Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-05-22
SUICIDE
FOLLOWS
failure
Harris Gutman Takes Gas
Rather Than Face
Creditors.
SECRETARY TREASURER =
BANKRUPT CONCERN
Star Spring Mattress Company
Declared Insolvent First /,
of May. II

Rather than face his creditors, WITH
whom he had arranged a meeting for
today, Harris Gutman. one of the pro-
prietors of the Star Spring Mattress
Company, which was declared bank
rupt May l, ended his life by inhaling
gas at his home, 81 Stratford place, to-
day.
Gutman had been secretary and
treasurer of the mattress company for
the last eight years. He had been with
the company since 1t began business
fifteen years ago. He was associated
in the business with his brother, Abra-
ham Gutman, and Mendel Makowski.
The concern prospered until a year
ago, when it's business began to decline.
Involuntary bankruptcy proceedings
were brought against 1t April 15 IT
was adjudged bankrupt May 1, with
liabilities of $4,000 and assets Of
800, ,OOO
Had Been Morose.
Since the failure of his business Gut
man had been morose. He had been
witness at many of the hearings of
the case before Referee in Bankruptcy
Edwin g. Adams He was examined
last week by the receiver appointed for
the company. David II. Elder. Judge
Adams called meeting of the creditors
of the compa-J with Gutman and his
colleagues for 10 o'clock this mornings,
His spirit broken by the long legal
campaign in which he had engaged.
Gutman evidently chose death rather
than this conference. Strangely enough
.dge Adams, because of an injury to
his foot he had sustained, ordered the
meeting postponed this morning. This
postponement was made before Judge
Adams learned that Gu. man was dead
by his own hand.
The tragedy was discovered about
4 80 o'clock this morning Samuel Kar-
rilis, who lived In the Stratford place
house, in the apartment above that oc-
cupied by the Gutmans, was awakened
by the heavy breathing of his brother,
Alexander, who was sleeping with him.
With difficulty he awakened the elder.
The odor of gas in the room was easily
be coming from below, and, dressing
hastily they hurried to the GutlnaR
apartment. The gas trail was followed
to Gutmans bedroom, the door of which
was locked. Alexander forced this door.
Gutman was found lying on the bed.
dead A rubber tube ran down from
the gas jet. One end, which had been
in his mouth and had slipped out, lay
near his hand
Learned Father Had Died.
1t was stated by one who knew OF
the business of the Star Spring Bed
street and 113 New Jersey Railroad
avenue. that the concern had lost $751;
900 during the past year. Gutman's
only son, Isadore, backed by his father
had made two unfortunate business.
ventures. A month ago Gutman learned
that his aged father, whom he had not
seen for twenty years, had died in
Jerusalem
After this blow Gutman's moroseness
merged into melancholy and relatives
feared that his mind would give way.
He was sent to New York for a two
weeks visit with his brother Among
his preparations for suicide was the
writing of a letter to his brother. In
this letter, written in his native tongue,
he praised his wife highly told of her
helpfulness through the years they had
been together and consigned her to his
brothers care.