The times., 1897-11-04
Shot Herself With a Revolver
at Manhattan Hotel.
CAUSE OF DEED A MYSTERY
Chamhernlaid Found Her Dead, Bat
No CIew Has Been Discovered
That Explains Why She wanted
to Die identified as Jessie h.
Pursons-Was Not Demented.

terday. Those OF her friends who had been
closest 10 her in Iate years say she could
only have been prompted TO the deed by
lack Of any definite object in life.
Her relatives, from whom she had been
eslranged, say that remorse over Ter treat
ment OF them IN regard 10 an estate both
claimed. lead her to end her life.
Which it was, OF whether both had
their weight IN causing the young
woman u seek death, VIII probably
never be known She had no intimate
friends, ana TO those who were with her
most size had always seemed happy and
free from care.
Now that she is dead ana her fortune
Of Sl2O,0Oo, over whcn there nave been
two legal fights, is again to be disposed
Of there Is probability OF a new Will con-
test. Miss Parsons relatives intimate that,
but her lawyer says 1t would be useless.
1t is this fortune which caused the
young woman most trouble in the past,
aud lately she has said, according 10
some scqUaintances, that she did not
feel herself to be capable OF administer
ing it in the best manner.
Twenty years ago this same fortune
caused the first quarrels in the Parsons
family. Then it was the dead girls
father who had it. He was Dr. William
E. Parsons, at that time one OF the
most prominent and wealthy dentists OF
New York. Having money Of his own,
he was left an interest in the estate OF
his brother Reuben, who, on his death,
bequeathed $4,000 to his heirs.
DE Jue viii tHIs Ioruube was 10 20 60
tHraNA .f,aN. H.
interest. But he wanted the money
himself, an1 succeeded in breaking the
win aad getting IT,
That caused the first trouble for Or.
Tarsons had become estranged from his
wife, aad she and her children opposed
his effort 10 gain possession of the money.
With this money and that which he
had OF his own, Or. Parsons retired from
active life and went to Pound Ridge, in
Westchester county To live. While there
his wife, who lived with her children in
this city, died, and the next day, they sag,
lac was married to Miss Puilen, his house
keeper.
This marriage still further estranged him
from his children by his first wife, and Dr.
Parsons for years lived a life of retirement
IN Pond Ridge. With him were his second
wife and her daughter Jessie, who killed
herself yesterday.
Last april while DR.. Parsons was in
this city he was taken suddenly Ill. His
daughter hurried TO him aud had hiia
taken TO his rome in Pound Ridge. But
he lived only a Few days.
When R's viii was opened it was found
that he had lett his entire propcrty 10
his Ga I.shter. Jessie. diSin heriting com
pletely his six children By his first wife,
aud d whom, according To their lncle's
g-ili's portion OF the money should have
gone.
Headed by William F. Parsons, lr.. who
is a tobacCunist at No. 5S1 Broa diva \ IL,
this CITY tie children OF the first VIE be
gan an effort to break their fathers viii
ami get what TREY considered their faI
share OF the estate.
The suit was hotly contested, but in the
end the Courts upheld tie win and the
ycdng woman was left in absolute posses
sion OF The money.
Since then she has lived an aimless life.
Much Of her time was spent with her
auntin YouEcrs, but occasional visits We're
made 10 1er cid home in Pound Ridge
She was supposed TO be on one of these
when she ended her life yesterday.
For time after her fathers death
Miss Parsons decided to 20 on with study
and take course in college. She an.
Piled fOT admission tc Barnard College
but fcuua she could not pass the entrance
examination. Determined TO make uD her
DEFICIENCIES, she hired private tutor i'll
loukers, and for month studied hard.
TEen Sht dismissed The teacher ana came
TO this city, where she entered d bl.sin ass
college. she studied then only three da rs
before she announced that she Sc enied to
have lost all power of application, ana
pa wing fpt lei whole term, went awav
Since this last experience she had been
much discouraged and complained to her
legal adviser, Louis F. Werner. of Yonk-
ers, that she felt she was not competent
to administer her wealth as it should be.
At no time, how ever. did she intimate that
she would take her own life.
1t was on Monday afternoon that she
left her agnt's house in Yonkers. She said
she was going to Pound Ridge, and. as were
her custom, would stop over night in this
city.
Going To the Manhattan Hotel, where
she was known as a frequent guest, she
registered and was assigned 20 a rooni.
About 10 O'Clock Monday night she re
tired At p,Jon yesterday her Body was
found in the bed. She had shot herself
in the moutn-
On table in the center of the room
Were letters winch showed she had con-
templated ending her life, and had made
preparations for it. One of the letters
was To Herbert Barrett, son of W. st.
John Barrett, q druggist, of I54 Eighth
avenue. The letter was as follows
Dear Herbert My only reason for mix
ing You up in this business is to ask you
il YOU viii break the news to the people
at No. 120 Locust Hill. PerhapS your
aunt Eta, when she is a [ liberty, VIII look
after my aunt a bit.
With thanks for your many kindnesSas
good bye. JESSIE K. PARSONS.
Please go and see auntie once i'll while.
The other letter was to Lawyer Werner.
1t was almost entirely devoted to business
affairs, and contained several checks,
with which she asked him to pay some
small bills which she owed. Another was
to pay lin for the trouble he would be
put TO in making arrangements for her
funeral The letter closed with the words
Il know am a fool, but perhaps things
will straighten out some time"
So soon as the girls death was known
Mr.. Werner saw Coroner Hoener,
and after the necessary formalities had the
body taken to an undertaker's. Today