Actually, John DuPont shot one of the wrestlers (whose name I have
forgotten) who was considered one of the top favorites for Olympic gold in
1996.  I remember DuPont slightly from his very brief attendance at the
University of Pennsylvania (he is a contemporary of mine).  He was a
"little strange" even then!
 
----------
> From: Scott E Jordan <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: duPont
> Date: Sunday, January 31, 1999 1:12 PM
>
> Sylvia,
>
> Mr. DuPont shot the head coach of the US Olympic Wrestling team.  As a
> inheritor of great walth, duPont was able to indulge his interests, one
of
> which was wrestling.  He built a training center on his estate and funded
> Olympic training there.  In a dispute with the victim, he shot him dead
in
> front of the victim's young family.  It was later confirmed that duPont
> suffered from paranoid schizophrenia.
>
> There are several illustrated newspaper articles describing this sad tale
> that can be found on the Internet through search engines.  I remembered
at
> the time of the incident how I as a youth had seen that same National
> Geographic article and marveled at Mr. duPont's collection.  I would be
> interested in hearing on Conch-L from those who knew him personally, not
for
> its purient value but rather as insight into the human condition.  It is
> tragic that the life of a fellow friend of malacology could go so
terribly
> awry.
>
> Scott Jordan
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Charles Sturm <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Sunday, January 31, 1999 9:23 AM
> Subject: Re: National Geographic
>
>
> >Sylvia,
> >  I believe Mr. DuPont is still alive and in an institution for the
> >mentally impaired.  He was tried for murder and I believe found not
quilty
> >on the basis of insanity and confined to an institution.  Yes, his
> >collection, or part of it, is at the DMNH.  Possibly Tim Pearce, Curator
> >of Malacology at the DMNH can give more details about the collection.
> >
> >  My rememberances about the above instance is  a bit sketchy, if there
is
> >a factual error, hopefully someone will correct it.
> >
> >Charlie
>
>***************************************************************************
 
> ***
> >Charlie Sturm, Jr
> >Research Associate - Section of Invertebrate Zoology
> >                     Carnegie Museum of Natural History
> >Assistant Professor - Family Medicine
> >
> >[log in to unmask]