Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-06
HANCE KILLS HIMSELF
Former Detroit Postmaster
Commits Suicide.
SHOT IN HIS OWN HOME
Sickness and Money Trouble Led to
the Deed.
HAD SUFFERED MUCH LATELY
Disappointed in His Promotion in
Trust Company With Which He
Was Connected.
AID SUFFERED MUCH LATELY

DETROIT. Mich, March 6.-Elwood L.
Hance, first vice president of the Union
Trust Company of this city. and former
postmaster of Detroit, shot and killed
himself early today in his home here.
Friends say that he had been greatly de-
pressed over his own financial affairs for
some time. Mr.. Hance's health also had
not been good, and it is supposed that
this aggravated the worry and lmpeiieo
him to shoot himself Mr.. Hance was
born in Wilmington. Del. fifty-six years
ago. and came to Detroit in 1873. He
was admitted to the bar and In 1889 was
apSointed postmaster When the Union
Trust Company was organized he was
made secretary and later vice president.
Mr. Hance rose about 6 o'clock from
the bed where he had. so Par as was
known, slept quietly all night and Sc
cured a revolver. He retired to "a rear
bed room of his home and there placed
the muzzle of the revolver In his mouth
and pulled the trigger. The bullet crashed
upward through his head and death was
instantaneous.
Had Vacation Coming.
President F. w. Blair of the Union
Trust Company and Henry Russell. one
of the directors and the company's legal
counsel. deny emphatically that the af-
fairs of the Union Trust Company are in
any way involved by any of Mr.. Hance's
financial difficulties. They also deny that
the affairs of the failed City Savings
Bank for which the Union Trust Com
pany is receiver. are entangled because of
Mr.. Hances management.
Mr.. Hance was at his office yesterday
as usual. and after supper last night
spent the early evening at cards with his
family. The suicide came just at the
with salary which the officers of the
company were planning to give him.
Personal Affairs Tangled.
Close friends say that Mr.. Hance's per-
sonar financial affairs had been badly en-
tangled for some time. and that he had
been undergoing tremendous mental
strain as a result. About four weeks
ago the Union Trust Company was in
measure reorganized. and Frank w.
Blair. auditor OF the Peoples State Saw
ings Bank was elected president, which
office had been vacant for about year
since the death of VIM c.. Mcmillan.
While it is intimated by some that dis
appointment over the elevation of an
outside man over him in the Union Trust
Company contributed largely to Mr..
Hance's depression. Henry Russell. di-
rector and legal counsel. says that Mr..
Hance had been told long, before the
election that he could not be made presi
dent of the institution.
Officers Statement.
DETROIT. Mich. March 6.-The officers
of the Union Trust Company in state
ment Which they issued at noon, declared
Mr. Hance's accounts with the company
are in excellent shape and that his suicide
could only havedbeen occasioned by causes
beyond their knowledge. The statement
says Mr. Hance had always been a faith
full and jealous official of the Union Trust
Company, and that he was a man of ex-
treme nervous temperament and sensitive
ness, which were intensified by severe
accident a few years ago. 1t continues:
1.-THE strain which he, in common with
the officers of other financial institutions
throughout the country was called upon
to undergo during the recent financial
crisis. bore especially heavy upon a man
Of his peculiar temperament. For some
time it has been apparent to the directors
that he was in need of rest. and arrange
ments had already been made to give him
a brief vacation in order that he might
obtain the recuperatiOn which he needed.
and it was understood he was about to
take the trip with an intimate friend. He
had no business relations with the compa-
ny which could have been the occasion of
any worry or depression and his accounts
and affairs are in excellent shape. The
officers of the company are unable to &C
count for the calamity, which could only
have been occasioned by causes beyond
their knowledge'