The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-05
HIRAM DURYBA SLAIN
BY HIS son CHESTER
Aged Retired Manufacturer
Shot Seven Times in
Brooklyn Home.
PISTOL AND RIFLE USED
Man, 81. Was on Sleeping
Porch When Son. 43. Fired
No Quarrel Heard.

Hiram Duryea. retired manufacturer.
was murdered by his son, Chester Duryea.
early this morning at their home at 100
Elghty-flfth street. Bay Ridge. Brooklyn.
Seven shots were fired by the younger
Duryea, fve from an automatic pistol and
feet. causing instant death. The murder
took place on the sleeping porch OF the
Duryca home.
There were three servants and a house
keeper In the house who heard the shots.
They seized the young man, but he showed
no disposition to run away and waited
calmly for the police. He was arrested as
he sat upon his bed across the enclosed
porch from that on which the body Of his
father lay.
At the Fort Hamilton station Duryea
said that he was engaged in mercantile
business. the nature of which he would
not disclose. His talk was incoherent and
his actions impressed tho police as being
very strange. The servants did not add
to the cause OF the crime, for none OF
them had heard conversation between
father and son.
DIR. Gardiner. who came from the Nor
wegian Hospital. found Gen. Duryea's
body practically riddled with bullets.
Fired at close range from powerful guns
they had torn their way entirely through
the body Several were aimed at the
head and several at the chest.
Mr.. Duryea was 81 years OF age. His
son is ~.
The reason for the killing is puzzling
the Fort Hamilton police, who were called
BY the servants Immediately after the
shooting. They were told that the younger
Duryea had been acting strangely all the
! afternoon and that after writing what APP
peared to be editorials of a legal nature
had dired with his father and later re-
tired.
Chester Duryea vas taken to the But
Ter stree, station and questioned by As
sistant District Attorney Conway. lie
would not tell what induced him to Kill
! his father.
Hiram Duryea was the son OF H,ndrick
Vanderbilt Duryea and Ann Wright
Duryea and was born at Manhasset, l.. l..
| in 1894. He married In 1865 Miss Laura
| d. Burnell. Two sons and two daughters
wero born. of whom Chester was the onl,
one living with his father at the time OF
the shooting.
During the civil war he served as Lieu
tenant OF artillery and later rs Captain
In the Fifth New York Infantry. In ls6,
he became brevet Brisadier-General %
Volunteers on account Of service at the
battle OF Gaines Mills. Va. He wa
president OF the Veterans Association ant
also a member OF the Army and Nav!
and the Crescent Athletic clubs.
Hiram Duryea was at ono time heat
of the National Starch Company.
In 1902 Mrs. Chester Duryea brough
suit against her husband for separa
ton, alleging cruelty. At the time a
effort was made by both parties TO hav
the proceedings private. II was over
year later that Mrs. Duryea won he
suit and also the custody of their sol
Chester b.. Jr.
A couple OF years after the suit wa
decided Duryea made motion TO have tn
amount of the alimony he paid his VIII
reduced and produced evidence 10 sho'
that his estate would not bear his payin
the yearly sum OF $3.50. Mrs. Duryc
was then living In Paris with her son.