The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-05-11
PROFITEER KILLS SELF.
Had Been Placed Under Arrest BY
Federal Authorities.

The New York World of April n,
tells the following sad story, giving
! the facts in detail:
J Joseph Nichthauser, owner of one
of the largest haberdashery shops IN
Brooklyn, who was arrested Saturday
charged with profteering, in fit of
despordency shot himself through the
right temple early yesterday morning
in his home, No. 78 Prospect Park,
/ West Brooklyn, and died instantly.
This simple entry in the book of the
Medical Examiner in Brooklyn de-
scribes the suicide:
"Died at 1885 a. nl., Joseph Mich
thauser, fifty, caused by being ar
rested by the federal authorities for
profteering, by shot in his right
temple in his bedroom of his apart
/ ments on the third floor, above ad-
dress, using a .32 calibre revolver.
DR.. W. C. Griswold, of No. 78 Pros
pect Park, West, who was summoned,
pronounced him dead upon arrival.
Nothing suspicious. The body was
discovered by his wife, Regina"
Nichthauser was arrested by
Agents Edward Williams and Shelby
Williams, of the Flying Squadron"
of the department of justice, the first
man to be arrested here in the feder-
al campaign. He was charged with
marking up a rain coat which cost
him s23 to S45. United States Com
missioner McCabe held him in $4,000
bail for hearing on April 21.
After his release on bail Nitchthau-
ser went to his apartment in the
Bryn Mawr, fronting on Prospect
Park. He was morose and his wife
and three children puzzled over the
reason until one Of the children rush
ed in with an evening newspaper tell
ing the story of Nichthauser's arrest.
Nicnthauser scarcely touched his
dinner, and a gloom settled over the
household. Nichthauser remained up
until late hour, smoking moodlly.
His wife tried vainly to comfort him.
When he retired his restlessness IN
creased Mrs. Nitchthauser said. He;
got up several times to smoke. Short
ly after daybreak the fatal shot
aroused the family. !
When reporter for The World
went to their home yesterday Mrs.
Nichthauser and her son, who wore an
American Legion button, and answer
ed the bell. eve have nothing to
say" the son said.
The information which led to the
arrest of Nichthauser came to j. j.
Price of the Flying Squadron"
Friday, in a haberdashery shop on
Park Row. A salesman there told
Price:
eff you are looking for a profteer
I'll show you how to get the biggest
in the business. l know because l
worked for this fellow. He marks
overcoats. raincoats and everything
up from $24 to $50"
He gave Mr.. Price card on which
was written: /
Joseph Nichthauser, Montague and
Court streets, Brooklyn. His cost
mark code is "God help u.s." The
letters represented the figures l to 9
and X indicated O. :.
"Flying Squadron" men visited
Nichthauser's shop and with this code
discovered that raincoats which cost
the merchant $23 were selling at $45,
and others that cost $50 were marked
up to s64. On examining Nichthau-
ser's books the federal men found
that during 1919 his gross sales were
s123,7S7.36; his merchandise cost
s77,705.79; his gross profits were
s46,0s1.56, and overhead charges
were S21 ,694.47, including $6,43O
which Nichthauser allowed himself as
salary.