The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-07-27
MTT|NGER SHOT
SELF, SAY POLICE
HAD NO MONEY
AZ He Could Not Make Good
on Purchase of Home for
Bride -elect.

Developments in the mysterious case
of Benjamin Nittinger, the young man
who was found tn a bullet In his
brain In the vaG at lot at All South
Tenth street yesterday, have convinced
the police that the man fired the shot
himself. They believe that he had IN
dertaken financial obligations that he
was unable to fulfill and rather than
confess to Miss Anna Mailer, the girl
he was to have married tomorrow, he
took his life to end his trouble.
One Of the chief of these difficulties
was the house, valued at nearly $11.-
900. which he was to have purchased In
North Elizabeth yesterday. c. w. WILL
Jams, the real estate dealer of Eliza
beth, through whom he had made the
deal, had advanced the money to secure
the property and Nittinger was to have
made good to him yesterday. The po-
lice believe that he did not have the
money and saw no way of getting it.
Mother at Morgue.
MRS. Fannie Nittinger, OF 327 Bergen
street, the ~step~mother of the dead man,
went to Holes morgue this afternoon.
She did not know of the death until
told by her daughter. Catherine Benz.
1.-The last time I saw my stepson was
about three weeks ago." sssaid. HE
seen I'd happy then. 1 never knew him
when be did not have plenty of money.
I think he had a bank accoont ome-
wbj E. bot l do not know where. I am
lso[ that he did not kill himself, but I
id not know of anyone who would wish
to kill him. He did not have an enemy
In the world, as far as / know"
She arranged to have his funeral from
the morgue tomorrow night, with inter-
ment at Woodlawn Cemetery.
The matter of the house in Elizabeth
wasgto have been closed in the law
Offices of Lowry & Berger, in this city.
Mr.. Lowry states hat he knew moth
ing of the real estate deal except that
Mr.. Williams was to meet the pros
Rective buyer in his office yesterday
morning at 10:30 o'clock. Mr.. Williams
went to the office as agreed AND was
there informed of the death of the
man.
He then told Mr.. Lowy that the man
he had the appointment with was the
same Nittinger. He produced a con-
tract from his pocket showing that he
had made a $500 payment on the prop
efty. Mr.. Lowry told hin at the time
that 1t was rather queer that he should
lay out that amount of money without
getting collateral from Nittinger.
About the Real Estate Deal.
Mr.. Williams this morning stated
that he first met Nittinger. about one
month ago, when he came to his office,
having been recommended there by a
friend. Nittinger stated that he wanted
to purchase a house, as he was about to
be, married, and did not care about the
cost. He wanted a house in a good
residential section
After taking him about the city he
selected a house in Prince street, that
city. The cost was neal $1,000.
sThfs seemed not to be above his
means said Williams, "and he told me
he would see me later and bring his
fancee with him. He made about ten
trips to my Elizabeth office, and on sew
eral occasions 1 advanced him money.
The house that Mr.. Nittinger selected
was on the market and another man
wished to, purchase it. I notified him
and on last Friday he telephoned for
me to buy the house, and he would pay
me $762.50 in Philip Lowy's office on
Monday at 1920 a. m. I went imme-
diately and got possession of the place
and had. the contract to deliver to him
on Monday"
In speaking of Nittinger's jewelry,
MI. Williams stated that he had seen
no jewelry on Nittinger for two weeks
and that he was quite sure that he did
not have 1t in his possession. Cues
toned further on this point, Mr.. Will
Jams would not talk, merely stating
that Miss Maier could probably tell all
about hat.
His Salary Was Small.
The police also declare that the bust
ness opportunities which Nittinger
claimed to have had were largely mag
mary. They say hat they can find no
evidence of his having signed any con-
tract to go with a New York construc-
tson company, and that When he was
employed at Gould & Eberhardt's ma
chine shop he was not making enough
money to support a wife or to- purchase
~A