Evening journal., 1892-12-03
DUPONT'S FATAL SHOT.
Sensational Suicide in the
Library of Wilmington Club.
WAS THE RICH YoUNaMAN INSANE

He Goes on a Longer Journey Than Any
of His Friends Anticipated-A Letter
Written ON the Eve of His seIi-Destruc-
tion Cannot Be Found-DIany Promin-
ent men on the coroner's Jury.
A tragic suicide occurred in the VIII
mington Club house, 1905 King street,
about o'clock Yesterday afternoon. The
man who died by his own hand is Louis
9. DUPONT, 90 years old, member OF
one of the Oldest and most aristocratic
families in Delaware Why he commit
ted the rash act is not known.
At $3.50 young DUPONT entered the
club house and asked Henry Carter, the
colored steward, If he could mail letter
there. The steward told him that he
would mailit for him
DUPONT went to the library in the
second story few minutes afterward
Worlds Fair Commissioner Willard Hall
Porter dropped into the club and going
to the library saw DUPONT seated at one
of the desks writing.
The latter greeted Porter, and said:
willard, I'm not going to any more
assemblies. ! am going on a long Jour
ney' He then resumed writing and Mr..
Porter not wishing to intrude, left the
library and few moments afterward
left the club house
Fatal Shot Fired.
Dupont had been in the library nearly
half an hour when the steward was
startled by a pistol shot Rushing to
the room he found the suicide prone upon
the floor with blood streaming from a
wound in his head.
DR.. James A. Draper, who lives within
two blocks Of the club house, was sum
moned, and he pronounced Dupont dead;
death having been, in his opinion instan-
taneous AT the feet OF the suicide lay
a small pistol with two chambers empty.
but the physician says there is but one
wound and that directly behind the
right ear Deputy Coroner Fox removed
the body TO the home of the deceased's
brother. Alfred DUPONT.
Search was made for the letter but 1t
could not be fonnd, or If found, was
given to the person TO whom it was ad-
dressed.
Young DuPonts Career.
Louis was 90 years old. He was the
son Of Ironee DUPONT and his father and
mother are dead Maurice DUPONT, who
created such a sensation in two conti-
nents some years ago by marrying an
| English barmaid is brother of Louis
and William DUPONT the millionaire who
secured a divorce from his pretty young
wife In South Dakota last fall and sub
sequontly married in France the divorced
5 wife of Charles r. Zinn, is a cousin Of the
suicide.
Louis was well-known in social circles
/ here. With his male associates he was
"a hail.fellow well met, and was re-
garded as the only swell member Of the
+ DUPONT family He was graduated from
Z Yale university in the spring Of 1891,
( and duriug the winter he took a course
at the Harvard Law school, intending to
G settle down and practice law.
2 From some cause unaccOunted for by
his friends he broke of his law studies
o abruptly and has since been enjoying
q life in a way that his large fortune
warranted. When in this city he stop
4 ped with his brother Alfred who lives
/. in mansion along the banks Of the
y Brandywine beyond the city limit
e About ten days ago he returned TO this
city from New York, and last Friday
B. night attended the first assembly Of the
n season given by the local leaders o
n society 1t was to these dances that h'
l- referred when speaking to Willard Hal
D. Porter.
The suicide had no interest in the bill
" Dupont Powder Works with which hi
)e brother Alfred is connected. His wealtl
IS is said TO have been securely invested II
le various ways.
The members Of the Wilmington Clul
r, are very reticent in regard to the sensa
lg tional episode which has called public at
al tention TO their aristocratic and conserva
tive organization.
oe Coroner's Jury ImpanelIed.
n. Deputy Coroner James ]. Fox thi
M morning impanelled a jury on the case
. Il will be composed as follows Franci
m H. Hoffecker, foreman; Lewis @. Vands
an grift, Willard Salisbury Jr., Victor
~ Woolley, Charles H. Branch, John
~ Bradford, Francis M. Smith and Edwi
In A. Reed The jury win meet in rool
mn No POI of the Equitable Building a
- 2 80 this afternoon.
ne Father FIinn In Elkton.