The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-05-20
FACING DISGRACE
KILLS HIMSELF
Method of SneIgrOve's Suicide
an Exact Repetition of
Robertson Tragedy.
SHORT IN HIS ACCOUNTS
FIRES BULLET THROUGH ROOF
OF HIS MOUTH.

In almost precisely the same manner
IN which Alexander A Robertson COM
mitted suicide a few days ago. Edward
;. Snclgrove. until recently the cashier
ana oookkeeper of the Utah Association
OF credit Men, shot and killed himself in
the oitlce OF the association in the Com
mercial club building at $40 o'clock yeS-
tefday forenoon. 1t was apparent that
Mr.. Snelgrove had read the details of the
tragic death of Mr. Robertson. and had
planned 10 kill himself In almost exactly
the same way.
Undoubtedly the cause Of Mr. Smell
groves suicide was the fact that he had
recently been discharged from the en-
ploN or the association, because of a
shortage in his accounts to the amount
OF goo. This shortage was discovered a
week ago, and SnelgrOVe was discharged
pending an investigation.
since his discharge from the associa-
uoh employ SnelgrOVe has brOOded al
most constantly over his disgrace. The
last rev days he is said 10 have been
drinking heavily. Yesterday morning ne
LETT his home at 7:30 o'clock and went 10
the office of the Credit Mems association
He spoke to the office clerks and asked
whether or not Mr.. Van Dam, the man
ager OF the association. was in his office
On being informed that he was not Smell
grove went into Mr.. Van Dams office
ana called up Mr.. Van Dams residence
by telephone. He was told by Mrs. Van
Dam that her husband had already left
for the office. She noticed that he talked
III a AlFffBuss excited tone. when she
could not account for.
Locks Himself In.
A few moments after Snelgrove had
gone INTO the office shot was heard.
The clerks ran TO the door and tried 10
open IT. They discovered that il had been
locked on the inside. AT that moment
Mr. Van Dam, who had heard the shot
as he came upstairs, rushed into the main
office ana unlocked the door leading 10
the private office.
On entering the private room he found
the body OF SnelgrOVe in a chair beside
his desk. Blood was streaming from the
mouth Of the dead man. and in one hand
a -3S-calibre revolver was still smoking
The bullet which had ended the life of
Mr. Snelgrove passed through the roof
of his mouth and into his brain. II was
evident that Mr.. SnelgrOve had placed the
muzzle OF the revolver in his mouth and
shot himself in Just the same manner in
which Robertson ended his life.
DR.. Seymour B. Young was called and
he confirmed the belief OF those who had
found the body, that death had been IN
stantaneous. Acting Coroner Dana T.
Smith was also called. on reaching the
room he searched the body and found a
small vial which still contained a few
drops OF weak solution Of laudanum.
II is thought that SnelgrOve first took
the laudanum solution, but finding that
II was too weak 10 cause his death. he
shot himself.
Note to Van Dam.
on the desk beside which snelgroves
body was found, there was this note TO
Mr.. Van Dam, evidently written by the
unfortunate man just prior 10 killing
himself:
Dear Van-Notify W. W. Mcintosh
Ind phone 103-quck-Get Dr. Seymour
you and tell Kate Turn my body over TO
Joseph William Taylor on West Temple
street. Goodbye. dear Van ED"
There was nothing IN the note nor in the
II. l. ~ ].
that would indicate what prompted him
10 kill himself Nevertheless. the Off
GERS OF the association feel positive that
SnelgrOVe felt remOrseful over his action
in taking money which had been turned
over TO him TO be placed in the treasury
of the association, and realizing his in
ability TO make reparatiOn. killed him
self rather than face the disgrace at
tendaEt upon his action.
The shortage in the accounts OF Mr.
SneigrOye was discovered within the last
two weeks by accountants who audited
the books. II was customary for some
OF the officers 10 receive from the treas
ury sums of money at different times
which We're charged as personal lOai =
For some months past Il is said, Smell
grove did not check off these loans when
the money vas repaid by the officers or
the association, but instead kept the
money paiC IN and left the accounts
against the officers stand on the books
II was estimated yesterday that Smell
grove had secured in this manner in all
ABOUT WV llls Is not ioSl DA lle aSSO-
citation. but by the officers against whom
these accounts are stu standing. H. Van
Dam. jr.. John q. CritchlOw and Walter
Wright are said 10 be practically the only
persons who Will suffer by the shortage
OF the former cashier.
Widow Is Frustrated.
Immediately after Mr.. SnelgrOve killed
himself. X. II. Snelgrove, a nephew
broke the news 10 the widow. a little
later Mr.. Van Dam and DR.. Young called
on Mrs. SnelgTove at her home at So East
First South street. Mrs. Snelgrove was
Frustrated by the news and was in such
a condition yesterday that she required
constant medical attendance. In accord
ance with Nj, SnelgrOve's wish the body
was taken 10 the undertaking rooms OF
Joseph William Taylor. Funeral ar
rangements have not yet been completed. Z
Mr.. SnelgrOve was born in Utah fifty
five years ago. His parents were among