New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-12
"MIDDYr SHOOTS FRIEND.
Coroner Scholer Has Clash 7cith Bra
zilian Boats officers.
4 SEAMAN ATTEMPTS SUICIDE.

On the Brazilian corvette Benjamin Constant
Midshipman Jose Paul Ferreira was accidentahS
shot and killed yesterday by his chum' Miosiiir
man Mario Hecster. The two midshipmen were III
their quarters Hecster was examining his re-
vover. which loaded. In some way the weapoh
discharged The ball struck Ferreira between
the eyes. Hecster was made prisoner, as a mat
ter of formalty. and confined TO his quarters ne
was much worked up over the tragedy, as ',io
dead boy his closest friend. Ferreira was oii''
nineteen years old and Hecster is year older
As result of the shooting there wss e'as,
between Coroner Schoer and the Brazilian Oohsui
and officers of the training ship. Soon hter 'h7
shooting midshipman sent ashore 10 mise
arrangements with an undertaken named Dowo' III
West Eighteenth-st. to have the body emoalnieu
preparatory to sending it home. The undertaken
refused receive the body until he had coroner
permit. He telephoned to Coroner Scholer concern
ing the case
The Benjamin Constant is lying in the North
River off Thrty-fifth-st There the coroners trou-
BILE began. No boatman would take him out De-
cause OF the rough water. After wait oi seNet"i
hours he hailed a launch. which had on BOARD ,ne
Brazilian Consul and some midshipmen Inc Coh-
sui wanted 30 know what authority Scholer hs1u
for interfering The coroner replied that the oody
could not be brought ashore or handled by any
undertaken until he had viewed it AFTER a lone
argument with the consul, the coroner was 'tio"eu
to go aboard the be at. On the Constant ne could
get no information whatever at first concerning
no accident that the midshpman was SICK anu d
little later that the boy had fully recovered ana
that he was asleep. Finally. the commander &c
knowledged that the boy had been shot' Before
he allowed the coroner view the eody' ne anu
tho consul went below for two hours and INDUS
triously studied law books, naval regulations an"
Brazilian and United States laws and treaueS'
After all their work they came no nearer an uii-
Outstanding than before and 1t vas not unul ai'ei
Dr. Scholer had talked with the ships surgeon
Dr. Aurelia Beige. and had explained the sltua'loh
to him that he was allowed to investigate.
He found the body lying in state AT the head
and foot of the bier burned four candles ana a
Brazilian flag was wrapped around the BODY
There was a guard Of honor of six seamen' with
drawn cutlasses.
Coroner Scholer gave permit for the removal
of the body The Constant is bound for English
waters.
There was some other excitement aboard the
Constant yesterday. A who had Just been
placed under arrest attempted suicide. On being
ordered TO do some work by a lieutenant he mace
an insulting remark. He was reported and placed
under arrest as the marines were about to place
him in the brig he knocked two of them over
sprang up a companion ladder and jumped over
board He was seen by James Carly, a river BOAT
man. who pulled him out Of the water INTO MS
rowboat No sooner had the sailor been rescued
than he tore off his blouse and Owed overheard
again The second time Carly pulled him ABOARD
and this time he safely landed in the brig