The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
DRUGGIST A SUICIDE
BECAUSE OF ARREST
Little Girls Deny Injury by
Him, a. Was Charged
by Principal.
COULDN'T STAND DISGRACE
Was to Have Been Tried on
Tuesday-Accused silent
on Case.

John A. Boyken. q druggist In Harlem
for thirty-two years. who was at one time
thought to be wealthy. committed suicide
yesterday afternoon by drinking hydro
cyanlc acid In the living apartment at the
His clerk. John Morris. Of 24o5 Second
avenue. found tho old man breathing his
last.
one Of four notes which he wrote hur-
rl,dly before he drank the poison gave the
reason for the well planned act. He had
been arrested on Monday last on war
rant issued by Magistrate Appleton In the
Harlem court charging him with imper-
illins the morals of minors.
Miss Helen A. Stein. principal OF Pub
lie School I5s, at East l1eth street and
Second avenue, one block away from the
r.ore, Tot the warrant In the name OF
three tweive-year-old children in her
rchool, who later denied that the drug
Eis, had molested them. Boyken was to
be tried In special SESSIONS on Tuesday
and the note he left simply said that he
could not sand the disgrace
lie was 60 years old and was well
known In Harlem for many years.
Investigation by Coroner Healey
brought to light four notes. One was adj
dressed to the Coroner. telling him that
Boyken's act was premeditated. The
tecOnu WAS 10 MS SOL, JouH ~ ipoy nSh,
Jr. OF lOl West Eighty-ninth street. and
his daughter. 1t expressed his regret at
committing suicide. but added Il could
not stand tho disgrace"
The third letter asked the police 20
notify his son and daughter and the
fourth contained his will. II was simple
and left all he had to his son.
Mr.. Boyken. Jr.. came to the store last
night, but could not say much about his
fathers death. Neighbors said they
knew the old man had been separate
from his wife for eighteen years. but his
son denied this and declared his mother
was dead.
The Son made no attempt to explain
the suicide. He would not give his sis
ter's address. He said she was en-
ployed by German baron and that WAS
ALL Coroner Healy gave permission for
burial and the son took charge OF the
mans affairs.
The disgrace was thought to he this
On last Monday Boyken was arrested
and arraigned In the Harlem court on
Miss STEMS charge The complaint al
eyed that he had imperilled the morals
OF three; children. Dora Prince, 12 years
old, OF c3l East listh street and Annie
and Lillian Seretcki twins IL years old.
Of 226 East llsth street
Their parents said last night that they
did not know OF the complaint until they
read OF Boyken's arraignment IN a loca!
paper and then got summonses to appear
In the court of Special Sessions on Tues
day.
Dora Prince told her mother that the
school principal, Miss Stein, had called
her 10 the principals Office, questioned
her about the old man and warned her
under no circumstances to tell her mother
about tho incident. Tho child obeyed
until her mother found Il out through
other channels.
The other two children did not tell
their mother until she got the summons
to court and asked them They both
, denied that Boyken had done anything &c
them. Dora Prince did likewise. Boy
ken was out on bail and all concerned
were waiting for the trial with interes,
| and surprise.
! Miss Helen 4. Stein. who was out las,
night when reporters called. reached her
home at ljs East Seventy second stree,
, shortly after midnight A relative speak
! ing for her over the telephone said she
would not be disturbed to discuss the sui
eide with any one until to-day.