The evening world., 1909-03-16
TREASURY AGENT
KILLED BY FALL IN
STRANGE HOUSE
Frank C. Travers TumbleS
Down Stairs and Fractures
His Skull.
PROTEGEOFROOSEVELT
Not Known in Building Where
Found, but Identified by
Wife'S Letters.
PROTEGEOFROOSEVELT

Frank c. Travers, a special employee
Of the Treasury Department. employed
on confidential duty at the Custom
House, was killed by an accidental fall
downstairs In a fathouse at No, 5o5
West One Hundred and Forty-nlnth
street early to-day. From the fact that
4 bottle partially filled with gin was
found In his pockets and that he had no
business in the building it is believed he
wandered In while intoxicated and STUN
Died down the stairway in the dark
Up TO O few weeks ago Travers lived
1t No. $50 Convent avenue near One
Hundred and Fiftieth street with his
wlfa formerly Miss Helen King, of Eliz-
abeth, and young daughter. The
household was broken up. and Mrs.
Travers went to live with her parents at
No. SIS North Broad street, Elizabeth.
1t was supposed that Travers went
there. too.
The address In Convent avenue Is
about block and a half away from
No. 500 West One Hundred and Forty
ninth street. Travers was somewhat
familiar with that part OF town and
= was accustomed to leaving the Subway
It the One Hundred and Forty-tifth
street station.
Got In Wrong House.
His relatives believe he got off the
Subway last night in a confused con-
ditlon and supposed that No. 500 West
One Hundred and Forty-ninth street
was his home. They think he might
have had room In the neighborhood.
He rang the bell Of Mrs. Brown, who
lives on the third floor, and she, think
ing It might be telegraph messenger.
opened the door but no one came up
the stairs.
This was about : or 3 o'clock. Mrs.
Huntley, the janltress, heard sound
n II some one had fallen at about that
time. and Mrs. Brown, who was listen
ing at her door up stairs, heard the
same sound. Mrs. Huntley investigated
and found the body Of man lying in
the cellar at the foot OF a steep narrow
stairway leading to the main hall.
The Identity Of the dead man was es-
tabllshed by a letter from his wife
found In his pocket addressed to him at
room No. lO6, Custom.H House. and by
~ nd hn at 10
clothing. He had two pawn tickets
. made out to IF. C. Travis" showing
a loan Of 81 on some silver spoons and
Sll2 on pair of trousers.
Relatives Get Body.
V. Paul Travers, a brother OF the dead
man who Is in the Irvine and dCrdage
business at No. %! Broadway. was notl-
He'd OF the tragedy at his home a,
Great Neck, l.. /, He was unable to
come TO- town at once, but eommunl.
Gated with his cousin. ]. y. Travers. oil
No 1t3 Southern Boulevard, who tooR
charge Of the body.
Travers's skull was fractured by the
fall, and It is believed his neck was
broken. He did not move after he
struck the cement floor of the cellar
There was no reason why ne Should
enter the One Hundred and Foi ty-nlntl
street house, as no one in the building
knew him.
Friend OF Roosevelt.
Frank C. Trayers owed his appoint
ment to the Customs service TO Presi
dent Roosevetl's personal influence. H'
was a son OF the late Frank G. Traver.
OF Oyster Bay, distant relative of VII!
lam Travers, after whom DistI'ct-Attor
ney Jerome was named
The elder Travers died about twt
years ago. Philbin, Beekman & Men
ken, the law firm having charge o
the estate, was given the care Of Frank
Former District AttOrney Philbin 20
President Roosevelt 10 appoint IT,
young man to a Government job, an,
fravers was known in the Custom
House as the Presidents personal ap
po!ntse.
"Mr. Travers," said Special Agent
G. Cummings. TO whose department tn
Presidents friend was assigned, wa
never given any important work. II
was generally assigned to drawbacl
sases,"
Nr. Philbin was frequent visitor t,