The times., 1899-05-29
BURNS PROVE FATAL
AFTER seven WEEKS
Death of Mrs. Mary Warren
Alden at the Normandie.
A Peculiar Mystery EnshrOuds the
Facts in the Case.
Alleged Separation of Man and Wife
The Woman Despondent-Great
Secrecy Observed.

Mrs. Mary Warren Alden. the wife of r.
Percy Alden, prominent attorney of New
York, died at the Normandie Hotel at 4:S0
o'clock yesterday afternoon, after an ILL
ness OF seven weeks. Death was due to
pneumonia which followed aseptic fever,
superindaced by blood poisoning from
sloughing flesh, caused by burns of the
face. neck, body. and limbs. The death
was not unexpected. though two weeks ago
it was thought that Mrs. Alden was on
fair road TO recovery. Since that time.
however, she has been steadily sinking.
Her husband and her brother, Lloyd War
rem, also from New York, were present at
the death-bed. The remains were prepared
for burial by Undertaken William X. Speare
and Will be taken 10 New York tonight for
intermenL
The burns, which were primarily respon-
sible for the death Of Mrs. Alden, were
received in her apartments at the Nor
mandie on Friday night, April II. The
circumstances connected with the affair are
peculiar, and the fact that the hotel psO-
pie at that time absolutely refused to
divulge anything connected with the oc-
currence. indicates that there was some
thing mysterious behind the affair In
thing as the burning of a guest had oc-
CURED. 1t was understood at the time OF
the occurrence that Mrs Alden had, in
fit of dependency and while suffering from
a mental alteration. saturated her night
robe with alcohol and benzine, and had
then ignited ii in an attempt 10 end her
life. Further information was to the ef-
feet that Mrs. Alden's maid succeeded in
saving her mistress from immediate death
by rescuing her from the blazing garment
When the hotel people were asked TO YER
ify the story they denied all knowledge
of the occurrence or Of anything that might
possibly have been construed into such a
story.
II was learned from good authority last
night that the woman had been burned in
frightful manner; that she had been at
tended by prominent Washington. Balti-
more, and New York physicians and that
the burns were caused by the igniting of
her night dress from a candle. At the
time OF the burning it is said that Mr.. and
Mrs. Alden were separated. She had been
guest at the Normandie during last win
ter and the previous one. She had been
noticsably affected because of something
the nature OF which was at that time not
known After she was burned Mr.. Alden
was Immediately telegTaphed for and has
since remained with his wife. Ii is said
that a reconciliation was effected Mr.
Warren was also telegraphed for and ar
rived on the day following the burning.
he departed later for New York, when il
was thought Mrs. Alden would recover.
he is again registered at the hotel.
Immediately after Mrs. Alden was
burned DR.. Joseph Taber johnson was
called in attendance He found the
woman in serious condition, suffering
from severe burns about the face, neck
arms and body. He attended her constant
iy. and later was assisted by d.. p. N.
Rixey. of the United States Navy Every
effort was made to relieve the suffering
woman, and the efforts were thought to BE-
successful, as Mrs. Alden rallied wonder
fully and amazed the physicians by her
wonderful vitality. They maryeled that
she lived in her condition. The most Sc
we're burn received was 10 the right arm
and hand II was though that ii rsI-..q be
necessary TO amputste the little finger of
the right hand, and DR.. Halstead, OF Johns
Hopkins University. in Baltimore, was
called into consultation at the request of
relatives of Mrs. Alden to determine
whether the finger might be saved. So far
had the patients condition improved that
the question of the saving of a finger 10
prevent Disagreement was considered.
Later when Mrs. Alden's condition became
more serious. DR.. Frederick Pet srson. of
New York, was summoned
II now develops. according to the
statement OF one OF the physicians who
attended Mr.. Alden. that she was burned
accidentally. The story given out was to
the effect that the woman had long heen
a sufferer with extreme nervousness, and
to such an extent that she was timid
about retiring or sleeping without a light
In the room. 1t is said that as her apart
ments at the Normandie were lighted by
fat1 l.asr fnfr -
to obtain the desired light. to use a small
candle, which was lighted when Mrs Al
oen was ready to retire. II was impossible
10 obtain a dim light from the electric
incandescents. and the candle fame fur
nished all the light needed. On the night
OF the burning, according to the story Civ
en- out. Mrs. Alden lighted her candle.
and when ready to retire had occasion TO
pass the table on which the candle was
standing. In passing her nightdress brush
ed against the flame, and in an instant
the woman was enyeloped in flames She
made frantic efforts to save herself and
the maid, who is said 10 have been present
at the time. rushed 10 the assistance of the
woman and succeeded in saving her from
further injury, and, as stated, from in
slant death.
Every effort was made by those concern
ed and by the hotel people at the time of
j
effort was in a measure successful, for
though II was learned that a woman had
been burned at the hotel. Her name could
not be learned. The hotel people were ques-
toned for several days but could not be
induced to diyulge the story. They would
not admit that any guest had met with an
accident Of any description. Even last
night they would not at first admit that the
woman who had been burned seven weeks
had llv Efa II
that death had occurred in the hotel and
after giving Mrs. Alden's name as that of
the deceased refused TO admit anything
further.
Mrs. Alden was q sister of Mrs. Robert
Goelet and Mrs. William Starr Miller. of
George Henry Warren, a lawyer and mer-
chant OF New York, Of Whitney Warren,
bnd OF Lloyd E. Warren. Their father
as the late George Henry Warren, who
sas a well known lawyer OF New York.
Their mother. who is still living at $40
Fifth Avenue, New York. was Mary Caro-
line Phoenix. sister OF Lloyd Phoenix.
Phillips Phoenix, and Stephen Whitney
Phoenix. the antiquarian and geologist,
who died in 1881. The founder OF the fam
fly was Alex Phoenix. younger son of Sir
John Fenwick, and who came TO New Am
sterdam from England in 1870.
Her husband is a well known attorney
OF prominence and wealth in New York.
ana is a member OF the University, Cen
tury, and Metropolitan clubs, of that city
He is also said TO be member of several
fraiernities, being a graduate OF Yale.
Lloyd Warren, the brother of the dead
woman, is also well known in New York.
He is a graduate OF Columbian University
and is a member Of the Union Club. Mrs.
Alden is understood TO have been the
mother OF two children, both Of whom are