Omaha daily bee., 1889-03-08
The BIG COPPER SYNDICATE.
History of the FURRY and the
Threatened Panic.
WHY RocHsREAu SHOT HIMSELF.
Americans Hasten to the Rescue of
the French Monopoly and the
Effects ofthe Suicide
Are Overcome.
A Rash Decd.

intimate friends the Herald is enabled to
publish the following account OF his suicide:
M. Denfert Rochereau, who lived in a
small, elegantly furnished apartment at No.
Rue du Conservatoire, arose at 5 o'clock on
the morning of Mardi Gras and read hls let
tcTs as usual. NJ. Hentsch, president Of the
council of administration OF the Compton des
Compile, called to see him, and a very ami
mated conversation ensued. NJ. Denfert
Rochereau had from the outset Of the copper
crisis firmly opposed the idea of irrevocably
engaging the Compton des Compile in the
metal syndicate. NJ. Hentsch and the adj
ministration on the contrary were for engag-
ing il to its fullest limit in the copper
corner. M. Denfert Rochereau as he opened
his letters on Tuesday morning felt con-
WINGED that there would be a tremendous
run on the Compton des Compile. He spoke
most severely to M. Hentsch, and in very
strong language accused him of running the
concern. A violent discussion ensued, at the
end of which NJ. Dcnfcrt Itochercau rushed
violently from his apartment and jumped
y nto n cab: Rue Vivienore, 81 he shouted
to the coacher. At a quarter TO IL the
cab drew up before the gunmakcr's shop OF
Lefaucheaux, 81, Rue Vivicnore. M. Denfert
Rochereau jumped out and said to the clerk:
q want a pistol with rifled barrel, but show
tAS INV y no L nc ~ w - N'"a'.
HE selected n pistol with a riled barrel
of nine miiimetres calibre. Accompanied
by the clerk he went down into the cellar,
where there is a shooting gallery, and tested
the pistol by firing it seven times at a small
iron target. His hand was steady and he hit
the bulls-eye each time. He alter
wards went up stairs again and
the clerk wrapped up the pistol. AS M.
Denfert Rochereau took 1t he said: IF this
pistol doesn't suit me L will bring 1T back
again. He then drove in a cab to his apart
ment, which lie reached at quarter to IL, and
wrote a letter TO his most intimate friend,
DIR. Albert Robin, who lives at 4 Rue st.
Peterspurgh. In this letter he wrote:
"tMy Dear Friend: When this letter
reaches You l shall be dead. / shall have
shot myself. Take care Of my children and
do all you can to let it be believed that the
cause of my death was apoplexy.'
IN. Denfert Rochereau then sent his con-
cierge with the letter to DIR. Robin. He was
now alone in the apartment. DIR. Robin was
reading in his library. When the fatal letter
arrived he dashed into the street, jumped
into q cab and in fifteen minutes
walked into M. Denfert Rochereau's room.
A terrible sight met his gaze, His friend lay
unconscious on the floor. There was a small
round hole in his right temple, but he was
still breathing. DIR. Robin took his friend IN
his arms. In a few seconds he was dead"
NJ. Dcnfert Rochercau was an ex-oficer,
commander of the Legion of Honor. and
COUSIN of the heroic defender of Belfort. He
was ~fifty-five years of age, and was "a fine
looking man, erect, muscular, with piercing
blue eyes and a frank soldierly expression.
He entered the Compton des Compile as a
simple clerk in 1861. He married Mile Pin
ard, daughter of a former director of the
Compton dcs Compile, who died ten years ago.
He leaves two sons. One is fifteen ana the
other is Twelve.
There were tremendous times on Tuesday
ut the Compton des Compile and a terrific run
on the bank. Hundreds of men and women
with bonds and certificates IN their hands
were rushing into tho east hall to exchange
their paper for gold. On the right was one
incessant click, click of stamps; on the left a
running cascade Of gold. Nothing could be
seen but n forest of arms stretched out to-
gether. Among the throng were some very
old types. l noticed an old lady get out of
an old family brougham with armorial bear
ing. Her white hair was dishevellcd, and
she was hastily dressed. my God r' she
exclaimed, "if l arrive too latc!" She took
her turn aud got her money, and as she did
so her whole countenance changed and she
went away calmly.
Are they still paying!' was an eager
question asked by everybody. The stream
of outpouring gold continued all day
long. The Compton des Compile
has its money in all Parts
Of the globe, in China, in japan, in Egypt
and in Madagascar, but Yesterday every
thing was paid and during the night wagon
loads of golden louis arrived and their CON
tents were shoveled into the Golfers Of the
Compton des Compile ready for the attack
that is sure TO be continued to-day.
There was a run also Oh the Marseilles
bank. but it soon came to an end. In flnan-
cial circles last night il was felt that the
Compton des Compile will weather the
crisis. The danger is not Immediate, but the
fact is now considered certain that this vast
financial establishment is so deeply involved
In the copper syndicate that it must now
staud or fall with il.
The Herald correspondent called yesterday
afternoon on NJ, Eugene Secretan, of the
Societe Industriclle ct Commorciale DIES
MetGuy, who was found at his residence in
the Rue Moncei. He is an old friend of the
late Nj. Denfcrt Rochereau, and was
evidently much grieved by the death of that
gentleman and declared that he did not know
whether he died by his own hand or not. He
said that M. Denfert was subject TO apoplexy
aib hah " ~ 4 osNeNAS "ANH'A WV
last tweive months, one of them, which oc-
CURED last summer, being SO serious that he
remained unconscious for forty-eight hours.
On the other hand it was quite possible that
M. Denfert Rochereau's mind had been at
fected by anNieties accustomed by the many
attacks made on him in connection with the
Societe des Metaux, especially during the
past few days when such persistent efforts
were being made, and apparently with sue
cess, TO break down the credit OF enterprises
in which he was Interested and in the sue
cess of which his honor was at stake.
NJ. Secretan is of the opinion that M.
Denfcrt Rochereau's death would have
no effect whatever on the financial
situation. The occurrence has been
followed by a fall in the price
OF certain stocks, but these had already not
only recovered their previous quotations. but
when the Bourse closed stood higher
than they had prior to the event. For this
however. there was an excellent reason
which is embodied ina telegram which NJ.