The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-09-15

New York, Sept. ia life OF broken
promise os dissipation and gambling, came
o. an end yesterday when Paul Antoine
Depicrre died as he had vowed he would :
a suicide.
Returning from the races Saturday,
ruined and hopeless, he wrote a wild and
despairing letter to the press, 50 wing that
he would slay himself giving both name
end address Paul Antoine Dcpierre, No.
I66 East Sixt, seventh street. Then, when
his daughter grew distracted at what she
saw ia print he promised that he would
resolve anew "a promise that he broke
as readily few hours later with death.
Depiere was native of Aisace, the
cadet of worthy family. He was des-
tined for tie diplomatic service, but in
the course Of his education his tastes
were trained by rnen of more wealth than
he, and when be came here thirty years
ago he was, though only a youth, Con
fiTmed and practiced gambler.
HIS last I",sition wac as copyist IA
the Mutual Life. He was a good hand
at IL aae made money. For two years
he kept VI an apartment I'm No. 1o6
West SlNty-seventh stIeet, all the time
playing TIE races On Saturday be re-
solved to risk all OIL one last coup. Every
cent ice could scrape together he TOOK
down 10 the track, la ying IL all ON Arch
duke Is win when Hamburg came ia
first TIE man came home, moped about
the hoasr that day and the next, and then
sat down to write.
what is A. YOU are writing. fathers'
asked Gabrielle.
oh, rothing OF Importance he an
swerei, Covering the sheet. Tomorrow,
perhaps, you may see it-not now"
The child retired and Depierre sealed
and sent the letter. 1t was the an
nouncemeat that he would kill himself.
a Confession of his weakness and a
pleading that something should be done
for his children. But he had not the
Courage t0 carry out his intention, and
his daughter read tie grim message with
terror. Fearful of her grief, he showed
himself as weak as ever.
''Thers, there, cont cry said he; II
was ONLY rocling. won't 10 it, Gabrielle.
i promise you
Living with the Depierres are Mr.. and
was suspended by his employers, AMI
notified to leave his apartments. they
tolc HIM they would stand by him and
&C with him. Mr.. Richardson went TO
the theater Monday night, and his wife
and Gabrielle went out TO look for an
apartment. Depierre stayed at home
When they all got back late in the evening
he seemed cheerful. chatting with the
others about the apartments they had
seen, and In no way showing emotion.
Good night said he cheeriiy, and
that was the last they saw OF him alive
IL was long toward 5 a. nj. when Mrs.
Richardson heard him moving about the
hall. Then, at q. H.. bell from.
below began 10 ring. She wondered
that Depierre did not answer IL. For
Zen iainutes the tell kept buzzing, ara,
still wondering, Mrs. Richardson went
down tc the kitchen. There on a chair
sat Depierre. She called: he did not
move. She stepped to his side-he was
dead.
At that instant the doorbell rang again
Running Ia her husband, Mrs. Richardson
aroused him, gasped the news, and flung
open the door The ianitor stood there
"A special delivery letter for Miss
said he.
1t was the last note in the tragedy-a
written by his own hand to
his children. When Tire police came they
found trat Depierre lad detached the
tube OF the gas stove, put the end in his
mouth, and turned On the set.