Son of Hiram Duryea and Laura Burnell, he was in his early years a chemist.
He married Nina Smith in 1898 and they are the parents of Chester B Duryea, Jr. His wife left him in 1904 and with the child went to Paris.
Chester was showing symptoms of mental illness. His father supported him and provided him with two homes. Chester murdered his father on the night of 5 May 1914 and claimed that either angels or George Washington had told him to do it. He was sent to Matteawan State Hospital for care. He presented as psychotic, grandiose and unrepentant. Chester sent a slew of letters to the Governor and to President Roosevelt demanding restitution of over $2,000,000,000 for his "incarceration" in the asylum. He generally signed these letters as " Major General God, PhD".
At last, with the assistance of an attorney, he was awarded a hearing in 1941 and gained his release. Being found sane he could have been tried for his father's murder but the authorities decided not to pursue the case as witnesses had by then died. Chester was free to go.
His wife the following year took him back to court for additional spousal support and he was bitter about it. Their son had been living in Tahiti and not supporting his aging mother. Chester was stuck with the expense though at a lower rate than imposed during his time in the asylum. He chose to reside in a hotel in Flushing. He died after being found at the foot of the stairs at a train depot, his eye blackened and a small laceration over his brow, his blood alcohol level high. No one living knew what had happened to bring about his death.
He married Nina Smith in 1898 and they are the parents of Chester B Duryea, Jr. His wife left him in 1904 and with the child went to Paris.
Chester was showing symptoms of mental illness. His father supported him and provided him with two homes. Chester murdered his father on the night of 5 May 1914 and claimed that either angels or George Washington had told him to do it. He was sent to Matteawan State Hospital for care. He presented as psychotic, grandiose and unrepentant. Chester sent a slew of letters to the Governor and to President Roosevelt demanding restitution of over $2,000,000,000 for his "incarceration" in the asylum. He generally signed these letters as " Major General God, PhD".
At last, with the assistance of an attorney, he was awarded a hearing in 1941 and gained his release. Being found sane he could have been tried for his father's murder but the authorities decided not to pursue the case as witnesses had by then died. Chester was free to go.
His wife the following year took him back to court for additional spousal support and he was bitter about it. Their son had been living in Tahiti and not supporting his aging mother. Chester was stuck with the expense though at a lower rate than imposed during his time in the asylum. He chose to reside in a hotel in Flushing. He died after being found at the foot of the stairs at a train depot, his eye blackened and a small laceration over his brow, his blood alcohol level high. No one living knew what had happened to bring about his death.
Son of Hiram Duryea and Laura Burnell, he was in his early years a chemist.
He married Nina Smith in 1898 and they are the parents of Chester B Duryea, Jr. His wife left him in 1904 and with the child went to Paris.
Chester was showing symptoms of mental illness. His father supported him and provided him with two homes. Chester murdered his father on the night of 5 May 1914 and claimed that either angels or George Washington had told him to do it. He was sent to Matteawan State Hospital for care. He presented as psychotic, grandiose and unrepentant. Chester sent a slew of letters to the Governor and to President Roosevelt demanding restitution of over $2,000,000,000 for his "incarceration" in the asylum. He generally signed these letters as " Major General God, PhD".
At last, with the assistance of an attorney, he was awarded a hearing in 1941 and gained his release. Being found sane he could have been tried for his father's murder but the authorities decided not to pursue the case as witnesses had by then died. Chester was free to go.
His wife the following year took him back to court for additional spousal support and he was bitter about it. Their son had been living in Tahiti and not supporting his aging mother. Chester was stuck with the expense though at a lower rate than imposed during his time in the asylum. He chose to reside in a hotel in Flushing. He died after being found at the foot of the stairs at a train depot, his eye blackened and a small laceration over his brow, his blood alcohol level high. No one living knew what had happened to bring about his death.
He married Nina Smith in 1898 and they are the parents of Chester B Duryea, Jr. His wife left him in 1904 and with the child went to Paris.
Chester was showing symptoms of mental illness. His father supported him and provided him with two homes. Chester murdered his father on the night of 5 May 1914 and claimed that either angels or George Washington had told him to do it. He was sent to Matteawan State Hospital for care. He presented as psychotic, grandiose and unrepentant. Chester sent a slew of letters to the Governor and to President Roosevelt demanding restitution of over $2,000,000,000 for his "incarceration" in the asylum. He generally signed these letters as " Major General God, PhD".
At last, with the assistance of an attorney, he was awarded a hearing in 1941 and gained his release. Being found sane he could have been tried for his father's murder but the authorities decided not to pursue the case as witnesses had by then died. Chester was free to go.
His wife the following year took him back to court for additional spousal support and he was bitter about it. Their son had been living in Tahiti and not supporting his aging mother. Chester was stuck with the expense though at a lower rate than imposed during his time in the asylum. He chose to reside in a hotel in Flushing. He died after being found at the foot of the stairs at a train depot, his eye blackened and a small laceration over his brow, his blood alcohol level high. No one living knew what had happened to bring about his death.
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