The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-22
THE CASE OF MRS. HILL
REMAINS TO REACH COLUMBUS TO-
MORROW FOR BURIAL.
Some of the Particulars of the Strange
Case Of Sufcide-she Was I'M
doubtedIy Insane.

body of the woman found in the Colonnads
Hotel. New York, was the wife of Edgar K
Hill. son OF ex-Judge Ralph Hill, OF ths;
city. The latter. who has been in New
York for a week. has positively identified
the body as that of his daughter-in-law
Word came from Columbus, Ind, yesterday
TO the effect that Col. John A. Kietn, IA.
Their OF the late Mrs Hill. had sent instruc-
tons to New York to have the body shipped
to Columbus for burial. 1t is understood
that the remains are TO arrive at Column
bus tomorrow. where they win be inferred
at the side of Mrs. Hills mother. Advices
from New York say that ex-Judge Hill has
received cablegram from his son, stating
that his wife always desired to be cremated
and asking that her wishes be carried out
That Mrs. Hill came to America with the
deliberate intention of committing suicide
the facts discovered Wednesday prove be-
yond a doubt. Mrs. Hill arrived in Men
York by the steamship New York, of the
American line, April II. from Southamp-
ton. She travelled under her stage name OF
Zerega. and her name appears upon the
passenger list. While at the Continental
Hotel she had six pieces Of her baggage
removed from the hotel. OF these a trunk
and a guitar were taken to the offices OF
Pitt & Scott. at No. SO Broadway. where
they were placed in storage.
Mrs Hill called at the storage office MdN<
day, April q. and spent an hour going
through the trunk. In that hour she re-
moved. as she believed, every clew that she
thought would reveal her identity. Clerk
Christian noticed her particularly, and iden-
titled the hat and clothes that she wore as
those now in possession OF the cor
oner. Miss Finnerty. typewriter in the Of
flee. also saw the woman and took particu-
lar notice of the hat
The trunk, swith its contents, aud the gui-
tar. have been turned over to ex-Judge Hill
The key that was found among the effects
of Mrs. Everett" the name under which
Mrs Hill registered at the Colonnade
opened the trunk without difficulty. The
trunk was examined Wednesday. Inside
was plenty OF evidence OF an attempt to
prevent recognition. There was big stock
of music, mostly for guitar, from some
pieces of which names had been erased
There were no papers. and the other con-
tents OF the big trunk, were shoes and
gloves. clothes. both outer and under gar
ments, from which most of the marks had
been erased. There were also stage Co.'S
tunes. gaily ornate with tinsel, satin and
velvet. There were plenty OF shoes. gloves
and clothing similar to those left by Mrs.
Everett" On one of the pieces was stamped
the word 'Zerega."
In the trunk was found an old-fashioned
daguerreotype of a young man in a high
stock collar. 1t was shown to ex-Judge Hill,
but ne did not know whose picture Ii was.
The guitar was in an ordinary black en-
amel case, and Is an expensive one, fnlaid
with mother-of-peart and OF spanish make
The first cable received by ex-Judge Hill
from his son. calling his attention to the
Colonnade suicide, was sent at time when
tiers mailed by Mrs. Hill from the Colonnade
Hotel. and the fatner-in-law believes his
son received such a. letter.
Hill would succeed in establishing the fact
that the body lying at the morgue was that
of Mrs. Hill. and not Louise Lansburg Con-
tive OF Columbus. Ind, and knew Mrs. Hill
from childhood He vas in New York and
offered mis- assistance to Mr.. Hill in estab-
yer OF No a Wall street. also n native Of
Columbus. who was schoolmate of Mrs
Hill. and Visited her at Vassar. where she
Hills assistance. With lawyer Kantrowtz
they visited the coroner's office and recog-
nized the photograph OF Mrs. Everett as
that Of Mrs. Hill. Meantime Coroner Dobbs
had David ". carvalho. the handwriting ex-
pert, examine the registry at the Continen-
tai Hotel and compared IL With the registry
letter left by Mrs. Hill. Mr. Carvalho pro-
nounced the handwriting undoubtedly the
same. and made an affidavit to that effect.
A Kieser and r. r. Graham. bota of whom
are connected with c. Fl. Ditson &c Co.
music publishers and dealers in music books
way, New York. Each Of these men haC
known Mrs Hill and her husband intimate
~. on the day OF the death of Mrs. Hi
follows: Mrs. Z. Hill, care Of Mr.. Graham
street" There is little doubt that the en-
Ill last Tuesday did Mr.. Graham open ths
envelope. 1t contained two articles, one 8
miniature painting of the mother of Mrs
surrounded by rim of gold, and the othel
receipt of the Pitt a. Scott Foreign Ex.
press Company, Of No. 80 Broadway. for
mental Hotel. Value asked and not given
was inscribed on the recent, but where Ia.
trunk and nd psskage were taken was no
Mrs. Hill must have been insane. That 'i III,
envelope sent TO him was directed TO hersel
is; he thinks. the result of disordere1
Three weeks ago." said Mr.. Graham. %
was greatly surprised when Mrs. Hill cam,
In the store. She was looking pale ant
sill l noticed change In her. She evadeC
all direct questions i put to her regarding he
place OF residence. she said she had left he,
husband In London. as ne was too busy I,
come here to see TO transferring her prop
erty IN Columbus to her husband AS L saw
she seemed melancholy, and declined to din,
With me and my wife In Brooklyn Severa
times she came In 10 see me, and I potice,
that she was apparently fond OF talking o
the death OF her grandmother. She SCENE,
fascinated with the subject. and, try as
could, 1 was not able to turn her from If
The. old lady had died while out of he
mind; in fact, she had been insane som.
time before her death occurred, and the in
sanity seemed 10 especially interest Mrs
Hill. She talked OF little else: The day sh
came 10 see meswas the day before she wa.
found dead In her room. She was not a
cheerful even as she mad been before, and
repeated my invitation TO her TO dine witt
US. She would not accept, however an,
finally left the store. That was the last
saw Of her. / read Of the suicide the mex
day. but the thought that IL was she did no
occur to me until yesterday. and even the,
l said nothing, as / had horror OF goin.
10 the n1orgue or giving myself any motto
riety."
Eduardo Zerega." or Edgar Hill. the bus
band of Mrs Hill, lives al No. 152 Bromptol
road, London Early in the week ne va
tainment at his house, when he was escort
ing three Or four handsome and fashionablv
dressed young ladies 10 their carriage III
was in full evening dress, and wore a hing,
diamond in his shirt front. He Is apparent Il,
about twenty-five or twenty-six years old. 0
and an olive complexion. He is OF pleasan
address. and his accent Is such as 10 Civ
the impression that he Is OF Southern origin
He was not at all communicative and wa
visibly annoyed when he learned that nj
connection with the New York suicide wa