Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-09-16
REPORTED HEART FAILURE
Left an Estate Valued at Over One
Million.
STATEMENT OF VICTIMS WIDOW
Dead Man Had an Envious Practice
and Was a Local Politician of
Note-Sufered From Neuralgia.


Special Dispatch to The Star
NEW YORK. September 16-When DR..
A. Warner Shepard. a prominent and rich
Brooklyn physician who was married four
months ago at the age of sixty-sx years.
died suddenly Sunday morning September
8, 1t was given out by relatives that death
was caused by heart failure. Through
coroner DR.. Henry J. Brewer, in Brooklyn.
however. 1t became known today that the
veteran physician had died from an over
dose OF morphine. self administered He
leaves an estate valued at more than
sl,GO,oOO and a wife. who is considerably
younger than himself
II was only through persistent inquiries
at the coroners office that the details Of
MS death became known. The body has
peen inferred ano no post-mortem exam
lnation made. as DR.. Emil F. Hartung
coroners physician, was satisfied from the
statements of the widow and two physi-
clans who were at the house on the morn
ing of DR.. Shepards death that he had
succumOed from an overdose of the Opiata
,anin by himself in the hope of al
laying severe attack of neuralgia. He
accordingly reported his conclusions to
Coroner Brewer and a certificate of death
was issued
Informed Of Death by Telephone.
According to Coroner Brewer. he was
called up on the telephone on the Sunday
morning OF DR.. Shepard's death and was
informed by DR.. B. @. Blackman Of the cir
cumstances. II told DR.. Backman." said
Coroner Brewer. that as he was a rep
utable practicing physician, 1t would only
be necessary. In my opinion. to report the
matter to the board of health and receive
a certificate DR.. Blackman did this. but
the board Of health refused to consider the
matter. deciding that it was case for the
coroner's office.
Accordingly. on Monday morning sent
DR.. Hartung to the house to investigate.
He made no autopsy, but secured state
ment from the widow and from DIR. Black
man and Dr.. Louis c. Ager. both Of whom
were hastily summoned on the morning of
DR.. Shepards death. Mrs. Shepard In
formed them that early in the morning
she was awakened by her husband pacing
and going to him he told her that he
had suffered extremely from neuralgia.
and had taken dose Of morphine to re-
lieve him. then another one. and that he
feared he had taken too much.
He asked me to get him some hot wa
ter said Mrs. Shepard land to summon
doctor as soon as possible Drs. Blackman
ard Ager were notified and hurried to the
house Immediately, but DR.. Shepard soon
expired
Belonged to Old Political Ring.
Dr. Shepard had enormous practice
and was Identified with the old democratic
ring of politicians In Brooklyn.
1t is known that DR.. Shepard expected
death at any moment. Wednesday preced-
ing his death he had an attack. and on the
Friday following summoned number Of his
intimate friends and his attorney, Bernard
]. York, to his home. To them DR.. Shepard
spoke Of the uncertainty Of life and ex-
pressed a desire to have hiS attorney draw
a will providing for his wife. In doing this
Dr. Shepard said that he wished to AVOID
any difficulties over his estate after death.
Another queer incident came to light also
when ii became known that DIR. Shepard
recently visited an undertaking establish
ment and selected coffin.