Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-05-26

Brosc art,
Mont & o m cry
County medical TX
examiner, is 49,
sued the certif-
icate after Mr.. Roper was foune
with a single bullet wound in his
head in his home at BAT Willard
avenue, Chevy Chase.
Clad in pajamas and a bath
robe, the body was discovered in
a basement toilet in the home oil
Mr.. Roper's brother. Rear Ad-
miral John w. Roper, who was
an aide to former Defense Sec
rotary Forrestal.
The admiral was accompanied
by his wife and DR.. Frank Bohn
husband of one Of Mrs. Roper's
sisters. The naval officer said the
group went to the house after
Richards wife Loret asked a check
of the premises when she was
unable to contact her husband BY
telephone. Since she gave birth
to a daughter last week. Lila Tay-
lor Roper. Mrs. Roper has beer
staying with her mother here, and
has been in touch with her hus-
band every day.
Attended Forrestal's Funeral.
Mr.. Roper shot himself with q
German automatic pistol. the cor
oner said. the bullet entering just
under the right ear. The body
was found against wall. in
sitting position. and the pistol lay
nearby.
Admiral Roper. who now Is dep
uty chief in the Bureau Of Naval
Personnel, went to the house only
two hours after attending the fu-
neral of Mr.. ForrestalT Tie wa.
escort commander at the services
for the former defense chief who
leaped to his death from the 18th
floor Of Bethesda Naval Hospital
early Sunday mornings At one
time the admiral commanded the
battleship Wisconsin and Later
Battle Division l..
Admiral Roper said that in the
telephone conversation Richards
wife mentioned a talk with Rich
ard Tuesday In which he sounded
depressed.
According to the Admiral. Mr.
Roper had been worried over
financial matters since his return
from the war. He was president
of the Pleasantaire Corp, an air
conditioning firm with Offices in
the Tower Building, and recently
had been released from Mount
Alto Hospital. where he had been
under treatment for a Oppressive
condition. according to the ad-
miral.
The blinds Of Mr.. Roper's home
had been drawn for more than q
week, Chevy Chase neighbors re-
ported.
Father Served in Cabinet.
His father. Daniel c. Roper
died In 1913. He mad been Secre-
tary OF Commerce and later Min
lister to Canada. under appoint
ment by President Franklin D
Roosevelt. He practiced law here
after retiring from Government
service.
A native Washington,an, Rich
ard Roper was prominent in DEM
ocratic circles here. From 1882
to 1885 he was executive secretary
Of the Democratic National Com
mittee. He subsequently resigned
to take an appointment with an
insurance underwriting f1rm In
Baltimore.
Mr.. Roper was graduated from
Central High School and Duke
University In Durham, N. c. Dur
ing the last war he served for nine
months overseas with the 405th
Infantry Regiment of the 102d
Infantry Division. He held q
sergeant's rank. and received the
Combat Infantry Merit Badge and
the Bronze Star Medal. He was
a veteran of four battles In Ger
many.
In addition to his baby daughter
and widow. Mr.. Roper is survived
by a son. Robert Love Roper. and
two others by a previous marriage:
Richard F., jr.. and Benton Blalock
Roper. Three brothers in addition
to the admiral. survive. They are
Col. Harry Mckay Roper, sta
toned at the Pentagon: James II
Roper. an engineer In Los Angeles
Calf. and Daniel c. Roper. OF
New Orleans, La.
There also are two sisters. Mrs
David r. Coker, Of Hartsville. @. C..
and Mrs. Grace Roper BONN. Oh
Washington.
Funeral plans. which still are
incomplete. include services to-
morrow. Burial viii be in Airing