The New York herald., 1877-12-06
DEATH AT THE CHESTERFIELD.

FRANCIS CoPcUTr .sufrocATED DY cHLoRo-
FoRM-wAs IT ACCIDENT Oh sUICIDE2
Francis Copcutt gentleman OF wealth and cui
sure, enjoying high social position and general
tavore with uptown club mon was found dead In his
room yesterday morning under circumstances which
suggest though they do positively indicate suicide
For years he has resided at the Chesterfield. at No
POS Fifth avenue, where he occupied elegant apart
meut but being bschoor he spent great part OF his
time In the Union League Club parlors or in the resi-
dences OF large clrcie OF friends whose regard ho
enjoyed. Mr.. Copcutt was man Of scholarly attain
ments and had travelled much Europe and the East
From cause, however, he has been out OF sorts
tor time past, Tuesday night previous to
retiring he complained to John H. Barues tho colorcd
porter Of the house. that he ndisposed and said
hc thought it prudent 10 sweat himself He asked,
too where Barnes slept and how late he remained up,
but declined the latters proer OF attendance. Yes
terday morning the porter on going 10 Mr. Copcutrs
door with lotter found IL fastened tho inside Ho
Knocked, but receiving no reply, no went 70 another
door that opened into the apartment aud applied
for entrance ther As before there was no response
TO his summons Barnes became alarmed AT this
strange silence on the part Of the inmate o the roor
and going IN quest OF a telegraph messenger to
send word 10 the police he met Mt h. +. III. Wilson,
gentleman who had called the house before, aud TO
him he spoke ol MT Copcutts failure to answer HIM.
They both went back 10 the house with the telegraph
boy and forcing the fanlght they Copcutt tho
bed lying upon his breast with his head swathed
towel When they cried out to HIM he showed no
AM nation, SO policeman was summoned and the
door was opened. Then wnen the coverlot was
lifted up Copcutps arms were found gathered
up stark and risid and underneath his lace was seen
PAN from which rose the strong, sickenng odor OF
chloroform. Tho cloth about his head seemed TO
have TO shut out the from the basin and
prevent its contents losing any Of thor strength
Lie had clearly been extinct Tor hours Beside tho
dead man his watch and the shoppers OF couple
OF Walls, one Of which fitted bottle Of muriatc acid
which lay upon the hearth Everything IN The room
II had been tho night before, and there
every Indication that the man had gone quietly TO
bed and in the deadly iumes OF tho chlor0form
breathed his life away.
THE DEAD MANS PAPERS
Coroner Woltmsn was summoned and made Q search
ior any papers tnst would point ~ Fermentation OF
suicide. But there were none TO suggest IT, Several
business letters lay upon the table, with manuscript
headed "Lost IN syria, which was found to be mar
high scholarship These had cance, OF course
1t likely that slip OF paper iound upon The aoor
has any relsvance 30 Mr. Copcutts DEATH II con-
tanned the following written with pencil:-
q. la trust tor A. A. y.
Then followed In Ink
For vaue received do SELL assign transfer
Elizabeth Copcutt the whole above,
DATED NEW YORK. Dec. 4, 1877.
In the chamber about the deceased wore many in
dicati0ns VI hs culture the way OF books and pic
lures, aud upon tho wall an idea oi his
was suggested by two portraits OF hmself-one in a
TURKISH iez, the other in the habit OF q European
tourist with alpenstock in hand While number OF
circumstances make tenable tho theory that Copcutt
put end 70 his life the statement OF Barnes, the
porter, that tho deceased was Ill and proposed to
s.take sweat" affords grounds for the belief
prepared tho pan o ch0roi0rm for that purpose.
IL Is said, u sometimes done but that overcome by
the fumes ho became unconscious and unable to
and sufocali0n onded his LIE. Word sent to
tho Union League Club, representative Of which
tives claim IL