New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-02-01
FASTS UNTIL DEAD.
Student of Occultism Starves Himself to Dis
embody Spirit.

One of the strangest cases that Coroner Soho
Ter ever had to deal with that of the death
of Joseph William Sheppard inventor and a
student of occutism, who sucCumbed apparent
Iy from self-starvation at his home. No 159
West Fig -third-st.. yesterday. TWO days be-
fore he died Mr. Sheppard said his physician.
DR. Julian P Thomas of No 26 West Ninety
fourth-st.:
When | appear to be dead | won't be. You
will think I'm dead. hut my appearance will be
the result of the disembodiment of my spirit
No one knows how long the inventor had been
fasting. His friends and relatives knew he had
been de ying himself food for a long time. be-
lieying like the. Hndoo mahatmas. that the
torture of the body would bring about per
lection of the spirit. According to William
Sheppard son of the inventor, who is staying
al the Hotel Endicott Eightyfrstst and
Eighth-ave his father, although he had never
been to India had become greatly interested
in occultism and Hindoo folklore several years
ago
Sheppard and his living in England
when the inventor first developed a liking for
the occult. That was forty years ago, and
coming this country Mrs. Sheppard continued
his studies. Last winter the inventor met with
an accident which kept him indoors. One day,
about month ago. the noticed that his
father becoming thin and emacia ted He
learned that in order to free himself of the suf
fering from his complaint his father had begun
20 fast
The son invoked the aid of friends to try 70
induce his father to take some nourishment, but
the old man steadfastly refused.
On Thursday young Mr.. Sheppard grew wor
ried his fathers condition. and called in
DIR. Thomas. When the doctor reached the house
he found the inventor in bed weak from his
fasting. When he attempted to prescribe for
him Mr. Sheppard refused to take any medicine
Il allowed you to come here. DR.. Thomas"
said he. merely a protection to my son.
After what you will suppose is my death, you
can say that my son did all he could for me- and
l did not die from any neglect his part. When
you think I'm dead will not be. have nearly
completed my studies, and what happens TO me
is my doing
DR.. Thomas tried his best persuade the old
man to take some food. but the inventor was OBJ
stinate, and the physician had to go away with
out accomplishing his purpose.
AS he had been the only attending physician
in the case. Dr. Thomas had to send a report
and death certificate to the Board of Health
The death certificate said that John Irving. an
undertaken al No. 431 Amsterdam ave, would
take charge of the body.
When the Board of Health authorities received
the report they refused to grant burial per-
NIT, and Coroner Scholer was sent to view the
body. When the coroner heard of the peculiar
surroundings of the case he took particular
pains to that Mr.. Sheppard was really dead
After his examination Coroner Scholer said that
there could be no doubt that the inventor had
killed himself by refusing to eat, the di-
gestive organs of the body were nearly all
wasted away.
The house where the inventor lived is run
apart because the old man wished to be alone
| to continue his studies. No in the house
| ever bothered the old man in his studies.
| although il was noticed that seldom any food
taken to his room.