Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-06-10
PLUNGED FROM A WINDOW
Suicide Of Miss Harriet 3. Rile, Money
Order Clerk In the PO;tQflCe.
COMMITTED YESTERDAY MORNING
Her Skull Fractured and Neck
Dislocated. NIX

| IiuDBlup tsOmt tDe lOurVn Story OF
her boarding house at the. northwest
corner Of Eighth and West streets about
4. 20 o'clock yesterday morning, Miss
Harriet E, RIle. money order clerk in
the rostoffice, sustained a'dislocation
OF the neck and fracture OF the skull
and died instantly. Whether she
jumped or fell from the winaow will
never be known, but the Indications
are that ahe premeditated suicide and
had inhaled illuminating gas for that
purpose for some time before her tragic
death. To furnish motive for suicide
1t has been recalled thar she was
sufferer from chronic indigestion and
had grieved much over the death Of
favorite niece which occurred about
two months ago. Otherwise no motive
for self destruction haH been conceived
Of, Miss Rile having been a woman OF
strong character and good sense.
Jamss Martin, a butcher, who has a
staud in Third street market house.
was nlose to the scene OF the tragedy at
the time it occurred. He had left his
residence at Ninth and Adams streets
little after a O'clock and thinks il
was about 20 minutes after that hour
when he was passing the boarding
house at Eighth and West streets,
which is kept by Mrs. r. A. Hauce.
Walking along the north side OF Eighth
street he wus alongside the houss when
he heard the sound as Of a window
heing raised and shutters thrown open.
He looked up but sRys tree prevented
his seeing the window. He heard
noise as OF person gasping and by
this time be bad nearly reached the
corner whom something fell through
the branches OF the tres and struck the
sidewalk. at first he thought it was a
bundle of clothing, but going hack saw
that it was human being. The face
was bloody and never sound came
from the PROSTATE form, excepting Just
ut the moment 1t had struck the pave
ment The woman lay partly on her
head and shoulder and he was about to
turn her over, but thought that might
cause the flowing blood to choke her,
and 30 he simply Strengthened her
clothing. and hurried to alarm the
household.
His alarm brought Frank J. Williams
to his window on tha third floor and in
few minutes the whole household was
aroused. Mr.. Williams had heard the
sound OF the body striking the pave
ment and bad jumped from his bed
when Mr.. Martin called. DR.. George
II. Carmichael, who lives ut No. S05
West street, two doors from the hoard
ing house, was Immediately summoned,
but be found that death had already
resulted from fracture Of the skull and
dislocaiion Of the neck. The body lay
with the head in the middle of the
pavement and feet toward the gutter.
1t was at once identified as that of
Miss Rile. Deputy Coroner James Il.
Chandler took charge OF the remains
and later gave certificats of death
from the causes mentioned. The case
was reported TO the police station by
Officer McAteer of that district and
also by Officer Di Mars of the adioin.
ing district. Sergeant Evans, Officer |
Taylor and Special Officer Harkins
were also on the scene early to do what
could be done.
DIR. J. lIarmer Rile, brother OF the |
dead woman, was notified of the sad |
occurrence and reached Mrs Hance's |
few minutes afterwards. An investi. |
cation was at once made of the cIrcum.
slancos of the case. Tho boardars who
had ssen Miss Rile at supper had
noticed her in her usual good spirits
hut Mrs. Hance recalls that sbe had
been complaining OF late cuncerning in
diaestiop, from which she was chronic
sufferer. And she had also grieved
for thu loss of her niece who died about
two months ago. st s O'clock Tuesday
ovening she said che was going out,
hut whether she went out or not Mrs.
Hanre did not know. About II O'Clock.
however. Miss Rile went to Mrs.
Hance's room and afterwards went
into the yard, probably to get some
fresh air. 1t was about that time that
the odor OF gas was noticed in the
house. but its source vas not dis
covered. Miss Rile returned TO her
room and that was the last known of
her until Mr.. Martin found her lying
on the pavement. Her room was at
the corner of ths fourth floor, fronting
both ON West and Eighth streets. An
examination of il indicated that she
had intended 10 kill herself by inhaling
gas, for comfortable had been put at
the transom and pillow at the crack
beneath the door, evidently to keep the
room tight, and the gas had been
turned on. In addition to that piece
Ut rubber hose was found later in the
behind the wash stand in tho
room. Although not then attached to
the gas jet 1t had the appearance of
having been used. This piere OF hose,
about four feet long. was bought be-.
tween and 3 O'Clock Tuesday after
nom by Miss Rile from the Wilmington
Coal Gas Co. While buying il sbs
talked TO an employe of the company
who was at one time in the postoi.ce,
anil expressed herself as being pleased
with the new postoifice She seemed
then as we'll as ever
The presumption is thGt she bought
the hose with the intention OF taking
ler life, and that she had turned the
gas on before she paid the IL o'cIock
risit to Mrs. Hance's room; that she
and continued to inhale it, but
that she came to herself aud went TO
the window for fresh air. She either
vent to the window to get air or to
,hrow herself out. II 1t was the former,
being weakened By the gas, she may
laye fallen out to her death. AT the
lime Of her death she was in her night
iress, her other clothing being in her
'oom where she had left them, and
here was no note of any Kind to indi-
ate that she intended TO take her life.
DR.. Rile, in speaking Of the sad affair {
yesterday, said that his sister had {
'een sufferer from indigestion for I
ears and it always depressed her
.reatly. The death OF her niece already
eferred to, had also weighed heavily
ipon her. This niece was May Rile, a 8
laughter OF Thomas II. Rile of !
No. 233 Rodney street. When but %
months old aha rame nndar M;sp | :