The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-09-16
CUT HIS THROAT
Despondent Banker, Head Of Union Trust
Company, Kills Himself.
I'LL HEALTH THE CAUSE

john W., Castles, One of the Most
ProminerS Men in New York,
Cuts His Own Throat in
Hospital-Act Said to Have Been
Due to Ill Health.
John w. Castles, president of the
Union Trust Company, of New York
city, capitalized at S1,000,000,
director in other we'll known cor
porations, and prominent in club
and social life in New York and
the South, cut his throat from ear
to ear in the Grand Union Hotel
Monday afternoon and was found
dead stretched across bed. He
had been in i'll health for some time,
and his suicide is ascribed solely to
nervous breakdown and not to
financial troubles.
His body was discovered about 8
o'clock Monday night by his brother,
Burton S. Castles, who, having be-
come alarmed at Mr. Castles failure
to return home from the bank, be-
gan 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 4:30 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 he ended his
life soon after closing the door be-
hind him. The body, dressed only
in the under garments, was lying
across the bed in the room, while on
a table nearby was bloody razor,
with which he ended his life. Ex-
animation showed that he. had sew
cred both the windpipe and the car
told artery, but Notwithstanding this
had made his way to the bed before
he expired. The position of the ra.
zor leads to the belief that he stood
before a mirror while slashing his
throat . = =
On a dresser near the bed there
was an eight ounce bottle, unlabel-'
led, but containing a pungent 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, but the
banker was beyond aid. The police
and coroner were then notified and
an investigation begun. 49, ="
According to his friends, MIR. 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 1, last.
+ Not long ago Mr.. Castles con-
dition became so serious that he was
sent to sanitarium at Kerhonksen,
N. Y, in Ulster county, where he
remained for three months under
treatment.
Mr.. Castles widow and two, chill
dren 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, Mr.. Castles moved to
New Yrok 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 despor.dent
banker. his brother was accompanied
by Eli B. 81 ings, director Of the
Charlotte, N. c., Electric Railway,
Light and Power Company, and a
lifelong friend CT the Castles: After
the finding of the body they looked
in vain for a note or letter explain
ing his suicide.
Mr. Castles had large interests in
Texas, and was at one time presi-
dent of the Hi5ernia Trust Company,
of New Orleans. BESIDES being pres
ident of the Union Trust Company.
Mr. Castles was a director of the
Central Park, North and East River
Railroad Company; the Central OF
Georgia Railway Company; the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Com
nany:; the Hanover National Bank,
of New York: the Maryland Trust
Company, of Baltimore, and the
MorriStOwn. " j.. Trust Company.
He was United States trustee for
the Northern Assurance Company,
Limited. Of London.