New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-13
SUICIDE IN DEEP WELL
Robert LeCouver. Getty Record
Printer, Drowned.
WIFE SOUGHT TO SAVE HIM
Associate in Bank Says Bribes
Would Have fastened
Payments.
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune


Hackensack. \. J., MAY 12.-Robert Le-
oouver president Of the First National
Bank of Westwood. n. j.. and proprietor
Of the Lecouver Press. at No. 81 Nesey
street. New York. committed suicide early
this morning by jumping into well on
his estate at Westwood. lie was drowned
fr three feet OF water. His suicide was
rot a surprise 10 his wife and intimate
friends. for he had complained continually
during the last two months OF his failure
70 collect money due 10 him from New
York City for the printing Of THE City
Record" and he became much depressed.
A. B Bosert, a director of the Westwood
First National Bank. said soon after Mr.
Iecouver's body was found: Robert De-
couver killed himself because crooked poll
ricians ruined him. The accounts Of our
bank are absolutely straight Mr.. Le-
couver, who helped found the bank. four
years ago. and who has been president
from the first, was an able and strict ex-
ecutive.
But since he undertook the work for
the city. on January 1. he has been greatly
worried He had 10 mortgage his house 10
meet his payroll I sold him his house
which is one Of the finest in Westwood. and
I know. He told me last week that If he
handed across some dollars TO the right
PARTIES his payments from the city would
not be held up.
But. damn it all he told me. I won't
give them a cent promised Gaynor I
wouldn't. and won't"
The carly morning suicide was the cul-
uination Of an exciting night at Lecouver s
house where only the tireless vigilance of
his grief-stricken wife prevented him from
killing himself with his revolver. For
several hours Mrs. Lecouver watched her
husband and fought with him at intervals
IN her desperate efforts TO prevent self
destruction. This afternoon Mrs. Lecouver
IS a physical wreck
Mr. Lecouver was sixty years old. and
leaves a daughter. Ruth, aged fourteen, and
his wife.
Mayor Goodwin set az rest any suspicious
that the First National Bank was involved
by going over the banks accounts. and
B finding them in perfect condition. Tho de-
posts. according 70 last reports. aggregated
s324.315. Everything connected with the
hank was in first class order. Not a cent
was missing.
Last evening when Mr.. Lecouvor ap-
reared al his home for dinner his distract
e. appearance alarmed his wife and fright
ened his daughter ooh. papa" said the
child you're not forgetting that to-mor-
row Is mammals birthday, are YOU? Re
member. papa. must have money 10 buy
mamma a real nice present. You'll give
the money won't you?"
Mr. Lecouver gave the child some money
and remarked with a heavy sigh I'm
afraid mamma is going TO have a sad birth
day tomorrow"
Early this morning Lecouver managed TO
escape from the house in his slippers and
& bathrobe. His wife searched the garden.
but failed 10 find him. servant girl who
went 10 the we'll for water found one of
the buckets broken and became suspicious.
An automobile lamp was lowered in the
35-foot well. revealing the body in the
water. Coroner ". f. Tracey granted a
burial permit
Some information I'm regard TO the hold
ing W Of the bills Of the Lecouver Press
for printing The City Record" was OBJ
tanned at the Finance Department. II
seems that David Ferguson. Supervisor of
The City Record" who IS now III in
Georgia. had held up the bills of the COM
pany as he considered he had a right 70
DO when the work was not up 10 the mark
The bills held up. but finally paid. with a
S. per cent temporary deduction were: Janu-
ary. g. SIS: February. s. S0. annual report
% Finance Department $500. and civil list
S30o The March bill, $780,, was paid, with
only 10 per cent reduction II is usual 10
withhold 10 per cent of the bills against
the city until the expiration OF the contract
term.
on MAY Controller Prendergast asked the
Nayor 70 have the Board OF City Record
pass upon some claims that the printer
Rad against the city.
In order that the contractor suffer no
unnecessary hardship" ne wrote. Il would
suggest that the fnal adjustment OF these
claims be taken UP by the Board Of City
Record itself and that the board consider
the question Of the powers and duties Of
The Supervisor I'm determining the amount
90 he PAID under the various contracts for
printing which have been entered into ny
the city"
7. was also said yesterday that the COM
papv's payments had been held up for
time because Of an injunction obtained by
the Newspaper Deliverers' Union.
- a IL