Evening star., 1949-03-30
Sperry,Gos Co. Head,
Diesin Bridge Plunge;
Was to Give Up Post
Boord Is Told of Leup
As 1t Meets to Elect
Firms New President

uHt , l>SW ISSIOCUt
Marcy L. Sperry, II, president
of the Washington Gas Light Co.,
died in a leap from the Massachu-
sets Avenue Bridge today while
the gas company's board of direc-
tors was meeting to accept his
resignation and advance him to
the craftsmanship of the board.
Two months ago it was arranged
for Mr.. Sperry to retire from the
presidency of the company and
the directors had voted to create
the new position of board chair
man for him and to make Everett
J. Boothby, vice president
president. u
Mr.. Sperry, his associates said,
had given no outward sign OF re-
gret at his impending retirement.
The board members were waiting
for him to appear at their meet
ing when news of his death was
received.
Mr.. Sperry climbed slowly
on the railing of the bridge, 80
feet above Rock Creek Park, sat
for a moment and then showed
himself off.
Motorist Sees Leap.
Velmer Green. A. of 1928 Law
renee street NE. saw Mr.. Sperry
leap to his death.
II was driving along Rock
Creek parkway and happened to
look up at the bridge" Mr.. Green
said. Il saw a man slowly put
his left leg over the rail and
then his right leg. He sat there
for a moment and then toppled
down
He landed on his back about S
feet from the edge of the creek
Coroner A. Magruder Mac
Donald issued a certificate of sui
eide.
Mr.. Sperry was identified first
from papers in his pockets by
Sergt. Robert Kirby of the Honli-
eide Squad. When Sergt. Kirby
went to the Sperry home at 1929
Nineteenth street NV. no menl-
bers of the family were there.
Mrs. Sperry, the former Mrs. j.
Harris Franklin. was in her Office
in the insurance firm of Franklin
& Strunk, 1903 H street NV,
when her husband died. Seret.
Kirby asked the Sperry family
physician. DR.. John Minor, to
accompany him when he told Mrs.
Sperry of her husbands death.
Married Last June.
Mr.. and Mrs. Sperry were mar
ried last June. She is l3 years
younger than her husband. She
assumed her first husbands place
in partnership in the insurance
firm after his death in 1887 and
remained active in the business
after her marriage to Mr.. Sperry.
Mr.. Sperry arose early today
and left the house without waking
anyone. He was gone when Mrs.
Sperry awakened shortly after
am.
About $50 am. park policemen
cruising through Rock Creek Park
saw a man in the middle of the
Connecticut Avenue Bridge star
ing fxedly into the ravine below.
The Park policemen radioed for
Metropolitan Police to send a
squad car to the bridge. but before
it arrived the man disappeared.
Park policemen said they were too
far away from the man to see
him very plainly.
No Indication of Trouble.
Mr.. and Mrs. Sperry had dinner
last night with Mrs. Clarence A.
Aspinwall, 2340 Kalorama road
NV, Mrs. Sperry's sister.
II didn't notice the slightest
sign of despondency,' Mrs. Aspin-
wall said. There was not the
slightest indication of impending
trouble
Mrs. Aspinwall said Mr.. Sperry' S
eyesight began to fail about five
years ago and about two months
ago he found it necessary to wear
q hearing aid. But these lnfirm-
tiles did not seem to depress him,
she said.
Board Is Given Word.
When the directors of the gas
company met at $50 am, Mr
Sperry, who was to have presided
was not present. A telephone call
to his home brought out only that
1ContinIIed on Page AS. Col. H.