The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-19
CLEARED A MYSTERY
Ex-JUDGE RALPH HILL IDENTIFIES
sMRs. EVERETT, OF BOSTON,
The Woman Who Committed Suicide
I'm New York Was His Daughter-in-
Law-Her Romance.

Last week u young anu eleganly-dllIeu
woman registered at the Colonnade Hotel in
New York as Mrs. Everett. OF Boston"
IN Friday she was found dead In her apart
ment. shot through the head by her own
hand. There was not a clew TO. her identi-
ty, as she had taken particular care to re-
move every mark that might show who
she was. The affair has been a mystery
in New York for several days. but yesterday
ex-Judge Ralph Hill, Of the law firm OF
Lamb. Hill & Dye. of this city, positively
identified her as the wife of his son. Edward
E. Hill. formerly Of this city, but now a
theatrical manager in London. England.
Mrs. Hill was fairly well known In this city.
She lived most of her young life at Column
bus, Ind, where her father. Col. John A.
Keith. now resides.
Last Saturday Judge Hill received a cable
gram from his son in London asking him to
go to New York and view the body of the
m found dead at the Colonnade Hotel.
as the cable dispatches regarding the sui
eide led him to believe 1t was his wife May.
Ex-Judge Hill left at once for the metropolis
and private kilograms received in this city
last night. as wei as the press dispatches,
show that the Identification was made COM
plete. The Identification made by ex-Judge
iii . llLCL (CA ny thai VI 0Al0
Kantrowitz, a New York lawyer who
formerly lived at Columbus. Ind, and knew
Mrs. Hill very well. Mr.. Kantrowitz said
that Mrs. Hill came to his Office on May 1
to make transfer of some Columbus real
estate which she owned to her husband.
This was property which was left her by
her grandfather. who died only a short time
ago. Mrs. Hill returned to this country
from London about a month ago, having
made a number OF trips on business to and
from Europe.
When the body of Mrs. Hill was found
at the Colonnade Hotel every linen-mark
had been cut out. Her clofhing was ele-
CANT. her liner dainty and/her boots and
she had been used TO wealth and good sur
roundings. She left a note unaddressed and
unsigned which read: Hereditary insanity.
Have no family, so beg that my wishes be
obeyed." In a purse close by this note was
$50. When she arrived at the hotel the clerk
about thirty years of age and had laughing
back eyes OF rare luster. wavy hair that
was as black as jet, a white. transparent
skin and smiling lips that revealed small,
even teeth. She wore a maroon velvet
dress. with an Antoinette collar trimmed
with rich white lace. fastened at the neck
set with nine small diamonds. On her little
finger were two small diamond rings. Her
skirt was Of turquoise silk, while her bonnet
was a a very y ,h pretty asyDS one shS She t had blu, but little ans
o'
her appearance was that Of a refined, quiet
woman. Apparently she was in good spirits
and in good health; Immediately after the
up a claim for the money found in the
purse. for damages. by reason of the sui
eide, to the hotel room. Streams of people
the dead woman. Two or three people
identified her differently One telegraph
that she was his dead wife. but it was
shown that this man was a fraud. The
manufacturers marks on her shoes and
gloves were English and from this it was
surmised that she was a foreigner.
GROUNDS FOR INSANITY THEORY.
Edward z. Hill is the Oldest SON Of Judge
Ralph Hill, and is about thirty-ive years OF
age now. He is remembered here as quite
a handsome young man fifteen years ago.
He had no regular profession until he went
into the theatrical business, which he has
followed for a number of years. He and
Miss Keith were married at Danville, Ind.
about seventeen years ago. having eloped
from Columbus. They had been sweethearts
since early childhood. She was a girl of
more than ordinary beauty, and of very
extraordinary vivacity and intelligence. She
was reared In luxury, and had every ad-
vantage that wealth could bestow, For sew
eral years she attended Vass College, but
was not a graduate from there. After leav-
ing Vassar, while yet a mere child, she and
M Went 1 INTO w tse t %alrrsa; Business ansy atte mSSins
ore tour with the Swiss bellringers. They
tried to keep from their relatives the fact
that they were on the stage. While.in New
York Mr.. and Mrs. Hill were taught by a
musician named Lapinini. and both Of them
became quite proficient in music, d~evoting
themselves to the mandolin n guitar.
Abbott on a concert tour. her special feature
OF the entertainment being a mandolin per-
Torrance. Her appearance in this city with
fhfC ~ NV 10 ro0of1a6 Ah01rf fan rrnar 20
ago they went to London, where Mr.. Hill
organized a string band and made a tour OF
Europe. The couple adopted the professional
heved that he was a Spaniard. IT is said
that his band played frequently before the
Queen OF England; In connection with the
tanned a theatrical agency in London. His
wife was a good business woman and a
great aid to him: She made a number of
trips to New York from London in connec-
ton with business matters. Their domestic
life, as their relatives here say, was a very
happy one. Her disposition was particularly
jovial, and the idea of suicide from de-
~spondency is discredited by those who knew
them.
A. Keith. gives ready credence to the belief
that hereditary, or at least some suddenly
developed i ns;nn prom PROMPTED famt to take her
one of the most prominent awyers at the
southern Indiana bar, and. while a brilliant
and successful man, was eccentric he
drank q great deal and Shove occasional
signs of insanity. At one time he was under
treatment at the insane hospital in this
city. While in a paroxysm q number OF
years ago he killed a man on a train in the
South. After springing from the train he
escaped, but was captured, tried and ac-
quilted upon the ground OF emotional in
sanity. He was formerly a wealthy man,
but his possessions had been gradually dis
sipated. He saw hard service during the
war, and was wounded in the shoulder. This
wound has given him much trouble, and only
recently an operation was performed which
brought out pieces OF an epaulet that had
been carried into the flesh over thirty
years ago. The mother OF his daughter, May.
died when the child was very young. Colonel
Keith's father was also possessed of con-
siderable property. and after his son began
to drink so hard he left most of 1t to the
granddaughter
Mr.. and Mrs. Hill have never had any
children. 1t Is quite probable that the body
of the suicide will be taken to Columbus.