Evening journal., 1900-08-28
HEAT and DRINK
CAUSE A TRAGEDY
Double Shooting in a Lead
Ing New York Hotel
ChieagOan Went to the Room Of His
Friend Where the Grimes We're
Committed

New York, Aug. 28.-At the Hotel
Vendome yesterday John w. Esson Tor
Essin), Of Chicago, fired two bullets,
one into the head and the other into
the body of his friend and associate,
Harold ii. Stridiror, and then thrust
ing the muzzle of the revolver between
his teeth sent bullet through his own
head. The suicide expired immediate
ly. His Victim has a fighting chance
for his life. The police are of the
opinion that the man who attempted
the murder and then committed sui
eide was crazed by the extreme heat
and maddened by drink and jealousy.
Both men came from Chicago orig
inally. Esson, or Essin, is said to have
been a contractor in that city. His
friends assert that he came to New
York with the expectation Of getting
a contract on the underground road
now being constructed in this city.
Stridiron went to the hotel Friday
night and registered as coming from
Baltimore. For two or three days
prior to that time Esson had been seen
about the corridors of the hotel in the
AQAnHdng Win OIL AAAlOlf anu IL was AO-
ticed that both men were drinking
heavily. On Saturday the suicide reg
istered, but for some reason, under the
assumed name of II. ]. Ford Boston.
He was assigned to room No. 25S
Stridiron had room No. 307, on the
eighth floor, looking into Forty-irst
street. The two men entered the hotel
about o'clock yesterday and asked for
their keys. Both were under the in
fuence Of liquor. On the way up to
their rooms Esson said to his cOmpan-
ion:
Il believe I'll go to your room"
What for?" was the answer. You
have one of your own"
"Oh, / want to lie down" was Es-
sons answer. Cant you let a fellow
even lie down on your bed?'
A moment later the guests in the
corridor of the hotel were startled by
three revolver shots in rapid success
sion Then there was a metallic clang
on the street, where the weapon had
fallen on the paving stones.
The suicide was found lying dead
on the floor. near the window He had
killed himself by sending a bullet
through the roof of his mouth into his
brain.
To the Coroner Stridiron made the
following statement:
Coroner yucca, I am Harold H.
Stridiron, Of No. l19 Seeley avenue,
Chicago. I came here for the Fitz-
simmons and Rubin fight from Chi
cagO. l met John Esson here two
weeks, ago and saw him several times
afterward. We drank together and
went around together. l met him yes
terday afternoon, Sunday, Aug. 20.
got him a room at the Vendome and
/ signed for his meals. This morning
he came to my room and we went out
for an automobile ride on Riverside
drive. When we returned to the hotel
he insisted upon going to my room to
lie down While there he shot me-
"On Saturday afternoon he told me
that he had attempted to commit sui
eide, but was stopped. He asked me
to telephone a girl that he had at
tempted to commit suicide. Shortly
after l telephoned the girl hunted him
up and demanded her jewelry. She
then went away with Esson. While we
were riding in the automobile he told
me that he expected to get S25, 900 to
give to this girl, but l never saw him
with any money or jewelry of any
kind"
Coroner yucca afterward learned
that the woman was Mrs Lillian
Hayes She approached that official
yesterday and told him that she had
loaned the suicide $1,000 worth Of
diamonds because he was in desperate
circumstances.
To a reporter Mrs Hayes explained
that she came here from Chicago two
months ago. She said ttat she knew
the dead man in Chicago, that he
brought his friends around 10 see her,
and soon grew Jealous. Mrs. Hayes
said that If he had not been drinking
he would not have been jealous.
Recently Mrs. Hayes said that he has
often talked of murder and suicide, and
that he attempted to kill her only sun
day night
This note was found on the dead
man:
"The better the day the better the
deed. The world and my friends will
be rid Of me. Those who have been
kind will forgive me, as I hope God
will ! am a failure"