New Britain herald., 1914-05-05
CIVIL WAR VETERAN
 MURDERED BY SON
Chester DuIyea Fires Seven Shots
 Into His Fathers Body.


 TRAGEDY OCCURS ON PORCH Murderer Claims He Had "spir-
 itual Message From George Wash
 ington"-victim Was Retired Mill
 lionaire Starch Manufactures.
 New York, May 5.-In cell in d Brooklyn police station, Chester Dur- yea, who early today fired seven bullets into the body of his father, Hiram Duryea, millionaire starch manufac- turer and veteran of the Civil War, killing him instantly, talked inco- herently of the events leading up to the shooting and gave evidence of being stark mad. While he talked he dug his finger nails into the palms of his hands until they bled. He said he shot his father when he received a spiritual message from George Washington In saner, calner tone, he added, II was the best friend my father had and he was my best friend. I loved him dearly. If he were here now he could explain the whole matter. I really don't know why I shot him.
 1.-Two days ago my father and I took a long walk and during it I kissed him for the first time in three years. I don't know why I kissed him. May be it was just because I wanted to show my affection.
 Had Contemplated Suicide.
 "I had made up my mind before shooting father that as soon as he was dead I would turn the automatic pistol on myself and end my own life. I fully intended doing that while was firing at my father. After it was over, though, an impulse came over me and I decided not to kill myself. I wish I had carried out my original intention"
 Before his arraignment in court Duryea became violent and beat on the doors of his cell with his bare knuckles. A policeman was stationed outside the door to prevent him from injuring himself seriously.
 Appears More Rational.
 When Duryea was arraigned he ap- peared to be more rational. He said he had no attorney but wanted one, so the examination was postponed until Thursday morning.
 l.. G. Duryea his cousin, said the l. Duryea family had believed for some time that Chester was mentally unbal- anced and had considered taking steps to place him in sanitarium or asylum. Chester's mental condition, said the cousin, was due to overstudy. For two years, he said, the prisoner had been constantly engaged in the study of a formula by which he believed the process of the manufacture of starch could be revolutionized.
 Enacted on Porch. < The murder occurred on the porch at the rear of the Duryea home where both father and son were in the ha bit of sleeping. About 1 o'clock i. this morning Chester Duryea, who is x 4S years old, slipped from his cot into { the house where he kept a number of : rifles, revolvers and shot guns for hunting purposes He selected an ] automatic pistol and a magazine rifle. both of which he loaded, and returned to the open air porch. Standing within A few feet of his sleeping father he first fired from the rifle and then e1np ptied the revolver.
 For the past few .days ser wants told the police he had been acting strangely and they had feared a return of a previous breakdown. In 1909 when he showed signs of mental trouble his father sought to have him removed to Bellevue hospital for ob- servation, but as he was not violent this request was refused.
 At of Hiram Duryea organized the Duryea Zouaves and became it's folonel He served throughout the war; retiring at it's close with the rank of brigadier general.
 General Duryea's father was found- Ser of the National Starch company md the general succeeded to the pres idency of the company. The general retired from active business life some time ago.
 Discouraged by Divorce.
 Chester Duryea was admitted to practice law and had intended to take up the legal business of the starch company of which his father was the head. Domestic troubles that culmi- mated in his being divorced by his wife in 1903 discouraged him in this ambition, friends explained. The di- vorce action begun in 1901 is also said 10 have been the beginning of trou ble between Chester and General Duryea, the father taking the side of his daughter-in-law against his son. Mrs. Chester Duryea, before her marriage, was Miss Nina Larre Smith, daughter of Frank Waldo Smith of Boston.
 For some weeks Chester Duryea has gpent much time at home and, after the shooting. it was found that he had been engaged in writing. a pile of manuscripts, the result of his work, being taken by the police for examina- ticn for a possible reason for his act.
 Although servants said that there