The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-09-13
LOSSES IN STOCKS
KILLED BENNETT
Friends Declare That Former
Hotel Manager Had Be
come Despondent.

Dependency over financial difficulties
in the mau2Sement Of the Hotel Goth
am. followed by supposed losses in the
stock market. are the reasons ascrIbed
by some OF his friends here for the
suicide in New York yesterday after
noon Of Frank V. Bennett, for twenty
two years manager Of the Arlington Ho-
tel in this city.
News OF Mr.. Benefits suicide was
distinct shock and personal sorrow 10
almost every hotel man in Washington.
as well as TO numerous fellow w-members
Of the Gridiron Club. in which organi-
zation Mr. Bennett had always held a
conspicuous place.
a special meeting OF the club 70 pass
upon Mr.. Benefits death will be held
Monday noon. and the clubs flag now
flies at half-mast over the Ne-y WI
lard.
Two years age Mr.. Bennett reIin-
quished the management OF the Arling-
ton to accept a similar position with
the Hotel Gotham, owned principally
by Dan Hanna, son of the late Mark
Hanna. At that time Bennett was re-
garded as the highest priced hotel man.
ager in the United States. He left
Washington only because he believed
the opportunities Of the New York offer
70 be better
Unsuccessful from First.
From the beginning. however, accord
ing to Mr.. Benefits friends here, the
venture was unsuccessful, principally be-
cause Il was impossible TO obtain =
liquor license for the hostelry, owing to
its proximity to a church. Even with an
asset such as Benefits personality and
vast personal acquaintance il was i'm
possible for the venture 10 come up to
his expectations, and the heretofore sue
cessful manager took the matter more
and more TO heart
About a year ago, so the story goes,
Bennett severed, or was forced to
sever, his connections with the hotel,
although ne retained up to the time o.
his death a suite OF rooms there. It was
in this suite that he was found yesterday
afternoon with bullet wound through
his right temple.
After he ended HIS managerial con-
nections, Bennett is said TO have traded
considerably in the stock market. Al
though none of his friends here have
personal knowledge Of any recent heavy
losses. the theory was advanced in sew
eral quarters last night that after tie
facts became known It would be shown
that disappointment over his hotel ven
ture and subsequent losses in stocks
had caused the act Of obstruction.
Mr. Bennett during his twenty-five
years connection with the Arlington
formed "A most extensive personal ac-
Quaintance with some Of the nations
greatest men He was personally &C
quainted with several Presidents. a
large number of Senators, Representa-
tives. and others high in official and
commercial life.
John T. Devine. manager Of the
Shoreham Hotel one OF his close per
sonaI friends. said last night:
Mr. Benefits suicide comes as a dis
tinct sorrow and shock TO me- He was
a most Iovable. genial character. and an
excellent manager Had he remained
in Washington this affair might never
have occurred. He was persuaded.
howeve- 20 take charge of the Gotham
and wing to his inability to obtain a
LIQUOR license the hotel never seemed
TO be "a success. This naturally caused
worry TO a man always accustomed to
succeed.
He informed me some time ago that
he had a satisfactory contract with the
owners Of the property by which, if the
venture paid, he would De guaranteed a
handsome income and life position
1t seems, however, that a disagreement
came between the directors and himself
and understand he has not been In
charge for a year o. more. After this
break I have understood that he went
with firm of stock brokers, but as TO
his business dealings after leaving the
Gotham have no personal knowledge" g"
uaF1 hof he nj
/ Bennett assumed charge Of the Gotham
| Continued on Third Page.J