Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-01

ARTHUR G. PLANT.
Unable to recover from his financial
losses and make good the amounts due
hts creditors, Arthur George Plant.
trading as A. G. Plant & Co.. bankers
and brokers at l415 G street north
west. and prominent in club and social
circles. last night committed suicide
In room at the Continental Hotel by
shooting himself in the head.
The suicide was generally accepted
as sequel to an action in bank
ruptcy and the appointment by Justice
Mccoy of receiver to take charge of
the assets of A. G. Plant & Co. Ac-
tton before Justice Mccoy was taken
late in the afternoon and Plant, it is
believed. killed himself about I o'clock
last night. although it was not until
8 o'clock that his body was found.
Probably realizing that court action
was inevitable and knowing he could
no longer satisfy his creditors, Plant
kept out of the way all day yesterday
Many anxious inquiries were made for
him during the day. and many of his
friends. knowing nothing of his finan-
cial reverses. were at loss to UNDER
stand why his banking and brokerage
Office was closed.
Suicide Supplies Explanation.
The explanation came last night in
the announcement of the suicide Co
ing to the hotel about IL o'clock yes
terday morning. Mr.. Plant applied to
Charles L. Hutchinson. assistant man.
ager, for u room. He had been a stock
holder in the hotel company, it is stat
ed. and was well acquainted with the
assistant manager. Mr.. Plant was to ID
that the hotel was flied with visitors
to the encampment and other guests,
and that it was impossible for him to
be given accommodations. He was
good-naturedly persistent, however,
telling the assistant manager that he
had just returned from Baltimore; that
he was tired, and needed rest.
Assuring the hotel man that he want
ed the room only until about or s
o'clock. the latter managed to get room
$40 in readiness for him, and a bellboy
showed him to it. Shortly after Z
o'clock one of the clerks made call
for Mr.. Plant, but received no response,
and about o'clock bellboy, who
had been sent to the room. returned
and reported that the door was locked
on the inside.
Mr.. Hutch nson had the door forced
open. and the body of the financier
was discovered stretched at full length
on the bed. His coat. collar and tie
had been removed. and an open Bible
in the room suggested that he had
sought spiritual consolation before
ending his life.
room by the Travellers Protective AS
sociation, it is stated, and turned
leaf indicated that Plant had read the
twenty-second Psalm. MY God. my
God. why hast Thou forsaken me?"
During the eleven hours the despond-
ma n nj a1 hA = &c.
he made no call for food or water
Shot Causes Instant Death.
Only one shot was necessary to end
his life. The shot was so well directed
that 1t penetrated his brain and brought
instant death. and. although the hotel
was crowded at the time the shot was
fred, the report of 1t was not heard by
was not until the door was forced open
that anything was known of the sui
eide.
Coroner hewitt visited the hotel soon
after the body was found. He was a
only a few doors from his home. and
1t fell to his lot to break the sad
news to the mother and other relatives
Mr.. Plant left no message of expla-
nation to his family. friends or cred
itors. SO far as the police and coroner
were advised. He went to the hotel
armed and, it is believed. brooded over
the affair until his nervous system
gave way under the strain. Then he
fred the shot which ended his life.
1t is stated that some of his friends
feared he might give way under his
financial troubles and yesterday search
was made for him. but without sue
cess. Friends say he was engaged to
be married. but that financial reverses
had caused a. postponement of the
event.
Mr. Plant resided at 1884 Calvert
street with his mother, Mrs. Louise c.
Plant, and Edward and Hortense KIo-
man, uncle and aunt. He also Is sur
The deceased. who was thirty-four
years old was a son of the late Capt
George H. Plant, member of the real
estate firm of Plant & Turpin.
identified With Local Institutions.
Several years before he graduated from
the law school of Columbian University
he entered the employ of the National
Savings, Safe Deposit and Trust Company
and has since been ident fed with other
local financial institutions. Friends
say that the European war had much
to do with his money losses. He OBJ
1ected to asking to be declared a bank
rupt, 1t is stated. expressing the belief
that the tide would turn and that he
" ould be able to repay his creditors
every cent he owed them.
Mr.. Plant was member of La Fay
ette Lodge, No. 10, F. A. A. NJ, and a
degree Scottish Rite Ma
son. He was a member of the National
Press Club, University, Commercial,
Columbia Country. Cosmos and WASH
ineton Canoe clubs Mrs. Cox, his sis
tar. resident of Baltimore, was with
her mother last night. Both were
greatly distressed by the tragedy.
Funeral services for Mr.. Plant will be
conducted at his late home at 3 o'clock
tomorrow Afternoon. The services will
be conducted by members Of La Fayette