New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-06
DETAILS OF MIR. COPCUTTvs DEATH.

cIohl OF lhE tOloNED PORTER WHO SAW HIN
LAsT-Hs ILLNEss-DlscOyERY OLE THE DEAD
BODY
Francis Copcutt, whose death, yesterday
under singular circumstance caused strong suspicious
OF suicide has been living In the Chesterfield apartment
house, at No EOS Fnthaye., number OF years. When
the proprietor, John r. WoTs ell died about months
he still retained his ROOM intending remain he
had done once before, until a new lessee should
take the business OF the hotel. Since Mr. Worstelps
DEATH the building has been ostenslby closed though
it been kept and lighted for a few dodgers,
who intended like Mr Ccpcutt To bridge the space
between two landlords The last OF these, except Mr..
Copcut. went away two days ago. and tine building WAS
left in the charge of John H. Barnes c0ored man, over
fifty years Of age aud an Old empioye at the hotel
For some days past Nj. Barnes mas noticed that Mr.
Copcut appeared disturbed and III at Usually Of
jovia disposition, be has appeared somewhat quiet and
moody since last sunday walking about frequently, with
lis hands behind his back and his head dropping When
BE pas ed ont OF the house Tuesday morning he was
HotceaDy downcat Barne. aat beside the door at the
time, and handed him several letters and the morning
paper he passed his to business This was
the last OF him al the house until late Tuesday even
Ing
The porter Barnes took his meals home, and after
SUPPER called upon friend sixthive., young col
cred boy, formerly employed at the Chester
hcd. These aiterward went to tue motel, and sat
talking u the front hall, when Mr. CoDcutts voice
heard calling to Barnes John" he said, come mp and
help me; / am Sick" Tie porter upstairs and
found him standing in the hall without his coa OF
waiscolt Ills face looked pulled and ieyerish, his hair
was dlsheyeed, and his clothing disarranged After
askiur Jew trivial questions ap0uc the u-Af, n tle
house and the seepugpiacc of Barnes be turned ANA
entered ais room, followed by the porter
The Room, wncl is known the middle room'
staad- near the head OF Ee stairs, tie windows lookns
out l0stLwd % tie ai,yway which separates the Cles-
ter..d from the Domon.co building. There age two
doors tlc Iooul-one opening into the main ball. near
.he mslu stairs. the other opening into side Dali.
over .ue latter doc. s laui-y which helps TO light Tue
roou the door IS usually locked. The main door flsens
visa spring lock and also bolt 10 Was Mr Copcutts
LaIi to leave his Eev tlc outside " the door Tie
furniture Us rich and elegant Tie bed IS what Is known
as aa7iEe. bed. folding Up SD aa 70 look Ike DOCK
ga se lu the daytime.
Vncu Barnes entered the room ne found the bed down
and ,he 1ed-c.0thes turned down, u ready for ute
lumber OF bottles were upon the bureau. AID u9on the
bed wasa Tin pan. with % sheet, twisted into t-At roll
laid cl.eluly around the Nj Copcutr paced upand
down the room seeming be sick and IN laa' rather
thau excited.
I'm TRYING 10 give myself sweat" hc said noticing
nai tne poreg attention had been attracted To The pan
uuou the bed. land d1 not bali understand the aILe'
/ lions I8r usue tle Medicine
Barnes kcd III Doe coui De " any service and being
toduo ef tie room and Went out on the front steps
soon attorasd he happened 20 look through the lner
glass doors OF the ycstDuo. ard saw Mr. COlcctta arms
leaning over tne bausrde above, but upon opening Che
door 10 ask il me- wanted, he the arms with
drawn and then heard the boiling and locking OK the
/ bedroom door.
An the morning no sound was heard IN Mr.. Copcutt's
reu aud the porter determined not Co disturb MN dut
INK Tie morning, %, he probably wlsletto sleep "hue id
sci. condition. About noon, however, a. letters came
be knocked at the door for admission Rece' uo
answer he knocked again and many times. Then he
went iuo the next room aud looked Out OF the window
uut the curtains drawn IN Mr. CopcuttS
windows. The side door was next tried AMI
he noticed over the transom that the gas
WIS burning within. Alarmed az the faiiuce Of As
knock. and calls To- elicit response he procured s''-
ladder and oo6.ae tle transom he saw BIZ topcuu
li, II. , ii tpJn his face. After calling A-s name sew
erl times without effect, the porter now thoroughly
alarmed hastenel % the Firth Avenue Hotel ana Ill
formed sir Darling the owner OF the Chesterfield of Ms
fears lie was told by Mr.. Darling 90 call an odc'i' anu
a district telegraph boy sent FOR no climbed through
the ull.ht over the door, and drew the bolt When the
b,iy WAS turned over 10 was fouad that Mr. Copcuit
had buried his face the pan, into which choroiorm OF
other had been poured The twisted sheet had excluded
all air. and death must have been speedy and perfectly
painless The bcdy IN night-ciotmne' sHoWlAS tha'
Nr Copeutt finished undressing after Barnes had el' A'
II y,as cold and death had evidently taken place the
/ night before.
Asourllv "a possble Coroner Woltman was notified
f fine ease Upon his arrival with his deputy Dr. Crsh-
man. the body Of sir C0pcutt was llited from uS Posl
ton An odor OF chorolorm at once percepDle ana
tl nan IN which the face hal been buried was FOUND I'D
fip "a offanttv OF the liquid. Al emuty bottle WITH
ont any label was found lying IN the bed Coroner Volt
man examined the witnesses who were present when the
rom, -ss entered and gave permit 60 have the body
! removed l,y AN unIertakcr formal investigation 10y
i,r will problhlv be- made to-day From the position
I'M which tine body mad been found IL seemed iIo9ane
~ 1fr C"pcutf mad committed suicide. but on hear
irg the testimony Of Mr. Barnes' tHe poti'r III
! re,ard to complaints 0f illness, Whlch the ul-
/ fortunate man had made the et5uHE pt,'lou''
Coroner Woitmau sand that he should hesitate tp po
nounce is q case OF sci murder u wa- nor - ne
said that Mr.. Coucutt had sought 10 feIe'' ~ p', "a
tae us,. OF cnoroform, and that death Aad F.s1,tsu
through an accident. A pO'th. 9m a. m min,
/ throw more i-ht on Mr. 'o-cult ue"'H NY '"
/ tlis nature OF III, llue~s 49,, ,r.. ,I, preci,ct
Police Captain williams OF the I"enty-nnta ITe Incl
learned that MIR. Copcutt was menlDer o. ,io m
/ Ieor1e Club and visited the clubhouse Menpeis ol
he cub nc called n the services OIL M
aud had tuc body removed Tor Du!iai. 49,, S,c,,rt
f,e event was tecTapned 10 brother OF 9ll' ~
lvtpgin Yonker., and IN an "ei vas Ic'oi' =, ,i
h, er would come the city ana take Charge ol 'No
WHAT THE 1IE3lBFts OF THE CLUB SAID
che I-ton League CIub last evening much surprise
! and sympathy was expressed by Tue M'"''.' on az
cut nj Mr. Copcutts DEATH lie was one OF The oldest
/ - che ,,ut and during the last ak years had
! ,,fff tio bnouse nearly every day. His acquaht
/ r. ,,,,r., the members OF tine club was somewhat
Irifed ou account of ms retiring ul.p1-l'lol. ~ ~
\ 80 r,rf I'M discussions. His Atuu was 20 'u'cl
~ Inn hons. .peud an hour or two ln rciiihE or ~
conyersatiou Wth friend and then '.eptit l7 Iu,1''
o. ne came He was considered by al Eet5e."I ~
r,1t le.i-. and of large fortune Those WHO AIs" nn
best esteemed him highly as man OF et ~, -. tb,t
unusually mild and happy disposition. ~. ~ h s.,ri
ne mad desfrnycd bis own life was dscreteu ~ seFeI"'
/ members OF the club last evening ... ,oil. d.
can hardly believe that Mr. Copcutt would commit su-
eide Iii. mind was clear ~ u'iI II "''. ,,,
I'M his habit also and know that ne was over Vi o'
J,-r over,lse lie rode or drove m the fafh nearly
every day His business was & and had mo-
/ / know he enjoyed good health lor HIS 'e''S ' ~ 80
/ In efO