| Notes |
- New York Times, February 25, 1921
Hartford Banker Commits Suicide
William B. Bassett, Asked to Resign From Phoenix Bank, Shoots Himself
KEPT TROUBLE FROM WIFE
President Had Charged His Private Life Unfitted Him to Remain in the Bank
Special to The New York Times
HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 24 - William B. Bassett, Vice President of the
Phoenix National Bank, one of the biggest in New England, committed suicide
today by shooting himself in the right temple at his home on Kenyon Street.
His act is attributed to President Leon P. Broadhurt's request for Mr.
Bassett's resignation yesterday afternoon, when he charged the Vice President
with "conduct unbecoming an officer of the bank."
Mr. Bassett presented his resignation, which was to have been placed
before the Directors of the bank this noon.
About 8 o'clock this morning Mrs. Bassett went to the bathroom while
Mr. Bassett was apparently sound asleep. She closed the door from the bedroom
to the hall and from the hall to the bathroom. When she returned she found her
husband lying in bed with his right hand holding a revolver and with a bullet
wound in his temple.
For two hours yesterday afternoon Mr. Broadhurst and Mr. Bassett
talked over the matter of the latter's resignation in the Directors' room of
the bank, the conference ending in Mr. Bassett being asked to resign. M
Bassett then went to his desk in the bank and it is believed he took from it
the revolver with which he ended his life this morning.
"Had I suspected that Mr. Bassett had intentions of taking the
revolver I surely would have arranged to prevent it," Mr. Broadhurst said.
"Although there was a scene in the Directors' room and Mr. Bassett broke down
completely when he learned that nothing short of his resignation wou
satisfactory under the circumstances, it could not be foreseen that it was a
case of despair that would drive him to take his life."
In commenting on the situation that led him to ask for Mr. Bassett's
resignation, Mr. Broadhurst said:
"Mr. Bassett's private life has been on my mind for a long period, and
throughout this period my constant first thought has been 'is everything all
right at the bank?' As late as Washington's birthday the auditors and the
officers, other than Mr. Bassett, went through the securities and other
affairs of the bank, and to our best knowledge and belief there has been no
tampering with the bank's funds."
Mr. Bassett made no complaint of unfair treatment in any way, M
Broadhurst said, but the realization that he must step out seemed to affect him
deeply.
After Mr. Bassett left the bank yesterday he went to his home and, his
wife says, he appeared to be in an especially cheerful state of mind. After
dinner friends called and played cards with Mr. and Mrs. Bassett. Mrs. Bassett
had not received even a hint that Mr. Bassett's resignation had been demanded.
Mr. Bassett was considerably in debt, but the latter part of January
arrangements were made to take care of his obligations, aside from small bills
which he had contracted about town.
Mr. Bassett was born in Hartford Aug. 16, 1879. He began his ba
experience with the State Bank, but on Sept. 14, 1896, went to the Phoenix
National Bank. He was appointed discount clerk in 1903, teller in 1904,
assistant cashier in 1907 and cashier in 1913. He has represented the
Republicans of the Tenth Ward in the Common Council and in the Board of
Alderman and served on the Board of Finance.
In May, 1916, he was appointed to the Police Board by Mayor Haggarty
and was reappointed in 1919 by Mayor Kinsella. His term was to have expired in
1922. For three years he had been President of the board. He was local Fuel
Administrator during the war.
Mr. Bassett was a member of the Hartford Club, the Hartford Golf Club,
the Choral Club of Hartford, the Republican Club, the Washington Commandery,
Knights Templar, and Sphinx Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is
survived by his wife, who was Miss Bertha W. Messenger, and two childre
Ruth, about 12 years old, who is at a school in New Jersey, and a little girl
2 1/2 years old.
William Burgis BASSETT, Banker, Financier
From Encyclopedia of Biography
One of the successful and progressive business men of Hartford,
Connecticut, is William Burgis Bassett, vice-president and cashier of t
Phoenix National Bank of that city, and a prominent figure in the financial
world there.
William Burgis Bassett received his education in the public schools of
Hartford, and was graduated from the high school there in 1897. He at once
entered the employ of the State Bank & Trust Company, where he remained for
about six months, and then came to the Phoenix National Bank in the humble
capacity of messenger, thus beginning the long association which is continuing
today. His willingness and aptness in the discharge of his duties drew to him
the favorable regard of his employers, and he rapidly rose in rank, having
held up to the present time all the positions in the bank up to that of vice-
president. Mr. Bassett enjoys the distinction of being the youngest vice-
president in a national bank in the State of Connecticut. What is implied in
this statement is greatly emphasized by the fact the Phoenix National Bank is
the largest bank in the State. Mr. Bassett is very active in all the
departments of the community's life, and takes a leading part in many of them.
He served six years as a member of the Court of Common Council and Board of
Aldermen, and was appointed in April, 1916, a member of the Board of Police
Commissioners. He is a prominent figure in social and fraternal circles, and
is affiliated with St. John's Lodge, No. 4, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons;
Pythagoras Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Wolcott Council, Royal and Select
Masters; Washington Commandery, Knights Templar; Sphinx Temple, Ancient Arabic
Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. For some years Mr. Bassett was a member of
the old Hartford Military Order, known as the Governor's Foot Guard, and when
he resigned held the rank of sergeant. He is at the present time a member of
the Veteran Corps. He is also a member of the Hartford Club, of which he is
now treasurer, and the Hartford Golf Club.
Mr. Bassett married, February 16, 1904, at Hartford, Bertha Messinger,
daughter of William C. Messinger, a native of Hartford, born Septemb
1891. They are the parents of one daughter, Ruth, born January 6, 1909. Mr.
Bassett is a member of the Farmington Avenue Congregational Church, while Mrs.
Bassett attends the Trinity Episcopal Church of Hartford.
|
Bassett Family Association Database
1879 - 1921 (41 years)