The sun., 1908-04-25
CHARLES D. PIERCE A SUICIDE
ONCE the ORANGE FREE STATE
CONSUL-GENERAL HERE.

Had Lost Over $50 900 and Feared .
PauperS Craye-WaS President OF En'
Gineerlng Company That Falled-Made
Careful Preparations for His Death.
Charles D. Pierce, who was the president
Of the Pierce Well Engineering and Supply
Company Of 90 West street and who at one
time was Consul-General Of the Orange
Free State In New York until that Govern
ment was merged with the British empire
at the close OF the Boer war, took his life
by inhalng gas in a fat he had recently
occupied at 800 West Twenty-eighth street
some time between Thursday night and
yesterday morning. Friends OF the dead
man said last night that he had lost over
$4,000 within the last three months and
that the revocation OF contracts his company
had with the Bolivian Government had
been responsible for the recent failure Of
his firm and the loss Of all his personal
fortune.
From what he told his friends few days
before he died 1t is evident that Pierce,
who was about 90 years old, feared that
the loss Of his fortune would bring him
to a paupers grave 1t is known that only
few weeks before he died he made tenta-
tive application for admission into the
Masonic home for indigents Of the order,
Of which he was a member, and just two
days before his body was found lying on
cot in storeroom back Of his lodgings he
told c. A. Robinson, a brother Mason, that
he was haunted with the spectre Of lying in
Potter's Field.
Pierce moved to the very cheap lodgings
on West Twenty-eighth street a short time
ago He had two rooms there and all Of
the fittings Of his rooms we're OF the best,
and there we're many pieces Of bric-a-brac
and art which betokened refined taste
and connoisseur's selection. The lodger
kept very much to himself and aside from
Mrs Mary Brown, who was secured by him
TO act as his housekeeper, there was none Of
the neighbors who knew much about the
life OF the man.
On Thursday Pierce urged Mrs. Brown
TO go away on a vacation for a day, saying
that he wanted to be alone to transact some
important business. Mrs, Brown visited
her family in The Bronx, and when she re-
turned yesterday she found the door Of the
dodgers apartments locked. The janitor
broke down the door and they found Pierces
body lying in a storeroom behind his bed
room, with a gas tube from the jet firmly
fastened to his mouth and cotton stuffed
about the end Of the pipe. He was dressed
in his best business suit Lis shoes were
polished and his nails manicured.
Coroner Shrady was summone by the
housekeeper and doctor from Roosevelt
Hospital was called on ths phone. The
doctor said that Pierce had been dead sew
er hours
On table in Pierces bedroom the Coroner
found three notes and a will. One Of the
notes, addressed TO Brother Anthony w.
Pausworth, care Of c. A. Robinson, tele-
phone number 4454 Beekman," was un-
sealed II directed Mr. Paulson TO take
charge Of my effects and affairs in case Of
my serious illness" The note added that
the writer also desired the assistance Of
Brother Atkinson, 81 Ferry street, New
York IL closed with the injunction to
notify Charles II. Pierce Of Suffern, n. Y,
in case Of my illness
The other two notes were sealed. They
were addressed to Brother Anthony W.
PaiIlson master Of Ancient Lodge No. 724"
and 70 Charles Horace Pierce, Sufern,
V will which was left by the suicide !
with the letters showed that the Charles |
II. Pierce Of Sufern referred to in the note !
was his nephew.
In the will, which was drawn on FebrI- |
ary 20, Pierce made disposition of all Of |
his small property. which was not specified, |
and the furnishings Of his rooms in favor |
Of his nephew. Attached to the will was
a letter TO Charles II. Pierce deciding over
to him a claim against the Bolivian Gov !
ornmont for 900. The letter stated that |
this claim was for machinery which had |
been ordered by the agricultural depart
ment Of the Bolivian Government at La
Paz, Bolivia, and upon which no payment
had been made.
A friend Of the dead man said last night
that 1t was this unpaid claim against the
South American republic which had come
az a final blow TO a series of reverses suf-
fered by the Pierce Well Engineering and
Supply Company and it, president. A
large order for oil we'll machinery had been
placed with the Pierce concern by the Min
ister Of Agriculture at La Paz said this
friend, and after Pierce had spent most Of
his reserve capital installing special ma
chinery in the companys Jersey City plant
for the filling Of this order it was reversed
suddenly and given to another firm.
The company's plant was situated at l58
and l5s Bay street, Je sey City. Pierce
spent great part Of his time In the shops.
1t went into the hands Of a receiver in
January.
The sale was held on March %, and the
proceeds will be between 81 800 and $1,000.
Pierce had been married and separated
from his wife. He had no children ac-
cordQg 70 friends statements He was a
Mason OF the Blue Lodge and member Of
Ancient Lodge No ia Members Of that
lodge took charge Of the body last night.