New-York tribune., 1914-03-08
Theron Blakeslee, De
pressed by Poor Season,
Shoots Self in Gallery.
FRIEND TOO LATE
TO PREVENT ACT
Surrounded by Paintings
Valued at Million, Sends
Bullet Into Brain.
NOTED CONNOISSEUR
Jntimates Point to Value OF
Works in Galleries as Denial
of Money Worries.

Works in Galleries as Denial
y of Money Worries.
Theron !. BlakesIee, one Of the lead
inr art dealers Of the country, commit
ted suicide BY shooting himself In the
right temple in the show room OF MS
galleries. in the Frances Building, az
No. ss5 Fifth avenue, yesterday after
noon.
He chose for the scene OF the ending
Of his life the room In which were some
OF his more valuable paintings. racing
him az he fired the fatal shot was the
famous Alteration of the MagL pN
Rubens. and valued at 100000 on al
sides OF him, on easels and Walls
were paintings which represented more
than $500, 900 IN value.
Among them were Lady Cathcart
nv Raeburn. painted in 1856; Countess
Of Derby" by Lawrence; Sir Joshua
Reynolds's Lady Palmer; Madame
Vestris," by Nine. Vigee lie Brun'
famous French painter, and Lady
Campbell" by John Hoppner
Depressed by Poor Season.
Mental depression over the poor sea
son i'm art circles was, it was said, the
PROBABLE cause for his suicide. In con-
ference with him during the afternoon
and Just before his death were his
counsel. Theron Davis, of Ne. 10
Broadway, and DR.. Paul Mersch, SON
in-law Of Charles LedeImeyer, the Parts
art dealer.
While IL was admitted by both Nj.
Davis and DR.. Mcrsch tiiat Mr.. Slakes
lee was heavily stocked with painting
for which there was poor market
their monetary value was more than
half Of his liabilities.
His creditors, the principal one belnb
Ledelmeyer, had not pressed him for
money. nor were any steps being taken
to file a petition in bankruptcy. So far
as his financial standing was concerned
there was no reason for him 10 take
his life.
Shortly after 8 o'clock Mr.. Blakeslee
left the room, which adjoins the show
room Of the galleries on the nrst moor
Of the building. He told Mr.. Davis and
DR.. Mersch that he felt indisposed and
wanted to rest for a short time
Half an hour later Or. Mersch opened
the swinging plush door into the show
room. He was startled TO see Mr..
Blakeslee on a settee with a revolver
m his head. Before DR.. Mersch could
prevent him Mr.. Blakeslee had fred
the fatal shot.
Besides his two friends, there were
number of the statesmen about the gal
eries. who hurried 10 the room from
which the report came.
Mr.. Blakeslee was unconscious. In
n,s right hand was clutched a pearl
handled revolver.
A call was sent to Flower Hospital by
Traffic Patrolmsn Emiel Spies, who
heard the report Of the revolver at the
,rossing Of Fifth avenue and 52d
street. The ambulance became stalled
n the snow on Madison avenue. Dr.
W. II. Avery, riding on the ambulance,
allied 10 his assistance G.. W. Allen, OF
No. $40 Park avenue, who was pass
ng in his automobile. Mr.. Allen drove
DR.. Avery to the Frances Building
Then he took Mr.. Blakeslee TO the hos
oital in his car, but the wounded man
lied as the surgeons were making
-eady to probe for the bullet.
No Financial Worry.
Mrs. Blakeslee was notified of the
shooting and was in the reception room
IF the hospital when her husband died
Coroner Healy was also at the hos
pital, but there was nothing for him to
10 but TO conduct the usual inyesti-
cation.
According to Mr.. Davis and Dr.
Mersch, Mr.. Blakeslee gave no hint
hat he intended to commit suicide.
1T is ridiculous to suppose said
DR.. Mersch, that Mr. Blakeslee took
lis life because OF his financial stand
ng. Why, the paintings represented
n his galleries are far in excess OF
Il 900 900 in value. His liabilities are
much less than that, and he could have
.asily realized on this He also could
rave extended his credit to almost any
lmount."
Mr.. Davis held the same view OF the
lffair and added that he knew 10
certainty that Mr.. Blakeslee left
arge bank account.
Mr.. Davis said Mr.. Blakeslee's busf-
less had no connection with the arr
irm OF Moulton & Ricket. OF Chicago
md New York, which went into bank
'uptcy Friday.
Thomas r. Kirby, OF the American
Art Association, No. 65 Central Park
Vest. when told OF Mr.. Blakeslee's sui
,ide, said that when he last saw the
iealer a day OF so ago. Mr.. Blakeslee