The sun., 1919-01-30
DETECTIVE STAYS
PATCHOGUE BANKER
W. W. Wright, Brooklyn, Kills
Smith w. COnklin in
Latter'S Office.
SUICIDE ATTEMPT FAILS
Victim Had Forced Sale Of
100000 Property His
Murderer Inherited.

Just as patchogue, l.. l.. folk were
getting dinner over and were strollng
down Main street yesterday afternoon on
their way back to work a brisk, trim
man Of So clad in well fitting blue serge,
crossed the corner at North Ocean ave-
nue. and Main street spoke to several
persons he met and paused at the en-
trance to the Tower Building.
Constable John Glover recognized him
as former resident and man fire..
ouently In town. He was William w.
Wright of the Wright Detective Agency.
1879 Nassau street. Manhattan, with his
home in % Stuyvesant avenue, Brook
Ign.
You know whose office is up here"
said Wright. jerking his hand upward.
well, I've been having trouble with
him.
Constable Glover could not recall later
that there was anything sinister in his
friends tone, or that there seemed to
be anything irrational in his conduct.
Proceeding upstairs Detective Wright
entered an office on the first floor and
within twenty minutes the report of five
revolver shots was heard. One of the
bullets was intended for Wright him-
self according to the police, 1t cut
small furrow on one side of his head.
but did not kill him.
Three of the shots riddled the body
of Smith W. Conklin. 20, millionaire
banker and real estate operator of
Patchogue, until recently vice-president
of the Pratt. Grisby. Conklin Company,
149 Broadway. securities dealers. Mr..
Conkln died before surgical aid could
be summoned
Pedestrians below and across the
street heard Mr.. Conklin cry:
George, George, come up and help
me-"
The words we're addressed to Patrol
man George w. Denton, on duty at that
corner. For a moment Mr. Conklin ap-
peared at the window. Then he staggered
and fell back out Of sight Patrolman
Denton and George II. Furman. County
Judge Of Nassau county. son-in-law Of
Mr. Conklin, whose offices are adjoln-
ing. hurried into the room.
A book Mr.. Conkln had been reading
was turned down on his desk with his
reading glasses resting on the covers.
There was no sign OF a struggle Near
the window lay the dead millionaire.
Half way to the door was Wright, de-
lirious with the pain of his wound
Wright was taken to the PatcNoeue
clinic. where it was said his condition is
not serious
ForecIosed on Mortgages.
The situation existing between the
millionaire and Wright was pretty well
known among the townspeople. Wright
Rad been the executor of property in
Patchogue valued at $40. 600 left him by
his father, James r Wright. on which
n forced sale was made a year ago TO
satisfy mortgages held by Mr.. Conklin.
At various times during the last few
months Wright had approached the ten
ants OF the property. which includes six
or seven houses, and demanded the
rentals At Mr. Conklin's orhers the ten
ants refused TO turn over the money.
Yesterday Wright reached Patchogue
on a noon train and repeated the per-
Torrance. Charles Webb. a shoemaker.
one OF the tenants said Wright became
enraged at his refusal to pay and said
he would FIX IT."
The murder was committed about >
o'clock and it is believed by the police
that Wright went at once TO Mr.. Conk-
Inns Office after seeing the tenants.
Mrs Wright. when seen at her home
IN Brooklyn last night, said she believed
her husband became unbalanced over
the troubles he had encountered in the
management OF the Patchogue property.
He shared the rentals with brother
George, she said. Two years ago she
had taken a $500 mortgage on the
place and later wished to foreClose on
it. Mr. Wright objected strenuously At
the time but one day came home evil
IDENTIFY in mood OF detection and said ::
~ have lost everything. Go ahead
and foreclose, Conklin has swindled US
out Of everything
The foreclosure was made, Mrs.
Wright said. hut her husband seemed
10 be greatly changed. He became NOR
bid. She said he had no weapon at his
home, but lie might have had one at
his Nassau street office. She was GER
tain he had become unbalanced over the
matter.
Founder OF Two Banks.
Mr.. Conklin was highly regarded in
Patchogue. lie was the founder OF the
Patchogue Bank and was director of
tho Union Savings Bank In Patchogue.
For several years he had been prominent
IN politics, was once u Justice of the
Peace and was a candidate on the Re
publican ticket for County Treasurer.
Several years ago he had a big clock
Installed on the tower of the building in
which he was killed.
In his habits and genial disposition
Mr.. Conklin was transformations and
sincere. Since his retirement from the
firm OF brokers he was daily at his
PatchoEue office, employing no assist
or carefully picked them out on a type
writer.
He IS survived by his daughter. Mrs.
George II. Furman. who is prominent
socially in that section. With lie Roy
NJ. Young District Attorney. Mr.. Fur
man made a twenty mile automobile
trip TO get Coroner G.. S. Moore at Bay
Shore. and on the way picked up ANA
W, Biggs. Sheriff. When the party re-
turned pictures were taken of the room
and the position in which Mr.. Conklln' s
body was found
Or. William II. Roe. health commits
sioner for the town OF Brook Haven, and
DR.. Harry Tnger also were called In.
After the, impromptu hearing Coroner
Moore decided that Mr.. Conklin's death
was due to gunshot wounds. He ordered
Wright's arrest and sent guard to the
clinic.l
No arrangements for Mr.. Conklin's
funeral were made yesterday.
Lewis A. Meunch. real estate agent,
who has offices adjoining Mr. Conkin's.
later told the police he had received "A
mysterious telephone call earlier In the
day from a man who gave the name Of
"Wilson." which he believes was ruse
Of Wright tn learn whether he would be
In during the afternoon. Mr., Meunch
replied that he would be out on business.
WTiEhts call was made when there were
no other persons on the floor on which
Mr., Conkln's Office Is located.
Wright reganed consciousness last
night sufficiently to make brief state
ment to District Attorney Young.
81 Waa in tina ufIi,e tuputy t,,inutoS