The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-09-22
RIPLEY CANNOT SURVIVE.
THE BULLET WoUND nv THEACroR,S
MEAD a MORTAL ONE.
what H.s Bees Discovered As 20 the I--
cideat- of che Supposed Attempt st sui
eIde-The Motive for the Act n Mystery.

what Hss Bees Discovered As 90 the Ir-
cideuts of the Supposed Attempt ct sui
cide-The Motive for the Act n Mystery.
William Ripley. the chorus man in the Della
Fox comic opera company, who Is in Bellevue
Hospital suffering from a pistol shot wound
supposed TO have been self-inhicted, was re-
ported yesterday rs not likely TO live more than
twenty four hours. Ripley was taken 70 the
hospital early on Friday morning, twenty-five
hours after receiving the wound.
The man Is 30 years old and came from Tcrre
Hautc, Ind. lie has lived reccntly at 20I West
Thlrty-scventh street, in n house kept by a Mrs.
McKenna. Three weeks ago he applied to the
manager OF the Della Fox company for a place
in the chorus, and. having q fine voice, easily
passed the competitive tests. lie admitted TO
the manager that he was addicted to drink. lie
performed his duties well, and, reported. at the
T niSRt. lie TbSas2f GfsVinriiii lis " Week. ''sS saisry t on Tie
nigh, preceding. The next heard OF. him was
On thursday evening; when Mrs; Burt went to
who claimed to I've u member Of the Della FoI
company, was at her house suffering from a pis-
iGipiey went home early on Wednesday even
lug, and did not 20 OUT again that night, Mrs.
she heard tue sound rs Of n pistol shot coming
from Riplcy'sl room. She was then In bed. and.
t mn ~ inEr shm SGe MT'EE e next TS hi SfteTnoo ma sh @o sn SS
him come down stairs. lie had n handker-
chief lied about his head, and his tnce
out Of tile house and forbade his returning.
Miss Alice O'Bricn,a young woman who lived at
the same house With him; lie tod her incohe-
She took linn to tie Office OF DR.. j. J. sullivan,
nj 900 West Thirty-elghth street, and told the
doctor that Ripley had been shot: There was a
sullivan probed for the bullet. but could not
find It. Miss o'Brien showed the doctor a pistol
which she said she had found In Ripley's pocket.
Two chambers. of it were cmpty. The wound
was dressed and the two went out. DIR. Sullivan
eye, and seemed Ia be suffering from alcoholism.
The woman CONDUCTED Ripley back to his
nit him. That was about q O'clock in the even.
ing. They then went to 2O6 West Thirty-cighth
street where HGs.6 Mrs M,l Burt o,p EGsps ss 4 th ,sS, , heal
companion was u member Of the Della Fox com
pany, that he had been hurt in n fight, and that
house by DIR. sullivan. Mrs. Burt admitted the
man, and her husband showed him up to a
matted mix for The patient, While Mrs. burt
hurried over to the Casino to make sure that her
after Ripley had been in the house three hours
u boardcr came to her and told her that the
man was singing In a loud voice on tho front
When she demonstrated with him he stopped
singing and went. out, saying, that he was going
O'Brien returned soon Rfterward, and when she
heard where Ripley had gone she went after
MN anu Drought MN Dhrk. n pOfCeman. WHO
had heard the two talking together In the street,
reported the matter to the West Thirty-sevcnth
street police station. and detectives were sent to
Mrs. Burt's house to Investigate. From there
they went to Mrs. McKenna's, where blood was
found on the bed Ripley had occupied. On the
bureau was a note. reading as follows:
To FATHER AND MOTHER: There Is no one TO blame.
! am simply tired OF an unequal struggle. The life In
surance Is due. Claim 1t. WILL
Ripley wac sent to Bellevue Hospital a pris-
oner. Dr. Atkins found that the bullet had
penetrated the brain, but could not find IL by
probing.
Miss O'Brien called at the hospital last night.
She inquired about his condition, and upon
being told that he would probably die. she ask cd
II she could see him. She was allowed to go to
the prison ward, where Ripley Is in an uncon-
scious condition. She bent over him. and, after
kissing him several times, left the ward weeping.
TERRE HAUTE, Sept, Rl.-Nnliam Ripley's
parents live here. HIS father, George F. Ripley,
Is a retired dry goods merchant, who was at one
time quite wealthy. but Is now IN reduced CIR
cumstances. Young Ripley left here about
seven years ago. lie married Miss MilliRan,
then costumer for tho Pearl Of Pekin" COM
pany, but they separated. For a time before he
went upon the stage Ripley was manager of the
Terre Haute telephone exchange.