Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-08

noon by shooting himself in the head
while be was in one of the parlors of
the Wilmington Club, No. 1905 King
street.
There was no one in the club house at
the time but the colored servants.
Henry Carter, the steward, heard the
report of a pistol, and, rushing up stairs,
found Mr.. du Pont lying dead on the
floor. Carter Immediately rushed across
the courthouse square to the office of
DIR. Draper. The physician was found
there talking with patient. Dr. Draper
hurried across to the club house and
found the alarming story of the servant
literally as he had given ii.
Young du Pont was found lying dead
on the parlor floor. The wound was to
the right and back of the ear. Death
had been instantaneous. A 32-calibre
pistol was lying on the floor. II had
two chambers empty.
DR.. Draper advised that some mem
Der of the family be quickly informed.
The physician attributes the suicide
TO temporary and recent mental aberra-
ton.
Willard Hall Porter and Judge Ball
were the last persons to speak with Mr..
du Pont. They had left the club house
only 10 or 10 minutes before the oc-
currence
They were sitting in one of the first
floor rooms when Mr.. du Pont came in.
They Joined in conversation on the sub
ject of the Assembly dances, in regard
TO which Mr.. du Pont had received some
circulars from Mr.. Porter Mr.. du Pont
spoke pleasantly and expressed some
regret at his inability to attend the
dances as he would be out of town this
winter.
This was about $50 p. m. Mr. du Pont
had some stationery in his hand and
apparently was just going 10 write a
letter.
In fact he had already said something
to one of the servants in regard to post.
ing the letter.
Subsequently all three went together
upstairs to one Of the parlors Judge
Ball and Mr.. Porter then left.
Nothing unusual was noticed by
either gentleman. Mr.. du Pont did not
seem different in any way from his Gus
tomary manner.
On the suggestion of DR.. Draper the
coroner was notified. In the latter's
absence Deputy Coroner Fox took
charge of the body, which was subse.
quently removed and taken charge Of
by Alfred /. du Pont
Louis Cazenove du Pont was about 20
years old. Heis brother of Alfred |. du
Pont of the firm of Z. du Pont de
Nemours CO., the powder manufacturers
OF this city, and a son of Eleuthere
lrenee du Pont. He entered Yale Uni
versity and was member of the class
OF ~. he graduated in 1891. lie after
wards entered the Harvard Law School.
Another of his brothers is Maurice du
Font now OF the State of Washington.
At Yale Mr.. du Pont had the credit of
being one of the best after-dinner
speakers in the college. A Yale pro-
lessor once said of him that he was tile
best natural mathematician he had ever
seen, inferring that if he had chosen
that path he might have arrived at any
distinction. On the basis of his brilliant
! naturalization papers 1T was expected by
the faculty that he would graduate at
the top of his class.
The following jury was empaneled
Friday afternoon by Deputy Coroner
Fox to make inquest on the body Of
Louis Cazenove du Pont, who was
found dead in an upper parlor of the
wilmington Club house: Willard Sauls-
bury, Lewis G. Vandegrift, Victor b..
Moolley, John K. Bradford, Charles Ii.
Brandt, ID. A. Read, Frank NJ, Smith.
The jury met and was sworn in at 5
o'clock, when the body was viewed. All
information ascertainable at the time
was gathered and then the Jury adj
Journed to meet at $50 b. M, to-day, in
the office of Victor b. WoOliey, in tbe
Equitable Building, Ninth and Market
streets.
1t is not known what witnesses, If
any, have been called. The solo persons
in the building at the moment Of the
sad incident were Steward Garter and
his family
There is no mystery whatever, in the
alleged story of a letter Circumstances
would indicate that Mr.. da Pont had
Intended writing to Mr. Porter on tic
subject Of the Assembly dances, but
seeing his correspondent in the sitting
room, gave up his idea.
On this theory it was in connection
with this letter that Mr.. du l'ont picked
up the stationery referred % and also iii
regard to il that he addressed lii,
steward about mailing letter for him
The adjourned inquest over lie remains
OF Louis Z. IN FONT was held in tAu Office
OF Victor u. NogIiey, Equitable Building
at 80 O'Clock saturday afternoon.
Deputy Coroner lHucs /. lfoX presided
Coroner Kirk arrived later. Thc gulluv
ing Jury heard the testimony; Willard
Salisbury, Francis II HUtlrcker, Lewis !,
Nandtsrift, John \, Bradford il. 4. l,ra,I
Victor i. Wool!ey. William :, lille,
Frank NJ. Smith.
Mr.. Wnolley was elected foreman an,
Francis H. Hoifecker secretary.
testimony was given by Joshua Benson
George; Benson and l.rora Richardson, Al.
colored servants Of the club Their cyt
dence developed nothing additional /,
what has already been reported.
Willard Hall Porter stated that Iii
knowledge "l the circumstance, wl5et
were al anterior, to Mr.. IN pmll Is atu.h
and which have already been Jugyrihr, .
Dr James III. Draper told the iug4 rAa
he was summoned by telrtlAnmG auI
arrived at the club house witAIn ,hFr,
minutes of the call. The b0dy y,as "a
warm when lie arrived The pbysirts;.H
opinion is that death was iust4ntalrnii.
He indicated the location Of the entr.lrr
of the bullet and its inevitably farHl Va
suits After giving the servants imstrlr
tons as to notification Of thecorourr An,
10 members Of the family Dr. Draper left
After brief consultation Willard S,Ii4
bury made the motion that Il verdict II
drawn up in accordance with the tcsti
mony.
The verdict was as follows:
fesolgad, That Loui9 {, di Pont came to hi
aeath abont $40 r. m on Frt,lly. lecnmDt
~. "a, ia5s, ily pistol shpt woani Unlisted, q
the Jury believe, by hsOwn haat
The funeral took place Monday priar
noon 81 O'Clock from the home VI .tlfrc,
J. dn Font. interMent was private.
Sudden Death of Commander f.Etciroct,
NEW AORE laP a. '1n,r,1I,.I