New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-03
SUICIDE AT THE MANHATTAN
YOUNG WOMAN OF PROPERTY KILLS
HERSELF
HER FATHER WAS ONCE wELL-KHowN DEN
T.sT HERE. AND LEFT HER CONSIDERABLE
MoNEY-No APPARENT REASON
FOR HER ACT.

FOR HER ACT
The Hotel Manhattan was the scene of a
strange suicide some time on Monday night A
wealthy young woman guest in the hotel. shot
and killed herself for apparently no sane reason.
The woman was Miss Jessie X Parsons. Of No.
10 Locust Place. Yonkers. She came to this
city from her home in Yonkers about s o'clock
or Monday night, and engaged a room In the
hotel Miss Parsons was comparatively we'll
known to the managers Of the hotel, as she
had stayed there fully half a dozen times since
the hotel was opened to the public She always
came alone, and was we'll supplied with money
Her conduct was always adylike and self-pos.
sessed, and 1t was well understood at the hotel
that she came to the city frequently in relation
to business connected with her property.
When she arrived at the hotel on Monday
night she had small travelling bag which she
handed to the porter. and Immediately after
registering her name retired to her room on the
third floor.
AS far as could be learned last night Miss
Parsons was never again seen alive. 1t was not
until II O'Clock yesterday morning that the hotel
people suspected that something was wrong.
AT that hour the chambermaid thought 1t strange
that Miss Parsons had not come for break
cause The door not locked. and. after
knocking on 1t several times and getting no
response, the chambermald turned the knob and
entered the apartment. The maid horri-
fed at what she saw. and. utiering a scream
Of fright, rushed out OF the room and down
to the office.
Mr.. Patch, the manager Immediately went to
the room and saw Miss Parsons lying dead on
the bed. She had evidently been dead for
eral hours, as the body was perfectly cold.
There was a bullet wound in the young womans
mouth, and a small pool Of blood on the counter
pane Of the bed. Her street clothes were neatly
piled on a chair at the foot OF the bed.
TWO LETTERS LEFT
on q small table in the room lay two letters
and slip of paper. One Of the letters was ad-
dressed to Louis Werner Tarrytown, y. y"
and the other to Herbert Barrett, Eighth
ave. near irty-fourth-st.. New-York." On
a single sheet Of paper note addressed 70
the manager Of the hotel. Edward 3. Patch 1t
read as follows:
please notify Louis Werner Tarrytown. n.
Y and Herbert Barrett. Eighth-ave., near
Thirty-fourth-st. New-York." The note was
written in a fine. legible hand. and there was
not a sign Of tramor or nervousness in the lines
Mr. Patch Immediately Informed the police
and the Coroner and also sent dispatches to
the men TO whom the letters were addressed.
Late in the afternoon Mr. Verne. called at
the hotel and made public the contents Of the
letter addressed to him. He IS a lawyer. of the
firm Of Simpson & Werner, No. 10 Wa!l-st. He
was Miss Parsons's legal adviser and transacted
all the business relating to her estate
The contents of the note addressed 10 him
were as follows:
Dear Mr. Werner; promised to give Mr. ElIelt,
No . West Thirte;h-st., $50 70 cancel lease wnicn
so my aunt can stay where she s' know mat /
have no claim on you osy%nn y tarne Rut still
ask that you please DO the best you can Tor my
II Mr. Paddock would rent the aoHse foT an
/ am a fool but perhaps things will stragh;en
sometime. leave check drawn IN my aun, Is
SIS 20 pay you for your trouble If you will kindly
look after my funeral Ouri1 Es Sic & Soq ssSsRsoNs
The 500 check closes my account in the Lincoln
Bank.
Accompanying this check for 500 which was
for her aunt was a check for 500 -. dated octo-
bcr % drawn by Fraser & Co. No. ~ Nassau
ST. and indorsed 10 her order by c. L. Goetchies.
This check was probably interest on mortgage
| which Miss Parsons held. go ~,
Mr. Werner said that he had known MISS far-
sons for years, and that her iathei "ao "a.
William l.. Parsons. who was deht,s. IA ' ~:
| Parsons was the first dentist u make artinc!ai
teeth He retired from business twenty-five
| years ago. and went to live at POUND hos s
Westminster County y. Y. Mrs EaTsons ms
| Wife died there five years ago Dr. Parsons
made frequent trips to this city TO look after ms
| property. and while here In May last he was
| ,akrn seriously ILL., Miss Parsons came on and
| had him removed to the Presbyterian Hospital
| He died soon after. and made her his sole heiF
| and administrative 49,, ,,.
| flor her
| . fortune Of nj least Si0oOO. MI. Werner said.
| II consisted of bank and gas company s'os sS
mortgages and moneys IN savings oanhs. go
her fathers death. Mr. Werner SAID tnat tI!ere
| had been no change in the investment or MISS
| porsonss property with the exception or the
| purchase of a first mortgage for Hloooo
HER PROPERTY ALL RIGHT.
II know that her property is all right con-
timed Mr. Werner land cannot attribute any
reason for her taking her life she was pse. ,,
| erl about twenty-five years old. she Ger 'aimiy
| had q much larger income than she spent enc
m.as extremely seif-reliant and had remark
! ably good head for business. she often caH'e ~
! my office about the business OF her estate one
| made a will about six weeks as.'. IN when sue
| ~, ali har estate TO her aunt. Mrs. Pullen an
| invalid TO whom she was very much attacn
| Miss Parsons was educated at Miss Aiken
School In Stamford Conn ana alterwaiu sa ,ii
| and told me that she had apl leo TOT aaisson
| into Barnard College some time ago. one loulla
that she would have to pass an exannra,'o'i; any
she engaged tutor connected with tne Hls ;s
| School IN Workers to prepare her Shs saIu
that she found it difficult 10 take up ueep stuuIee
again. and think that this preyed upon heI
mind. This and the fact that she was mucn
! alone are the Only reasons can imagine tna'
! caused her to take her life. She was a remarN.
! ably we'll balanced girl. and do not think Una,
she had any serious trouble. l never heard OF
| the Barretts, with whom she was acquainted
The letter to Herbert Barrett read as fohows
| Dear Herbert: Ny only reason for mixing you ur
in this business Is to ask il you will break the news
10 the people ut No. 100 Locust Hill pe re, n
your Aunt Eta when she Is at liberty. VIII iooK
after my aunt bit. With thanks for your many TyS
| kindnesscs, goodby. JESSIE n. fAnHHO"o'
| Please 20 UP and see aunty once in while.
MR.. BARRETTS STATEMENT.
Herbert Barrett Is the son Of F. st. Jonn
Barrett, a druggist. at No. 484 Eighth-ave. Tne
two Barretts called at the hotel IN the aIter'
noon. but the younger one refused to tax Ine