Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-12
FAR PLUNGE TO DEATH
III. w. Watterson Falls Nine
Stories Down.
son OF NOTED EDITOR
Believed to Have Tripped While
Trying to Move Window.
HAD JUST LEFT ASSOCIATES
Father Is Notifed-Prostrated With
Grief-Wife and Two Chill
dren Survive.
HAD JUST LEFT ASSOCIATES

NEW YORK November 12.-Iiarvey w.
Watterson. youngest son of Henry Wat
terson editor of the Louisville Courier
Journal late yesterday afternoon fell
from a window in the nineteenth story of
the Trust Company of America building.
Nos. 37-43 Wall street, to the roof of the
United States Trust Company's tep-story
building. adjoining, 10 feet below, and
was instantly killed.
The impact of his body on the roof of
the United States Trust building startled
the occupants and caused an Investigation
which resulted in the discovery of the
mutilated body of the brilliant young at
torney. His skull. one leg and his ribs
on the left side We're broken.
| Young Watterson. a member of the
law firm of Wing. Russell & Watterson,
had been for an hour with Burt d. Whe
don, chief clerk of the law firm. consult
ing books in the library. About 4:45
p. m. Watterson arose, closed the books
before him and started for his private
Offices in the northeast corner of the
suite.
Il must be going home. he said to
Mr.. Whedon.
The door leading to Watterson's private
office closes with spring lock and it
slammed behind him.
Partner Is Told.
Not more than ten minutes afterward
Maj. Burns, superintendent of the build
ing, ran excitedly into the office and in
formed Thomas E. Wing, senior member
of the firm, that Watterson was dead.
HE has fallen from the window onto
the roof of the next building said Maj.
Burns.
Wing broke into the Office of Waiter
son and found the window open and
Wattersons hat on the desk. Under !,
was a package of law papers which Wat
terson had intended to take home with
him.
number of the girls in the Office
followed Mr.. Wing into the empty room
and looked out of the window. They
saw the body upon the roof. nine stories
below. and became hysterical. For half
an hour their cries added to the excite
ment that prevailed.
DR. Laurie of the Hudson Street Hos
pital made an examination of the body
on the roof. He at once decided that the
death was accidental and gave permission
for the body to be removed to Waiter
sons late home, 231 I'd avenue.
As nearly as can be ascertalned w at
terson fell while trying either to raise or
bower Il window. The sill is low and there
is small radiator under it. To handle
the sash one has to lean forward.
Lost His Balance.
The theory is that Watterson leaned
over the radiator and, Juggling at the
window-which works heavily-lost his
balance. He had on his overcoat and had
evidently prepared to start for home. lie
had donned the overcoat after leaving the
library.
AS he passed out of the library he stop
ped at the room occupied by Frederick
Bagg and spoke to him cheeriy. Bagg
is the last person who saw him alive
In Watterson's pockets were gold
watch, q cigarette case and a number of
other articles that were broken in the
fall.
Wing hurried to the Evarts apartments.
on Second avenue. where Mr.. and Mrs.
Watterson have lived on the third floor,
and was the first to inform the young
wife of the tragedy. The news pros
trated her
Mrs. Watterson was Miss Alice
Brewer. She was married to Harvey
Watterson three years ago. The couple
have no children. Harvey was thirty
years old. and the younger of the two
sons of Henry Watterson. He was
graduate Of the law department ,1,nn of tn, the
in Columbia he taught in night school,
his pupils for the most part being en-
ployes of the printing press manufac-
turing firm of Robert Hoe & Co.
Three years ago Watterson ran for as
semblyman in an upper west side district
on a Tammany ticket and was defeated
He was a vigorous and active demo-
crat and good orator. He was a mem
Der of the Southern Society. the Man
haitian Club and the Kentucky So
ciety.
Watterson was about six feet tall,
smooth shaven. with brown hair and
eyes, and weighed about 100 pounds.
Father Is Grief Stricken.
4 LOUISVILLE. KY, November 12.-News
of the tragic death of Harvey w. Wat
) terson first came to friends Of the father,
Henry Watterson. editor Ct the Courier
Journal. They Immediately formed pa
; thetic little conspiracy to break the news
, to the editor as gently a. possible
, Telephone communication with his coun-
} try home fourteen miles from the city,
. was Immediately stopped. The coterie
Ridgely. widow of a former consul gen.
; eral to Mexico the difficult task of telling
; the father. Mrs. Ridgely, suddenly be-
; reayed a few weeks ago of the husband
who had been Mr.. Watterson's protege
, and intimate friend, accomplished her
mission in the best manner possible.
Last night the editor sat at his home be-
numbed by grief Hundreds of kilograms
; from men of national prominence already
; are pouring in offering coincidence and
sympathy.
! The bond between Mr. Watterson and his
son was unusually strong. their interest
in politics and national affairs being COM
mon. The fathers satisfaction at the
rapidly widening career Of the son was
. great.
1t was decided by the family that Mr..
WattersOn would not be able to undertake
. a journey to New York. Mrs. Harvey
Watterson was therefore asked to bring
the body to Louisville.
; This probably will be done Friday or
! Saturday. The funeral will probably be
L MT.