New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-13
FOUND DEAD IN BED.
CHAUNCEY d. RIPLEY DIES FROM APOPLEXY
AT THE HOFFMAN HOUSE.
A DESCENDANT OF A wELLKNowN FAMILY-AN
AUTHORITY on CHURCH LAW, AND AN
ADVOCATE OF GOOD ROADS

AUTHORITY on CHURCH LAW, AND AN
ADVOCATE OF GOOD ROADS.
Chauncey b. Ripley, who for many years has
been prominent in legal circles In New-fork as
an authority on Presbyterian ecclesiastical law,
was yesterday found dead in his room on
the seventh floor of the Hoffman House annex.
1t was at first thought that Mr. Ripley had
destroyed himself. and the fact that he had
evidently prepared for death by writing to all
his business and personal friends regarding the
disposition Of his property seemed TO conhrm
this view. But unless there has been a gen.
eral conspiracy to hide the truth on the part
Of the physicians in the case, the Coroner and
the Hoffman House officials, Mr.. Ripley died
from cerebral apoplexy. Coroner Schultze, DR..
d. P. Pease, the hotel physician, and DR.. John
II. Ripley. the eminent surgeon and brother OF
the dead man, all declare that death was due
to apoplexy.
Mr. Ripley, while living at Westfeld. n. j.,
had his city address at the Hoffman House,
where he was a frequent guest staying there
for a week at time. For some years his
health had been poor, and sunstroke sus-
tained last summer. during a journey from
Westfeld to New-York, had still further en-
fecbed him. This circumstance may perhaps,
explain his evident expectation Of an early
death. On Thursday he arrived at the Hoff-
man House, and was assigned to room No.
2l9. During Thursday and Friday he seemed
much as usual. going to and from his office
in the Potter Building, and only on Saturday
morning complained Of feeling Ill.
FOUND DEAD BY THE HOrsEKEEPER.
The last that was seen of him was on Sat
urday forenoon. when William Baxter, the
clerk In the annex, gave him the key OF his
room. Mr.. Ripley had been out of his room
barely hour, and at different times later In
the day the chambermaid Knocked at the door
in the effort to obtain admittance. Saturday
night came and went, and on Sunday morning
his room was still locked on the inside. FL
nally, at 1O:30 the chambermad, becoming
alarmed, called Mrs. Book, the housekeeper
who caused the door to be broken open Mr.
Ripley lay in bed undressed. in a natural re-
firing position. with his face resting on the
pillow, and his eyes closed as If in sleep
But he was dead. and had been dead for many
hours. This, at least, was the verdict OF Dr.
Pease. who was called. and who said that death
had resulted from cerebral apoplexy. The
room was in it's normal condition OF perfect
order even the bedclothng was unruiiled, and
it seemed as II death might have stricken MY
Ripley in his sleep.
Messengers were sent to DIR. Ripley and to
Coroner Schultzc. The Coroner. arriving late
in the afternoon. and, viewing the BODY, agreed
with Dr. Pease in his diagnosis or the case
the official report being confirmed on the high
authority Of DR.. Ripley.
A SKETCH or HIS CAREER.
Mr. Ripley by no means the least emf
nent member Of family identified with the
history and early struggles of this country
since the days Of the Revolution. jeremiah
Ripley, his grandfather. was an officer in the
army Of Washington, and for generations
the family has occupied the Ripley Homestead,
better known rs Ripley Hills. in South Coven-
try Tolland County. Conn.,
Chauncey B. Ripley was born In 1888, ana
received his earlier education in the Connecu-
cut Literary Institution. where he afterward be-
came d teacher At different times he taught
in Windsor Locks and East CRANKY, Hartford
County, and later at Scotch Plains, In west
field. and became principal of academy in
Springfield. y. j. His first step toward grad
yates degree was in 1860, when he began pre-
paratory studies under the Rev. DR.. James
Fuller Brown, of the University OF Lewisburg
Penn now known as Bucknell University.
Then he entered the University of Rochester
~ Y. in the fall of that year, remaining there
two years. About this time he occupied the
chair Of mathematics at Flushing Il. l., and
in 1886 joined the senior class of the University
of Lewsburg In 1864 he was graduated Bachelor
of Arts. with honor taking his Master OF Arts
degree in 1866. In 1864. after leaving Lewis
burg. he began the study of law in the Uni
versty of the City of New-York. also enter
ing the office of Benjamin Vaughn Abbott. In
1865 he took the degree Of LII. d., and then for
twenty-three years practised law in the old
Times" Building. moving In 1883 when the
structure was demolished. Then he went to
the Potter Building, where he remained until
his death.
Mr.. Ripley had been the recipient Of many
hOnors at the hands of his contemporaries. In
June 1885, Buckne University granted to him
the degree of LID. for distinguished attain
ments in legal learning he had been twice
elected president of the NewYork Alumni Club
Of Bucknell: president of the Alumni Asso-
citation of the Law Departn ent of the Univer
sity Of the City of NewYork; chairman of the
Executive Committee Of that association, and
was on the Committee Of Examination and
Awards to Students. 1t was proposed to ap-
point him to the Chancelors seat in Bucknel
University in succession to DR.. David j. HILL
but il-heath forbade his acceptance of that
office, and the same reason prevented his de-
livery of the address to President Cleveland on
the admission of the latter TO the Sigma Chi
Fraternity in which he (Mr Ripley always
prominent.
Mr.. Ripley also served as Commissioner in
the Roads Department of the Worlds Fair. and
was on the Executive Committee of the Ma
tional League for the Improvement of Roads
on the roads and avenues in Westield, where
he was an extensive owner of property he had
spent about 100000.
His wife died in 1888. and he leaves no family
The burial will be at Westfield.