Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-05
BANK CLERK ENDS
LIFE WITH PISTOL
Robert J. Thicker, of Penn
sylvania Company, Kills
Himself
THIRTY YEARS OF SERVICE

Robert J. Thicker, a clerk in the trust de-
partment Of the Pennsylvania Company TOT
Insurances on Lives and Granting Annu-
tiles, committed suicide by shooting himself
this morning in his home at 56l2 Lans-
downe avenue. He was fifty-one years old
and had been in the company's employ for
thirty years lie is survived by widow
and one SON Morton J. Thicker, twenty
three years old.
]. r Carpenter assistant treasurer OF
the Pennsylvania Company for assurances
on Lives ard Granting Annuites, made the
following statement:
Robert j. Thicker was employed as
clerk in the trust department of the COM
pany for thirty years or more He was a
faithful cmploye and the company can
assign no reason for his act, except that
he had been despondent and on the verge
Of nervous breakdown for some weeks.
lie had been away from the office III for
the last few days.
Mr. Carpenter. answering inquiries Of
reporter. said:
Mr. Thicker. having been for years em-
ploycd by the company. was known by
every one here and was held In the high
est esteem by every one. His death was
severe shock to us all"
Asked If there was any relation between
Mr. Trickers death and the embezzlement
Of approximately 100000 Of the company'E
funds by Jesse Williamson, I'd, society and
club man and secretary of the company.
Mr. Carpenter said:
THE Williamson matter was deeply de-
plored and It upset us all. Mr.. Thicker Of
course regretted It. He was upset. as We
all were, but apparently no more than we
all were He knew Mr.. Williamson In the
company, but outside OF business their walks
in life lay apart"
on June 30 Williamson was sentenced
to serve not less than eight nor more than
twenty-four years I'm the penitentiary and
to pay fine OF $1,000.
Al the Thicker home this morning. Mrs
THICKER said
MY husband knew Mr. Williamson very
well in business way, but they had no
associations outside Of business. He said
little about the Williamson case to me. lie
made some meutiOn Of II from time to time
but did not seem to be taking It too Sc
riousy. though, Of course he was sorry
about it."
Mr. Trickers specific duty was 10 inven-
tory incoming estates and submit his inven-
tories to the courts.
Last Tuesday Mr. Thicker started for
town as usual, nut returned TO MS nome in
about two hours. lie had gone as far as
Broad street station, he said, but did not
feel we'll so had decided to come home
Mr. Thicker refused to let a doctor he
called. He remained about the house all
day. He appeared to feel a little better
yesterday, but did not go out OF the house.
His spirits seemed to be below normal
Mr. Thicker called his son. as was his
custom. about : o'clock this morning and
then went back to bed Shortly before
Mrs. Thicker and her son heard noise in
the living room az of a picture falling
They went in to find Mr.. Thicker dying
lie had shot himself in the right temple
with new revolver Neither his wife nor
his son had ever known him TO have a
pistol.
DR.. H. b. Kobler. Of Sixty-third and
Media streets, was called. Mr.. Thicker was
dead when he arrived.
Mr. Trickers decision to commit suicide
was reached apparently just as he was
about to shave. lie had laid out his shaw
ing materials and even had moistened the
shaving brush