New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-23
he studied at Heidelberg. There he received the

he studied at Heidelberg. 1ner0 no Ieceifeu tne
DE- A. A. Smith. Of No. SIS Madisonave. has boon
Mr.. Blakes physician for about five years. MT.
Blake SAID the doctor nn O fNr @
for seeplessness when he has been overworked aud
has he'd attacks of indigestion. Since he grew so
stout he suffered at times from palpitation OF the
heart In the last year and halt. ] advised him TO
20 into training TO reduce his flesh and he followed
my advice. He put himself under tho care Oh pro,
fessonal trainer Ia man who has trained severai OF
the pedestrians Of motel and for six mouths he used
gvmnastc practice systematically. lie weighed
272 pounds and trained down 80 or 40 pounds. His
sIeeplessness disappeared we'll as his Indigestion
should say ne had tendency TO apopleXy, nut mis-
death seems to me 20 have been accidental. saw
Mr.. Blake Sunday night about o'clock. lie was
walking in the street with Mr.. Thompson and going
to the latter's hOnse. He was in good SPIRITS ana
we joked and chaffed each other lie made an APP
pOiu .ment for me TO meet him at his office MONDAY
between and o'clock, as no wished me 10 give
testimony IN an anatomical matter. lie ,Saiu nc
wanted to make motion IN the suit Monday. ana
/ would come down before 3 he could do so.
wanted it postponed but he said II hau Deen post,
poued enough already, Then on partlng' ne SAID
morrow He didn't me- but l saw him. The
theory has been suggested by his friends that he
pleasant street, and sought the river side, he
fOn6 OF the river air AS it was slippery on the pier
there, it is argued that he fell in and being very
clumsy for swimmer and perhaps striking his head
on cake OF ice, he sank to the bottom. | do not
pretend to have any theory as to how it happened.
understand that one day Mr.. Blake said to some
rs it plausible to suppose that after generous
dinner Sunday night an unusual excess in drinking
dazed him when he reached the cool air Of the
street so that he wandered to the river frontp
THE fact is that he dined at his own house at
o'clock that evening. and Mr.. Thompson was his
guest. When saw him two hours later he was per-
fectly clear. headed don't believe either that he
went elsewhere and drank after leaving Mr.. Thomp-
sons house. That was not his habit. He drank
wine at dinner as many gentlemen do, but not to
excess. wouldn't adopt the theory of suicide IN
less he had happened to have alteration of mind
after leaving his partners house. He felt at times
that he was doing too much work. wrote him so
last summer and he at once took months vacation.
During the last month, however he has enjoyed |
better health than at any other time in the five |
years that have known him. He had a large prac-
tice, and his home life delightful. He had |
lovely family. He leaves wife and four children.
He had no enemies, and was very kind to his SER |
wants and everyone under him."
DR.. Smith said in conclusion that in his opinion |
an autopsy should have been held by the Coroner.
1t would have shown. of course whether there was |
apoplexy or heart disease or whetherit o case |
Of drowning alone, and the family should hove the |
benefit of any doubt that might arise in the future
In regard to the possibility of establishing the pri-
mary cause of death. The idea of holding an
autopsy had been abandoned as Mrs. Blake aud Mr..
Thompson had objected strenuously to it.
The funeral will take place at noon to-day at
Trinity Chapel.