneous.
While there were no eye witnesses to
the tragedy, evidently it was entirely
accidental. Mr.. Watterson's hat and
coat were on his closed desk. Proba-
bly, he attempted to lower the window
and either stumbling over the radiator,
which was in front of the low sill, or
losing his footing in some manner un-
known, pitched forward and down to
death on the roof below.
Mr.. Watterson was 80 years old and
married He was junior member of the
law firm of Wing, Russell & Waiter
son
Shortly before o'clock after having
discussed business matters with a clerk,
Mr.. Watterson remarked that he was
going home and passed from the library
through the room of F. r. Bagg, the
managing clerk, into his own private Of
nee, the OOOr Oh WHICH ClOSeu anu IOCh-
ed automatically as he entered. Bagg
was the last person to see the young
lawyer alive.
A few minutes later the superintend-
ent of the building rushed in and in
formed Thos. E. Wing, senior member
of the firm, that he believed Mr.. Wat
terson had fallen from the window. He
looked down from the window and the
mangled form was seen lying on the
roof below. The body was removed to
he
had declared that the death of Mr..
WattersOn was due entirely to acci-
dent.
A peculiar feature of the case was
that Mr.. Watterson's watch and cigar
cite case in one pocket and a pipe in
another pocket were not damaged by
the fall Mrs. Watterscn was prostra-
ted when informed of her husband s
tragic death.
Mr.. Wing said that Watterson had
been member of the firm about three
years. He was sure. he said, that death
was accidental since Watterson had no
financial or domestic troubles.
The firms business was IN good con-
dition. Mr.. Wing said, and Watterson
had been very successful.
Watterson was born and reared IN IN
tered the Columbia university law school.
he taught a night school Shortly after
becoming member of the firm ne ran
an upper west side district, but the dis
trict was strongly Republican and he was
defeated
How His Father Was Told.
Louisville. Nov. 12.-News of the tragic
death of Harvey w. Watterson, first
communicated to the friends of Henry
Watterson, editor of the Courier Journal,
created a profound impression in Louis
vile and there was Immediately formed
pathetic little conspiracy having for Its
purpose the breaking of the news to the
veteran editor as gently as possible. Tele-
phone communication with his country
home fourteen miles from the city, was
Immediately stopped. and the friends
deputed to Mrs. BENZ. Ridgely, widow of
cult task. Mrs. Rfdgely suddenly, be-
reaved a few weeks ago of the husband
who had been Mr.. Watterson's protege
and intimate friend. accomplished her
home benumbed by grief while hundreds
of telegrams from men of national prom
inence already are pouring in oner1ng con-
dOlence and sympathy.
The bond between Mr.. Watterson and
his son was an unusually strong one, their
interest in politics and national affairs
being mutually keen and the fathers sat
isfaction at the rapidly widening career
of the son was very great 1t was decided
by the family that Mr.. Watterson would
not be able to undertake a journey to New
York and Mrs Harvey Watterson was
Louisville. which probably will be done
Friday or Saturday. The funeral will
probably be held on Sunday but this has
not been definitely decided on.
Harvey w. Watterson was thirty years
old. He leaves no children: His wife be-
fore her marriage was Miss Alice Bur-
rowes af New York.