New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-08-12
4 VERDICT OF SUICIDE
THE CORONER'S JURY PErJrvre THAT
RICHARD MUSER TOOK HIS OWN LIFE

4
TRIGGER AGAIN WITH UNsHRINKIyG
HAND = wELLFoUNDED RUMoEs
THAT FAMILY TROUBLES
ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR
| THE WEALTHY MER.
CHANTS ACT.
Sufern, Aug. 1.-THE tragic death of Richard
Muser Is the all-absorbing topic of conversation
and gossip in this quiet little village among the
| hiliS Gradually the facts which underie the
| tragedy are being made public, although the
family and servants in the dead mans household
are dong all they can TO keep the truth "A secret
NO one, not even the sympath thzing neighbors and
ola ana tried friends, is admitted in the house,
and the general impression at early hour to-
day was that secret which, if known, would
clear up the mystery surrounding Mr.. Musers
death is being fevershly guarded by the inmates
of hrs household
But each hour yesterday brought news corrobo-
rative of suspicious of family troubles, until the
few intimate friends of the family who had long
known the guarded secret let il escape.
AT an early hour this morning Mrs. Won Wede
the housekeepcr, telcphoned TO the ticket agent
| at the Erie station that Mr.. Muser had simply re-
ceived a blow on the head from a fall while
he was trying 10 scale the fence. She further said
that he improving and would be about his
| business in few days. This. the housekeeer
explained afterward. intended to hush up the
| real facts in the for family reasons.
Coroner Conklin, of Spring Valley. held an in
quest this morning in the billiard room of the
Muser mansion, at which DR.. ID. b Van Wagner,
Mrs Won Wedel. James d. Wandermaker and
man named Mapcs, who is the foreman of the
Muser estate. were examined.
Mr. fad ,at ba Iad boop
toned for some time past to watch Mr.. Muser
closely. often sleeping in the same room with
him Early Yesterday morning, he said. he
entered his masters room and found il empty.
.iftcr diligent search he got four men employed
IN the estate and sent for DR.. Van Wagner Mr..
Musers boy finally discovered lying about
s.x feet from the fence with the head and face
covered with blood.
lie had been shot in the head but was s.i!l
alive, thou III unconscious. The wounded man was
taken Immediately into the house
A careful examination of the ground where the
body was found gives strong presumptve evi-
dence that Mr.. Muser came to his death by his
own hand, and that he had fired two shots the
first one having failed 10 kill him instantly.
The ground showed that he had fallen heavily and
the sod bore evidence that the dead man had made
struggle regain his feet and had been successful
=
as if it had dropped from his hand when his grasp
had become relaxed
In the examination it was seen that the first
shot had struck the mans forehead just over the
right eye, at the thiciest part of the skull cap
The bullet did not penetrate the skull but ploughed
its way in under the skin OF the forenedd ana
came out at a corresponding point on thc Opposite
side, Just over the left eve. TIE bnllet WAS evil
IDENTIFY DETECTED from its course by the curved
surface of the forehead. Tie blow would be sui
icient TO stun Mr.. Muser, but not XIII MIN.
This shot, together with the bloody pool, dis
turbed ground and bood-bespattercd fence. lends
force 10 the conviction that second shot was
attempted by the determined man, and was fired
several feet away from the fence proving fatal.
The second shot pierced the skull just over the
highest point of the right ear and buried itseli
in the brain-evidently the fatal wound. The re-
volver found beside Mr. Mnscr was easily recog-
nized as one he usually carried about his person
All this was brought out in testimony at the IN
lIest Each mans testimony was corrobora
ton of the preceding testimony
Mrs Won Wedel. i'll her testimony, said she had
lived for a long time in Mr. Muscrs family a.
s housckeepcr
Il have had complete charge of the house ana
ook after its expenses. Mr.. Muser gave me
300 or $500 every month for the expenses OF
tie house"
Asked why she had sent the misleading mes
sage by telephone to the ticket agent at the
lalion she said 81 did that 10 avoid an cA-
jtemcnt in the village and to stayc on connO
ton, annoying 10 the member, ol the fanny
pesdes the thing was SO horrible. Se, wanted va 10
Mr., Won Wcdcl is IA short, slcnderly built
woman with a strong and handsome face. The
Jury rendered Il verdict OF suicide. -, eliza
n has been confessed by number OF thc
friends of Mr. MuSer to-day that Mrs. Won Wcdcl
presence in the house had been source OF dnll- dnll
uity, and that there had been eTloH l , ,'S Wr!
Muser had been greatly chasrned by the cour''
of events. ,, .,., ,al,
and two boys. Preparations had been about
completed for a trip to Bermuda for the daughters
healtb when the terrible trouble came
H. An interview with Father Quinn, an intimate
friend of the dead man. ii was learned that MI
Muser had been recently defeated IN a lawsuit Oh
the success OF which he had pascd hsh hope'
What this suit the careful lTiest wouid nor
j;vmloe His defeat together with the condition
of affairs in his home, was offered ny thc JURY
man as the motive which prompted INN 10 cohl-
Nr Mnscr was known to be large owner o,
Chicago Gas stock, and also Of 'hc Alley Elevate,
Railroad in Chicago aso grcatly " within a few
y. I,s This loss was suggested by some as the
can.n of snicidc. but Mr. Mapcs denies this ana
says that the losses h. has sustained III 'hcSc III
yestmcnts he could easily stand
The store of Muscr Brothers, at No 4G7 Broome-
st. was not open for business yesterday. Inc
IRON shutters of the windows were drawn down
md ON the door was a card announcing that the
torc was closed account Of the death OF
Hicbard Nuscr One of the employees Of the firm
aid We know nothing about the death OF
Wr Muser except what has appeared in the news
papers There is no reason for suicide that we
arc aware Of The business affairs of the iirm
arr. in lirstclass condition. ard We feel sure that
Wr Wuscr was not in any financial difficulty.
When we last saw him at the store he was IN
cood spirts His brothers are now in Europe.
SUICIDE or CHARLES G. EDDY.