The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-09-22
Ill HEALTH THE CAUSE
BANKER, HEAD OF UNION TRUST
CO., KILLS HIMSELF.

John ". Castles. One of the Mos
II Prominen: Men in New York
Cuts His Own Thross
John ". Castles. president OF tn
Unioa Trust Company. Of New iorl
city. capitalized a, sl.oeo.ooo.
director IN other we'll known cor
poratioas. and prominent in clus
and social life in New York and
the South. cut his throat from ea'
70 ear in the Grand Union Eotel
Monday afternoon and was found
dead stretched across a bed. He
had been In Ill health for some time
and his suicide Is ascribed solely to
a nervous breakdown and not to
financial troubles.
His body was discovered about 3
O'Clock Monday night by his brother.
| Burton S. Castles. who. having be-
come alarmed at MI Castles failure
to return home from the bank. be-
gan a search through the hotels OF
| the city. Arriving at the Grand
Union. at 42d street and Parke ave-
nue.. he found that Mr.. Castles had
registered there under his own name
at +::30 O'Clock Monday afternoon.
and had gone Immediately to the
room assigned TO him on the second
floor. As his body was found cold
indications are that be ended his
life soon after CLOSING the door oc-
hind him. The body. dressed only
"a the under garments. was lying
across the bed in the room. while on
= table nearby was bloody razor.
with which he ended his life. Ex-
animation showed that he had sew
cred both the windp!pe and the car
told artery. bat notwithstanding this
had made his wsy to the bed before
he expired. The position OF the ra-
zor leads TO the belief that he stood
before mirror while slsshing his
throat
On e dresser near the bed there
was an eight ounce bottle. unlabel-
led. but containing punsent acid
Whether he had taken any OF this
before cutting his throat had not
been ascertained at last reports.
A physician was summoned hastily
after the body was found. 5St the
banker was beyond asa. The police
and coroner we're then notified and
an investigation begun.
According to his friends. Mr. Cas-
ties was broken in health by over
work. and had had little connection
with the Union Trust Company since
assuming the presidency Of the in
stitution on January /. last.
Not long ago Mr.. Castles con-
dition became so serious that he was
sent 20 sanitariun at Kerhoakson.
y. Y. in Ulster county. where he
remained Cor three months under
treatment
Mr. Castles widow and two chill
deen are In the Adirondacks. She
was notified OF her husbands death |
Coming originally from the South.
where he was well known in Texas
and Louisiana. MI Castles moved to
New ycok to assume the presidency
OF the Guaranty Trust Company sew
eral years ago. But In the latter
part Of last year he resigned this
position and on the opening Of the
new year stepped in as head OF the
Union Trust Company.
In the search for the respondent
banker. his brother was accompanied
by Eli B. Springs. director OF the
Charlotte. n. c.. Electric Railway.
Light and Power Company. ard
lifelong friend Of the Castles. After
the finding Of the body they looked
in vain for note Or letter explain
ing his suicide.
Mt, Castles had large interests In
Texas. and was at one time presi-
dent ot the Eibernia Trust Company,
OF New Orleans. Besides being pres
ident Of the Union Trust Company.
Mr.. Castles was director OF the
Central Park. North and East River
Railroad Company: the Central OF
Georgia Railway Company: the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Com
pany: the Hanover National Bank.
OF New York: the Maryland Trust
Company. OF Baltimore. and tie
Morrtstown. y. j.. Trust Company.
He was United States trustee for
the Northern Assurance Company.
limited. OF London.