New-York tribune., 1908-01-03
AGED MAN SHOT DEAD.
CIVIL VAR PISTOL USED'
Marquis c. Casper, 50, Found 7oith
Bullet Hole IN Temple.

Ar the age of eighty-fiv Marquis C.Gasper,
a retired tea merchant and member OF several
riding and driving clubs in this city, was found
dead in a chair in his bedroom, at No 80 west
SD street, yesterday morning, with bullet
wound in his right temple under circumstances
indicating that he had committed suicide Inc
pistol weapon of the Civil War type, was
found lying on the floor between his feet Dr.
Walter L. Carr. who examined him. was OF the
opinion that he had died instantly
DESPITE the presence of at least three persons
in the house when the shot fired. the cor
oner has been unable to find any one who heard
the report. According 10 Mrs Casper and Mr.
Beach. a other-in-law of the dead man, his
eyesght had been failing for long time Two
weeks ago the affiiction, an Election of the
arteries of the eyes, grew worse and Mr..
Casper became respondent
Mrs. Casper has two maids. Annie English
and Della Golding the former of whom
cleaning the second floor Of the three story
house yesterday morning Through an open
door this maid was able TO see the aged man
sitting in his armchair with his feet on small
stool and wrapped up in dressing gown. Less
than fifteen minutes later Mrs. Casper entered
the room, to find her husband covered with blood
which streaming from wound in his
temple. while the stool which the maid had seen
at his feet had disappeared. Thinking that her
husband still alive, Mrs. Casper, aided by
the maids, whom she called attempted to stay
the flow of blood by wrapping napkins about the
aged mans head DR.. Carr. of No. 6s West 51st
street. was summoned and at once pronounced
Mr. Casper dead
DR.. Carr summoned the police from the East
J1st street station. who in turn communicated
with the coroner. When Mr. Hamburger arrived
he discovered what had not been seen before
old faSflic cd
old mans feet, one chamber of which had been
emptied.
Il do not understand how this revolver came
TO be in such position" said the coroner '.Dr
Carr says he died instantly, and 1 cannot con-
ceive how the gun could fall in such direction"
After careful examination of the maids and
Mrs. Casper the coroner said that all the evil
dencS pointed to suicide. Mr.. Casper, according
10 his wife, who formerly Miss Jennie NJ
Beach. a daughter of Alfred Beach. was in
we'll -to-do circumstances. The only reason that
she could think of for his death was that his
failing eyesight had made him despondent and
that at times he physically incapacitated
for driving. which was his hobby
The coroner will bring the case before a jury
as soon as he has had chance to get more evil
dence. He said last night:
1t seems to me foolish TO suppose that the
falling of mans eyesight is a sufficient reason
why he should take his life. Most men when
they reach the age of seventy cannot see as
we'll they could while they were younger
/ cannot understand how the pistol fell between
Mr.. Gaspers legs why no one in the house
heard the pistol shot. I do not care TO decide
the case myself and will summon coroner's
jury"
Mr. Casper retired In 1893 from the firm of
Howard & AspinwalI. which had Offices at No
"a South street. The owner of the building at
this address said yesterday that the firm had
not been established there for long time and
that it was understood by those in charge OF
the building ii had gone out of business. Louis
NJ. Howard. the former head Of the firm. is said
TO be n special agent of the Treasury Depart
ment at present
Mr. Casper born at Marcellus y. Y. He
came TO this city when a young and went
into the tea business. establishing his home in
Orange where he remained as long as his first
wife lived. He married Miss Beach IN 1896.
Three children. all by his first wfe-Mrs Albert
Dodge Smith. Of Orange; James Griswold Gas
per and Rowland Casper. of Eastport Long
Isand-survive him He a member of the
New York Athletic Club the Road Drivers As
sociation. and the New York Driving Club.