The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-16
L. ]. APGAR TAKES HIS LIFE.
NAMED As CORRESPONDENT IN
THE MEYERS Giv0RCE Ease.
Mr. Meyers Won the suit. ana ADsar Was
Censured BY tice.thanceiior Garrison
60 Mrs. Meyers's Pastor, Dr. Charles
Herr, Declares That She IL Innocent.


Meyers, the Chambers street, New York,
envelope manufacturer, named IA core
spendent In u successful suit for divorce
against Clara r. Meyers, IA society woman,
committed suicide yesterday by shooting
himself In the head at his home, "a Sip ave-
nue., Jersey City Heights. Apgar's friends
believe that no lost his nerve as the result
Of the termination Of the suit and oon-
cluded that death would be preferable to
living down the scandal made public ny
the Chancery Court procee dings. 1t IL
said he feared the ordeal Of going into court
again a. defendant In u suit which Meyers
had threatened to bring to recover dam
ages for the alienation Of his wife's affeo-
tions.
Agar arose at his usual hour Yesterday
and carefully dressed himself His wife
went downstairs to direct the preparations
for breakfast. A few minutes later, at 7:4S
o'clock, she heard the report Of revolver,
and going to her husbands room found him
living unconscious on the floor at the foot
Of the bed. He had shot himself near the
right temple while standing in front OF a
mirror. The bullet passed through the
head and came out on the left side Other
members Of the family sent for Dr. Charles
T.. Putnam of o. Sip avenue, and also tele-
phoned for DIR. William l.. Pyle, Apgar's
son-in-law, Of 87s Bergen avenue. The
physicians hurried to the house. Apgar
died several minutes after their ARRIVAL
without regaining consciousness.
When Capt. Harrington and Detective
Sergeant Larkins reached the house the
body had been laid Oh bed. County
n Rad hat
death was due to self-inflicted pistol shot
wound and gave permit for the burial.
Apgar's family Is one OF the best known
in the old Bergen section. He was re-
puted to be well to do and lived In one OF
the finest houses on the hill, which he
decided to his wife several months ago.
He was frequent visitor at the Carteret
Club, of which he was member, and he
also belong ed to Bergen Lodge, F. Il A. NJ.
Although a well preserved man OF 81. he
retired from active business several years
ago He had desk in the office Of Provost
4 Co., brokers', at 20 Broad street, New
York, but did not spend much Of his time
there. Apgar is survived by his wife.
a son, Mahlon Apgar of Matawan, n D.,
and four daughters, Mrs. William L, Pyle,
Mrs. Herbert Scott, Mrs. De Witt X. Coombs
and Miss Emily Apgar.
The trial Of the divorce suit viii ch George
Morehouse Meyers brought against his
wife caused a sensation in jersey, City,
owing to the prominence OF the pair and
the family CONNECTIONS Of the correspondent.
The case was tried before Vice-Chanoellor
Garrison last week. 1t lasted four days
and ended in a prompt decision by the
ice-Chancellor on Friday afternoon as
soon as the lawyers had finished summing
up The Court said he would advise a
decree, proof having been presented that
Mrs Meyers and Apgar were guilty.
Apgar attended all the sessions of the trial
except on the morning Of the first day He
sat for the greater part OF the time leaning
forward with a fan to his ear listening to
the testimony. He followed the case closely
and blushed like girl whenever references
were made to his relations with Mrs. Meyers
Testimony favorable to the defendant &C.
casionally produced feeble smile. 1t was
plainly evident to Apgar's friends in court
that ne experienced much mental agony.
Hotel Albert in this city with Mrs. Meyers
on the afternoon of Feb. =, He admitted
that he lunched with Der in the dining room,
but denied that he saw her in any other
part of the hotel. He said he hired room
and registered as Mr.. and Mrs Crawford"
because he wanted to secure it for the ac-
cornmodation of Mrs. Meyers and her aunt,
Mrs Ward. The latter did not appear, he
said, and he occupied the room alone when
Mrs. Meyers left the hotel. His testimony
that he ordered two cocktails sent to his
suited in a severe cross examination
Vice-Chancellor Garrison In his decis-
ion said that the statements of the "aged
correspondent were inexplicable by any
rational theory" shaft which sent the
blood surging 70, Apgar's face, The CO.
nent men. friends of many years standing,
before he left the court room, and later
had a talk with his counsel, Frank P. Nc
Dsr1nott, In the latter's office. He then
said: Il am satisfied with my course in
the matter. ! think l have done what
il right in defending Mrs. Meyers. She
il innocent"
Apgar sent messages to Prosecutor OF
the Pleas William il. Speer and Lawyer
Charles j. Kelly ON Friday night asking
them TO meet him yesterday He wanted
them to defend him at the trial Of the aliena-
gin against him. Kelly went to the house
at 10 O'Clock yesterday morning to keep
the appointment, but Mr.. Speer didn't
go there. 1t was said he was too busy.
Mahlon Apgar came in from the country
in the morning at the request OF his father
and found him dead.
Apgar's suicide was great shock to Mrs.
Meyers She refused to see callers at her
home, 10! Clifford avenue. The Rev. DR..
Charles Herr, pastor of the First Presby-
terrain Church in Emory street, which Mrs.
Meyers attended said yesterday that all
the Vice-Chancelors in Christendom couldn't
make Mrs. Meyers guilty Of the crime of
which she was charged. He said:
81 do not doubt that Vice-Chancellor
Garrison did his duty as he saw It, but there
was one thing that he was not clear minded
enough to see. namely, the self-evident
simplicity and innocence of Mrs. Meyers's
character 1t ia lamentable that he did not
find category in which to place a woman
who is childlke in her purity, naturalness,
openness, goodness modesty
and unsuspiciollsness Of evil"
The minister was daily attendant at
I he trial