Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-28
HOTEL TRAGEDY.
Murder and Suicide at Hotel
Vendome, New York.
n. n. Stridron, Baltimore Lumber
Merchant, Shot in Head.
Murderer John Essen Then Turns Pistol
Upon Himself.

New York, Aug. 21.-H. II. Strldlroh,
a lumber merchant of Baltimore. was
shot in the head and through the eye
at the Hotel Nendome, today, by H.
]. Ford, who registered as from Bos-
ton. Ford then committed suicide by
blowing out his brains.
Both men came to the hotel on Fri
day The clerk of the hotel says Ford
has been in the hotel for several days.
but did not register until he saw Strld-
iron register.
The mcn breakfasted together, tins
morning, and then went out. They re-
turned soon after and got the Key ~
Stridiron's room on the eighth ilooE.
A few minutes later an elevator De
ran to the office and said that Their
was trouble in the room and shots
We're heard Immediately afterWart.
Then men were found lying on the floor
both with their coats and vests off.
Stridiron was conscious and holding
his head. Ford was dead.
StridirOn was taken to the hospital
in Il critical condition.
The police said after the shooting
that Strdiron is wealthy lumber deal
from Baltimore The men We're To-
gether. Sunday. and We're drinking
most of the day They went up to-
gether. in the evening, in the elevator.
In Ford's pocket was found the fol-
lowing letter, crumpled and not al
dressed:
The better the day the better the
deed ! hope my friends Will forgive
me for this act. | hop to spend be-
ter life in the next world than | have
in this" There was no other letters.
The police say that Stridiron is wild
over and has a daughter. He told the
policeman who first entered the room
that he was standing looking out of the
window when he was shot in the back
of the head.
When Stridiron became conscious in
the hospital he said that Ford was not
the correct name of the suicide, He
said the man was John Essen, - years
old. ana that he was a salesman living
in Chicago. Stridiron gave his own
residence as 1l9 Seeley avenue, Chi
cago
The letter written by Essen Pr Fora.
was dated yesterday. showing that h
probably intended t. commit the crime
on Sunday.
In his report of the affair, Captain
Burns says that after Ford or EssOn
had shot Stridiron he went t. the ad-
joining room and shot himself there.
A fashiOnably dressed woman appeared
at the hotel. later in the day. ana said
that the dead man had gotten $1,000 worth
of jewery from her yesterday. and she
wanted it. No jewelry was found in the
room Of the dead man. nor was there any
la ~ rai1 ~ h.
coroner two men went to the hospital ana
were admitted to Strdiron's room. He
gave them all his yaluubIes.
Coroner yucca took the aute-m0rtem
statement Of StridirOn. Stridrun said hr
met Essen about two weeks ago and they
We're about town at that time. He met
him again. Sunday afternoon. lie got him
a room at the Nendome ana signed for his
meals. This morning about ; o'clock.
Essen came to Stridiron's room for
drink. They went out together and had
something to eat After that they had
ride in an automobile on Riverside Drive.
returning at o'clock. When they were
going up to their rooms. Essen said ne
wanted to go i'm Stridirons room. which
he did. Essen was lying on the bed while
Stridiron stood in front OF a mirror put
ting on a collar While thus engaged.
could do anything ne was shot a second
time. He then ran into the hall and gave
the alarm. While doing this ne heard
third shot. This Essen fired At himself
with fatal effect Essen told Strdirun
Saturday afternoon. that he had attempt
ed to commit suicide once but he had been
stopped. He asked, said StridirOu.
me to telephone 70 a certain girl in 18TH
street that he had attempted to commit
suicide. After he had done so we went
into a saloon in Broadway ana soon after
the girl whom | had telephoucd came in
At the side door and demanded OF Essen
her jewelry, This was on Saturday They
went out together. When We were riding.
this morning. ne told me he expected to
get SIS 600 to give to this girl. He had no
money or jewelry and ] never saw him
with any.
1t was this woman who called at the
hospital. today, tO'see StridirOn. She re-
shooting.
Two daughters Of Air. Stridiron were
found AT the home Of their aunt. ll9 Secly
avenue. The little girls had seen little Of
their father since the death Nj their
mother. three years ago. iIe was AT one
time a clerk in the First National Bank
but later entered the employ Of a lumber
concern.