The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-07-27
FOUND OUTSIDE CAFE;
DIES Of BROKEN SKULL
Louis P. Rouquettc Taken From
in Front Of Bcaux Arts by
Friendly Cabman.
HUNT FOR HIS COMPANIONS
Dead Man Murdered and Robbed
by Bryant Park LOungers.
Coroner Thinks.

who lived at 23l1 Seventh avenue, died
at his home yesterday morning Of
fractured skull. Coroner winterbottom
thinks blow with some heavy instru-
ment caused the death Of Col. Rou-
quctte. who was decorated for bravery
In the Boer war.
Rouquetie had hecn out Wednesday
night and Thursday morning making a
round Of the cafes and about 2 O'Clock
In the morning brought up In front of
the Cafe Beaux Arts. at Fortieth Street
and sixth avenue. and tried to get in.
| There were two friends with him,
Joseph Bulkley. the watchman. remen-
bers that Rouquette had been drinking.
Finally the three went toward Sixth
avenue
! 4 nighthawk cabman. John Crcgier
by name. who lives at 335 West Thirty
ninth street, found Rouauette, he says.
/ in from, Of the Beaux Arts about 3
o'clock bleeding from cut on the top
, Of his head and with n slight bruisc
over the lcf, eye. He was unconscious.
Crcgier knew Rouquette, so he bundled
, him into his cab md took him home.
| Rouque;te had not recovered con-
seriousness then and Mrs. Rose Ding
I fielder, with whom ne roomed. sent out
for Dr. Charles H. Wcissberger of 203
West l30th street. WHO thought at first
that he was suffering from alcoholism.
! Yesterday morning Or. Walter J. Clark.
Mr.. RouQuettc's physician. called to see
him.
= DR.. Clark found that the cuts on the
head We're very deep and suspected that
the skull was fractured. Mr.. Rouquette
died yesterday without recovering con-
sciousness and at the order Of Coroner
: WinterbOttom was taken to the Harlem
Hospital for an autopsy by DR.. Albert
r. Weston. DR.. Weston reported that
RouQuettc had died Of n fractured skull
after being hit apparently with black
jack.
Assistant District Attorney James f.
Mcdonald and Coroner Winterbottom
questioned Mrs. Dingfelder. She said
that the cabman and another man
helped Mr.. Rouuuette out Of the cab
and got him rs far as the basement door
when he collapsed Two policemen were
called In from the street and helped to
carry him upstairs. He weighed about
90 pounds and they had trouble getting
him to bed.
Coroner WinterbottOm is Of the opin
ion that Mr.. Rouquctte was murdered
by some lounsers in Bryant Park. a
diamond ring which the dead man wore
is missing. although n ring bearing his
D.. -tt 4. as.n
The fracture Of the skull is one Of the
worst the Coroner has seen for some
timc--thc entire upper part Of skull be-
ing looscncd. he said
David \. Russell, n friend Of Mr.. Rou-
Qucttc, who lives al the Manchester
apartments. l0Sth street and Broadway.
suspected foul play even before the
autopsy had been performed and told
Capt. Keiiher Of the Lenox avenue
police as,ation that he thought the
death should be Investigated. The
police began n search for the cabman
and the two men who had been with
Rouquctte.
The cabman told Mrs. Dingfelder that
he had seen Mr. Rouquettc with a bar
ber named Nicholas Stoltz either
Wednesday evening or Thursday morn
Ing.
Mr.. Russell said he had seen the
Colonel" az Mr.. Rouquette was called
by his friends, on Wednesday evening In
q restaurant downtown and at that
time he had about SIS in his pocket.
There was only 50 cents in his pockets
when hc was picked up.
Tho victim OF the assault was rather
an eccentric character and sometimes
lived a. the roomine house OH Seventh
avenue and sometimes at the Hotel
Plaza. ,ouquette was very wealthy,
Mr.. Russell said. He wore medal
around his neck which ne said had been
given him by King Edward and Of
which he was very proud.
Mr.. Rouqucttc was 65 years Of age.
lie was born In Bray. England, and
came to this country when young
man. For a while he earned his living
as photographer. but soon became
connected with the Gray I.ithograph
. Company. His ability as designer and
color combiner made his services Nalu-
able to his employers and he became
mauager of the concern, which place ne
, filed until his death. Two children.
Louis, 10. and Margaret, 2. survive him.
The dead man attained publicity In
January Of this year when ne SUED
, Mrs Sarah NJ Boyd for s2bOo, which
hc said he lent her between January II,
1908. and .Tuly % Of that year because
she and her husband. Charles H. boyd,
a broker. had been his friends for years.
Mrs. Boyd said In her affidavit that
It was never intended shc should repay
the money and that the money was
given her under circumstance which
were related In number Of letters