New-York tribune., 1909-09-14
j. w. CASTLES A SUICIDE
UNION TRUST PRESIDENT
CUTS HIS THROAT.
While Suffering from Nervous
BreakdO1cn Banker Ends His
Life in Grand Union Hotel. 4


razor stroke that severed his Iugular vein. The
reason for the act given last night by his
brother, Burton s Castles was that Mr.. Castles
had suffered recently acute nervous break
down. following an illness of about two months
This view was later emphasized by John v b
Thayer. secretary and director of the Union
Trust Company. who said that Mr. Castles had
been in poor health for some months, suffering
nom nervous breakdown and that only his
physical condition could have been responsible
for the suicide
MI Castles lived at No. $40 Park avenue. and
also had country home at Morristown N J.
MI Castles succeeded Edward King, who had
Oeen president Of the Union Trust Company
since 1873. In November Mr.. King was injured
~ CehtFal Park the horse he was riding falling
on him. He died ten days later
Mr.. Castles came to town from a sanatoriuu1
up the state on Wednesday Telling his pri-
vate secretary and his nurse yesterday morn
ing that ne was going to his Office in Nassau
street. he failed to return by D. m, and IL
was not until five hours afterward that diIigent
search by his brother. who is a cotton broker.
and Eli B. Springs. lifelong friend, showed
that he had gone to the Grand Union. regis
tered. and later killed himself IN Room as &C.
on the second floor
At o'clock last night the two men went IN
Mr.. Castles's room and knocked for admission.
Getting no response. the door was forced and
the body was found lying on the bed dressed
only in UnderclOthes. Mr.. CastIess hands were
folded across his breast. On a table at uhs
side Of the bed lay new black handled razor.
On another table at the foot OF the bed was a
black valise containing the rest of his clothing
BODY TAKEN To POLICE STATION.
DR.. Charles Richardson. of No. ss3 Lexington
| avenue. was called. He pronounced Mr. Castles
dead. and the body was taken to the East S5th
street police station. Among the effects were
/ found gold watch and chain. a silver pencil
| a cats-eye ring, some change and S64 in bills.
/ There was also found an empty bottle which
evidently had contained white fluid Of pungent
| odor- Coroner AcritelH said he would not hold
an inquest. There were no letters TO shed light
| upon motive and Mr.. CastIes's illness was
generally accepted as the cause.
/ Mr.. Springs said the illness OF Mr.. Castles
began about January 1. soon after he resigned
as president OF the Guaranty Trust Company.
He tried different physicians. Mr.. Springs said.
and finally decided to go to a sanatorium in
New York State, where he remained for sew
eral months. returning to this city on Wednes-
/ day.
Mr.. Castles went 20 his town house. said Mr.
Springs. and his altered appearance. which
/ showed him To be falling in health. shocked his
/ brother and John Fletcher. Mr.. Castles's private
| secretary. His brother thereupOn decided t..
send Mr.. Castles to Hot Springs. Ark. and
male nurse named Horan was employed to care
! for him.
/ MAKE SEARCH OF HOTELS.
The nurse said last night that he went with
.Ir. Cas,;es to the 42d street subway station at
| 10 O'Clock yesterday morning. where his patient
took a train for his Office. When Mr.. Castles
failed TO return TO his home by 4 D. m. the
brother teIephOned to the office OF the trust
/ cOp,Dapv aDd fv7r7adiataaIv bacau1a I1naaal-
when he failed to get in touch with the presi-
dent He and Fletcher and the nurse began a
search that took them into numerous hotels be-
fore they found that Mr.. Castles had signed his
own name on the register of the Grand Union
at 40 y. m.
Mrs. Castles and the two children we're spend
ing the summer at the AdirOndacks League
club. on Little Moose Lake They we're
formed of the suicide. and. awaiting Mrs
CastIes's return. the body will be taken 70 the
stephen Merritt undertaking establishment. In
Eighth avenue
George W. Linch. receiver of the Central
Park. North & East River Railroad, OF which
Mr. Castles was director. was greatly shocked
last night when he informed Of the suicide
He said he had last seen Mr.. Castles about a
week ago. and though he knew the banker had
been in poor health he had not expected such
an outcome.
interest in the affairs of the Central Park. North
& East River Railroad since it's receivershlp.
He characterized Mr.. Castles as an able hgure
in the financial world and equally noteworthy
as pleasant figure in social life-
SUCCESSFUL BANK PRESIDENT.
Mr Castles became president Of the Union
Trust Company January I, 1903. following his
resignation as president OF the Guaranty Trust
Company. post which he had filed since April.
1904. There was some talk at the time Mr..
Castles was selected to head the Union Trust
Company that George B. CorteIyou. then Secrs-
tary of the Treasury. would be chosen for the
place.
Mr. Castles was ffty-one years old He was
born in Texas He began his business career IN
New Orleans as a partner in the banking firm
OF Cameron. Castles & story. In 1892 he was
chosen temporary president OF the Southern Ma
ton Bank. OF that city. which in the following
year was merged with the Hibernian Bank and
Trust Company. of which he became president
The records show that during Mr.. Castles's ad-
ministratiOn of that Institution the deposits in
creased 100 per cent. While he was at the head
Of the Guaranty Trust Company the deposits in
creased from sS4OOO.OOO to more than s7O.Oo0000.
The Union Trust Company was organized IN
1864. and has it's offices at No. so Broadway.
The trustees Of the corporation are Richard t.
Wilson, H. Van Rensselaer, Kennedy w. EmIen
Roosevelt. James T. Woodward Augustus w
Kelley. n. Parker Shortridge. Harrison f. Gau-
try. Charles H. Tweed. James Speyer. Robert
Walton GOeIet. William Woodward. Alexander
Smith Cochran. John v. B.-Thayer. Arnory s.
Carhart. Walter P, Bliss. Frederick de P. Foster.
Amos r. Emo. Adrian Iselin, jr., and James G.
King. Mr.. Thayer is the secretary.
Mr.. Castles member Of the Union Nor
ristown. Downtown and Morris County Golf