New-York tribune., 1906-05-10
SPIER BULLET FOUND.
Ball Fits Dead Mans ReUolUer-
Quiet Funeral.

An autopsy on the body Of Charles l.. Spier. jr.,
was made yesterday afternoon at the s. R. Smith
Infrmary. New Brighton. after the funeral. The
bullet extracted It proved to be OF .S2calibre
which was the same size as the revolver Mr. Spier
carried when it is said he went down to look for
burglar in his home early Monday morning. The
bullet was not found in the spinal column. as was
expected. but in the back under the left shoulder
blade. Il. OF course does not settle definitely how
Mr. Spier met his death, but those who believe his
death was caused accidentally increasing.
Among the advocates OF that theory seems to be
District Attorney John J. Kenny.
One of the possible accounts OF what took place
the ground f1oor OF the house Monday morning,
as reconstructed from what is known and surmised.
is this: That Mr.. Spier made trip about the din
ing room. picking up the tray Of silver with the in
tentior Of carrying it upstairs. As he went around
the room he bumped into something striking his
shlns hard and causing him involuntarily to drop
the silver. making a racket, which his wife heard
and which caused her TO scream. That he bruised
his shns that night or day before his death the
autopsy showed. Then, hearing his wife scream,
Mr.. Spier may have supposed the burglar had gone
to second story and regardless of all else and in
the darkness rushed toward the hall. tripped again
and, as he fell or staggered dropped his revolver.
which went of as it hit the hardwood floor after
causing the indentation in the hall.
The funeral took place at the home. No Tomp-
kins avenue. New Brighton, yesterday morning. The
body was removed TO the receiving vault. Moravian
OF Mr.. Spier's father and brother. who are now on
their way from Paris. The services were simple,
the Rev. Charles R. Burch, rector OF St. Andrews
Protestant Episcopal Church. officiating. Samuel
Cooper. who was in charge of the funeral.
nounced that the burial would be at the convenience
of the family.
About fifteen minutes later carriage drove up
from the Office of Coroner Matthew J. Cahill and
a messenger handed the undertaken the necessary
burial permit.
W ApfbI
Dowler. DR.. H. w Patterson, James Guy T1molat
and L. A. Camancho were the bearers.
The police Of the S1st Precinct, from Captain
Hogan and his chief detectives. Lawson and
Smith, down to the lowest the force.
unanimous in their opinion that Mr.. Sper s
death was from a sef-inhcted wound although
they admit the possibility Of the man stumbling in
the dark and thus causing DEATH DR.. George MOrd.
the coroners physician. who performed the au-
topsy. in interview yesterday said:
am still inclined to the belief that two shots
were fired one by Mr., spier. that caused slight
wound on his antagonist and then her. he was was shot by
! the bullet, but was unable to do so.
At the Office OF the Richmond Light and Railroad
I Company, ST. George, S. F. Hazelrigg, the presi-
/ dent OF the company said:
We are examining his accounts. and they SEEM
/ ingly all right in every particular.
| The police ascertained yesterday that in addi-
tion to the $4,000 insurance which Mr. Sper recent
| ly obtained in the New York Life Insurance Com
| pany he had renewed the endowment policy for
$4,000 in the Equitable which he allowed TO lapse
last year. The policy was made payable to his
| wife. He took out the policy May "a, 1904, but
| allowed it to lapse on May e. 1905 On April Ii
| last he made application for the reinstatement OF
| the policy He passed a second eXamina ton. and
! paid the premium for 1905. well as the premium
| for this year, in advance and the policy was re-
! instated.
M spier also had a policy for $3.50 in the
/ Equitable, payable TO his wife. which had been
running several years. Both the Equitable policies
are inconestabe, and Mrs Spier therefore will re-
4 ceive $27. 800 from the company.
That would account for the absence of the powder
| marks which would have stained pajamas and
| flesh had the weapon still been in Mr. Spier's
hand, either going or accidentally end his life
This view of the tragedy finds favor in the ewes
OF those who will not believe he committed suicide
and VINO believe the police do. that there was
burglar in the house.