New-York tribune., 1910-08-31
CUT THROAT; DIES IN BATH.
Wealthy Chicago Man a Suicide
in the Hotel KniCkerboCker.
VICTIM OF NERVE TROUBLE
S. J. Hirsh Had Vainly Sought
Relief in Travel and Was on
Homeward Journey.

Solomon ! Hirsh. = wealthy clothing
manufacturer of the firm Of Hirsh. Wick
wire &, Co. Of Chicago. committed suc'he
in his suite on the seventh floor Of the
Hotel Knickerbocier yesterday afternoon
about ! o'clock by cutting his throat with
a razor. Mr.. Irsh returned TO New YORK
2 week ago in company with hts friend,
Walter Reed. of Chicago. from two
months trip in Europe. spent in search OF
relief from a serious nervous breakdown
Mr. TIjrsh's room looked out on the hotel 8
inner court and Margaret kohier, a maid,
happened to be in a room on the opposite
side Yesterday afternoon, and on looking
out Of the window shortly after the hour
named noticed Mr.. Hrsh sitting at his
desk with blood flowing from wound IN
his temple She Immediately sent for Harry
Blades. the house detective. but before he
could reach the room the waiter on the
seventh floor received n call from room 100
and raped on the door.
Mr. Hirsh then jumped from the desk
where he vas writing. rushed UP to the
mirror in the bathroom. slashed his throat
with the razor. threw himself into the
hathtub and turned on the water
Blades arrived at the time and. finding
the door 10 room 725 locked. obtained ac-
cess through the adjoining room. He fouhd
Iiirsh in the bathtub almost covered with
water The razor had caught between the
bathtub and the wall
Hirsh Was Speeohess.
Blades said the man was too far gone to
ssv ANYTHING. and that he removed the
water Ming from the tub to let the water
run ont and sent for Or. I. l. Hin. the
house physician Of the hotel. and the Cor
oner Hirsh was dead before the physician
or Coroner arrived.
Coroner Holtzhau=er found several notes
IN the desk in the room IN which Hirsh
had written on telegraph blanks, It was
evident that the letters were written Just
before Hirsh had taken his life as several
Of them were stained with blood The teie-
grams we're not addressed or signed
The first Of the notes read:
IAN the things in the trunk are to he
disposed Of according a I have lahehed
them The calabssh pipes are for any 81
the boys in the Office vino smoke
4 second evidently referred to his friend
and in this he wrote:
see that Walter is taken care of for the
remainder of his life feel better now
than ! have felt for some time
The third read: she leaves to-day on the
Century for ChiCa GO And the last 5000
luck to Won all. but It is no ones fauit oht
NV own. and have been this way al my
life. and don't think anything or any one
could give me any sense. so don't censure
Yourself in any way
Mr. Reed said he did not know to whom
JIirsh referred in the second note He said
Hirsh knew q Young lady In Chicago. and at
one time he had been in love. hut that II
he 1aI killed
self on account of love affair.
An Invalid for Years
Mr. Hirsh. nho is. according tn MI
Reed. one Of the largest stockholders of
his fathers firm. IItrsh, WiCkWire & Co.
clothing manufacturers in Chicago. with
Now York Offices at No. "a 21st street, had
heen In very poor health for several years.
Mr., Reed said that in spite of his travels
through the various countries of Europe
visits to the baths at Baden and other
health resorts. when they reached Ne"
York Hirsh was not much better in health
than he had been when they left Chicago
last June.
Mr. Hirsh and Nj. Reed had intended
leaving for Chicago on Monday afternoon,
but altered their plans and decided to SO
Yesterday. Mr Reed had gone out TO see
to some business matters when his friend
killed himself.
Mr.. Reed said last night he was COM
pleteIv surprised by Hirsh's act. that they
had gone to the theatre on Monday night
and to restaurant afterward and that
when ne left him in the hotel yesterday
about noon he seemed IN his usual spirits.
Coroner Holtzhauser found on Hirsh's
nerson $40 IN cash and handbook that
showed he had s.. 761 on deposit in the Bank
OF the Metropolis. in this city. According
10 Mr.. Reed the dead man was worth
about s7.Soo0oo.
The body was taken by Edward ]. ScuIly
to his undertaking esta blishment, at No 81
Sixth avenue