The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-07
SUICIDE Of A new YORK MERCHANT.

SUICIDE Of A new YORK MERCHANT.
co~-~~>~~>>,~>~~>>~~~~~
Mr.. Charles n. Leupp shoots Himsslf
In = Fit OF Inssnity-The Coroner's
Inqusst-Lifs and Character
Of the Deceased,
DC. &c. 30.
The community startled yesterday morning by the
intelligence that Mr.. Charles H. Leupp, leading leather
merchant in " the Swamp" and one Of most re-
spected and esteemed fellow citizens had peshed by his
act The melancholy occurred at his splendid
residence n the Of Twenty h street and Madison
avenue, Wednesday evening, at about halfpast Six
o'clock Mr.. Leupp was man Of nervous and
excitable temperament, and for several months
past has been subject intervals Of great mental iepres
sion 10 his intimate friends had twice ex
pressed his apprehension that he beco ming insane
These attacks became and frequent and severe
and within tho past 6ve or six weeks they have been A.
attended with strange Authorizations for instance that
bic house was in danger Of falling down. that he was the
object Of some mysterious conspiracy and that he WAS
watched by policemen. His friends had become much
alarmed by these manifestations that measures
about 70 be taken for pla ing him for time under re-
strant.
On Wednesday, from nine in the morning until four In
the afternoon, Mr. Leupp his countingroom 1t No
% Ferry street, engaged In business Thence he went
home and took dinner at the usual hour, with his two
daughters. During the meal Mr.. William f. Cook, Of Ge
neva acquaintance and FRIEND called At the house and
down at the table with the family Mr. Cook noticed
singular widne and strangeness Of on the part
or his host and being several times urged remain
night, at last decided that would be best accept the
invitation.
Soon after dinner Mr.. Leupp went TO his room and
changed his Not long afterwards be into the
where Mr. Cook and the ladies were in converse
top, kissed his daughters with unusual ervor, and then
returned his apartments. h about Eve minutes
the report OF gun heard and upon hurryng to his
apartments the unfortunate found lying
on his back stone dead, and the weapon with
which he had slain himself lying his body The
weapon a double barreled fowlng piece, which he
had been in the habit Of keeping in the house loaded
with shot, He appears to have sat down In chair open
ed his vest and placed the muxxle Of the gun against his
breast and then pulled the trigger by OF the
which found by his sde the greater part of the
charge entering the heart and causing instantaneous
death. physician Immediately summoned, but OF
nothing could be done, except 70 notify the Coro
ner the relations and immediate friends OF the de-
ceased.
THE INQUEST.
Yesterday morning Coroner schrmer proceeded to the
house held inquest which the following test
Geo. B. Bouton, ND, being duly sworn deposes and
says-I have made post norton examination of the
body OF Charles N. Leupp, now lying at this house;
found him lying upon his back, limbs extended, by
his sde and hands extended tho chest pre-
wing the ramToa guns s %
which belonged lying on bis len side hs vest was
disturbed upon the lett leg his pautaoons about the
centre Of the thigh were four large spots Of blood;
found gunshot wound IN the et side Of the body the
two and half inches from the median ne involving the
sixth and seventh ribs and heart which was very exen
ctralv otod. lvn0 tho
and ninth ribs, postcrory, fractured and the left
cavity Of the thorax contained large quantity of coagu
generally normal appearance. The gunshot wound was
the Of DEATH which wound from the history OF the
the appearance Of the body aud its surroundings
infer was caused by himself he being in sitting position
! at the time Of its infiction.
D. Williamson Lee sworn-Iam the partner and brother
in law Of the deceased; he the husband of my de-
ceased half sister; am thirty years Of age have
been in partnership with Mr. Leupp about fourteen years
during most OF the time have resided in the house,
almost always together and we1e terms Of
uncommon intimacy and oordialy like brothers, having
been brought up together during the past Elk years
have frequently observed part Mr. Leupp
dency TO depression Of spirits, with corresponding eeva
sd these its sad ever since
last October and increasing in frequency and almost
months although casual observer might have thought
HIM cheeriu during the last six weeks or two months the
depression was continuous almost without reaction and
became and intense to the end, until the last
cay Of his life, when he appeared camer as saw him
at place OF business yesterday, when left for Frod-
ing driven in from Fordham summons acquainting
with his DEATH during these six weeks Mr. Leupp had
subject TO hallucinatons Of almost every imaginable
variety upon almost every subject, without any support
basis in the actual circumstances which be placed
Dr. Ludlow in the habit OF visiting here as FRIEND
Mr. Leupp expressed suspicion that he was spy
there was nothing unusual in Dr. Ludlow's visits he
| was habtua caller at the house, and personal
| friend; Mr.. Leupp stayed with me most Of the
| time at Fordham; his apprehensions there the
same in the city, he came down one morning un tress
ed, with appearance Of great and alarm and
asked thought the house WAS safe TO stay in; he
rain wanted to remove his children from the house there
nothing in the house 10 justify apprehensons
count Of safety his hours Of retiring and rising
guar he would retire at seven and rise at ten the
morning, for example, be was under the impression that
he had organic disease Of the heart wouA request
had ceased to beat he imagined he things which he
did he under the haucination Of supposing
that he watched when he left when he entered by
police officers last Friday he said to that he should be
under confinement very that there two police
in the house all night had TO reason him out Of this
deuson he me- with terror in his face and sink
ing his voice very low that they got in through the front
by pass key; saw that he absolutely insane
he had fear Of insanity and said often; his words
were, fear going insane after the occurrence Of
Friday and being satisfied that he completely insane
spoke to his friend and physician Dr. A. v Williams, u
Bocmingdaie, Sunday related 70 him the facts, and
expressed my conviction that Leupp insane he
quesed me to spend Monday afternoon and evening with
him in friendly way, but with the object Of coming
medical certainty Of his insanity which from these facts
the Doctor thought must be the case; told the Doctor
nat inHeuAtty phase lEupp unOer restraint,
which, Of course could do without medical certil
cate there nothing in the facts Of Mr. Leupps perso
nal family, social property commercial condition,
far as am aware to justify any apprehension distress
| on his part.
William F. Cook, swern, says-I am ~ years Of age;
reside in Geneva am In active business have been In
tmntely acquainted with Mr.. Leupp for eight nine
years; has been his habit to spend considerable
Geneva with his daughters and Mrs. Lee; a visit
New York at present; here two weeks ago; am
Of Mr. D. W. Lee, at Fordham; during tho fortnight
have seen Mr. Ieupp five sx times, always in the
|
O'Clock; left by the train by which expected 60
to Fordham stopped there for the next train; found Mr.
L. ut dinner with two Of his daughters and he asked
TO dine had dined already but took seat at the table
and engaged in conversation he invited me TO take glass
OF ale said your health Mr. Leupp" to which he made
unnatural expression in his face thought strange; he
said that had better stop and urged 10 do so; he
then went into the library and afterwards returned
the dining room; then with young Iadiea