The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-06-28
DEAD ON HIS YACHT
Artist Bassford Ends His
Life with a Pistol Shot,
Though in Good
Spirits.
WIFE'S FRENzlED EXCLAMATION
The Larada Was a Success But
Her Owner and Builder Could
''Go No Further"

Franklyn Bassford, forty years old, of
No. 212 Arlington avenue, committed
suicide shortly before nine o'clock this
morning by shooting himself in the right
ear with a 3S-calibre revolver. The deed
was committed in the handsome cabin of
the steam launch Larada Mr. Bassford
was marine artist and he purchased the
launch at cost of $500 to aid him in
his work. He had refitted and furnished
it In preparation for long cruise which
he contemplated starting on this week.
Ffe went to the boat early this morning,
ostensibily for the purpose of seeing to
the final preparations for the cruise.
Before going out to the Larada, he stop
ped at Neihoff's pavilion and chatted for
while. He drank a glass of beer and
seemed in excellent spirits. The Larada
which is moored off Communipaw avenue,
is in charge of a sailor named McGrath.
When Mr.. Bassford boarded the boat
McGrath went ashore to breakfast. He
returned shortly after nine o'clock.
Not finding his employer on deck@Mc-
Grath started in search of him. Entering
the cabin he found Bassford lying on the
floor. Blood was trickling from his right
ear. A revolver which was clutched in
his right hand told the story of how he
met his death. McGrath examined the
body and found that life was extinct. He
notified Patrolman Stevens of the Com
munipaw avenue precinct and he had the
body removed to the morgue. The suicide
left letter on the table in the cabin On
the envelope was the following inscription
in perfectly firm and legible hand:-.
"McGrath, take at once to DR., C.. P.
Opdyke, 1o1 Ocean avenue, ]. C.
Talk to no one
This was the only communication to be
found Stevens took the letter and de-
livered it to DR.. Opdyke.
Mrs. Bassford had not been notified of
her husbands death up to 12:15 O'Clock.
Two reporters were the first to break the
news to her. She had had no intimation
that anything had happened
When asked if she had heard anything
of her husband. she evidently OWNED
that something was wrong. She clutched
the screen door and said
Tell me. has anything happened to
him?''
He has been badly hurt responded
the reporter.
Mrs Bassford clutched at her throat
across the street and said
60 for the woman in that brown house:
go quick and bring her here"
This was to one of the reporters. When
he was gone she quieted somewhat and
said
Tell me all; is he dead?''
He is, was the reply
She staggered down the hallway, clutch
ing at the walls and kept repeating,
Dead. dead. Was it my fault? My God,
I'm all alone now
She begged the reporter not to leave her
as there was no one in the house. She
grew hySterical and calm by turns She
Kept constantly reproaching herself. In
the meantime the lady from the brown
house" arrived and endeavored to con-
sole her.
Mrs. Bassford threw her arms about
her neck but would not be consoled. She
the point dozen times of explaining her
remark, 1t was my fault" but each time
she checked herself.
While she was in this state Dr. Opdyke |
drove up at breakneck speed and jumping
from his carriage before it stopped ran
into the house. He gave Mrs. Bassford
to get her out of the house as quickly as
possible. DR.. Opdyke made all the ar
engagements for having the body removed |
during Mrs. Bassfords S absence.
Financial troubles are assigned as the |
cause of the suicide.
The woman in the .brown house" |
proved to be Mrs. Shannon an aunt of |
Mrs Bassford. DR.. Opdyke was not only |
the Bassford's family physician, but was /
also Mr.. Bassford's personal friend. He /
was seen this afternoon by News re-
porter. Mr.. Bassford, he says, was not |
only a marine artist of some repute, but |
ne was also an inventor and designer and |
IN expert writer on yachting topics. The |
Larada was a boat of his own Invention. |
Six months ago he secured a patent on |
some part of the machinery which he had /
designed. He built the boat at a heavy |
expense. and was obliged to take In a
partner
THE letter which received said DR..
opdyke, was purely personal. There /
was but one reference in 1t to the sad /
affair. 1t was as follows:-
am thoroughly discouraged. Struc-
turally, my boat was success, but |
through the incompeteney and opposition
of others, find can go no further