New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-24
A SUICIDE CASE SUPPRESSED.
CORONER TUTHlLL SAYS HE DID 1T DE-
LIBERATELY.
HE THINKS CoRoNERs SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO
USE THEIR DISCRETION IN GIVING OUT
FACTS ABOUT CASES THAT
ARE REPORTED.


Astonshment was caused at the Coroners ONCE
yesterday by attempt by Coroner Tuthi'l TO sup
press the information of the suicide OF Mrs Ida
De Treville who cut her throat with razor IN her
home AT No. POI West One-hundredth-st.. on sun
day and died on Wednesday morning. The fact OF
her suicide was communicated by a private ply
s,can TO Coroner Tuth. who tried to prevent the
fact from, being made public. The record OF the
case was kept of the file in the Coroners office un-
I'll Yesterday and it might been suppressed al
together II a clerk had not discovered 1t accident
ally.
There have been Tammany Coroners VINO con-
cealed the facts In suicide cases when there were
wealthy relatives who wanted TO have the iac's
suppressed but no rammany Coroner ever had the
hardhood to acknowledge openly that ne had tred
to s,noress such facts Coroner Tuthill. however,
made tie statement that ne had tried 10 keep
from the public the knowledge OF Mrs De IreVihe
suicide and he appeared to be angry that the case
had been published. He said;
Must the grefs Of every family ne oroush' oe
fore the public? Has Coroner no right 10 use ms
discretion IN matters OF this kind? can only say
that 7 am glad that the story did not become pub
lie through this Office. and wish could put
gun on the man who gave u out for puoIicauoh
He BETRAYED a confidence. and may have some-
thing 10 say about him later. ] am going 10 nave
the matter OF the Coroners using discretion in what
they Civ. out for publication brought before the
Board of Coroners."
II has been ascertained that Mrs De Trevilie was
related to Stephen Calhoun Smith Of this city. who
lives al No 100 West Ninety -second-st' her nus
band had 10 give up bank clerkship IN this ci'y
two years ago and 90 South on account OF Dan
health.
Mrs De Treville was found by her son John last
Sunday afternoon standing in front of mirror IN
her room with gaping wound In hcr thf2at on one
WAS trying tear open The son sraSbrd ner and
and cried for help HIS mother became iutinus anu
n took three men 10 hold her She died on Wednes-
dav morning -, - oho
She had been suffering from melancholia. ana enc
committed suicide according n the son. while IN d
1T OF mental alteration The woman HUSBAND
John De Trevie Is AZ Brevard, y e., cor
0rmel invalid suffering from paralysis. re was
formerly a Southern banker. Mrs l)e IreVllie nss
lived in New-York number Of years IN conior'aole
clrcumstan e. -, ,..
Although the attempt at suicide was made last
Sunday II was never reported 10 the police" ,
4, Dr Tuhills request meeting or the BDaln o..
Coroners has been called f9r next SATURDAY wnen ne
viii bring up the subject ~ "cOroners discretion
4 number OF persons at the Criminal Courts Bulln-
ing said Yesterday tha, II the coroners made ne an
nouncement that they would US their dis r.ton n
making public the facts concerning suicides hlli
other crimes causing death IN this city they y tlii
soon have plenty Of opportunities 10 doune 'i.'
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