The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-28
Then He Thrusts the Muxzle of the
Revolver Between His Teeth
and Kills Himself.
STATEMENT TO THE CORONER
sTRIDIRON's STORY OF THE At
TEMPT TO MURDER HIM.
Chicago Woman i'm the Case. and She
Says She Loaned the Suicide
$1,000 Worth of Diamonds.

NEW YORK. Aug. 27.-John W. Esson,
or Essing, of Chicago. to-day fired two bull
lets, one into the head and the other into
the body of his friend and associate, Harold
II. Stridron, and then, thrusting the muz-
zle of the revolver between his teeth, sent
a bullet through his own head. The suicide
expired Immediately. His victim has a
fighting chance for his life. The police
of opinion that the man who attempted
the murder and then committed suicide
was crazed by the extreme heat and mad
dened by drink and jealousy. The police
have been unable to obtain from the en-
ployes of the Hotel Vendome, where the
shooting occurred, clear, connected state
ment of the affair.
Some friends of the dead man assert that
his name was Esson. Others are equally
positive that his name was Essing. Both
men came from Chicago originally. Esson,
or Essing, is said to have been con-
tractor in that city. His friends assert
that he came to New York with the ex-
pectation of getting contract on the un-
derground road now being constructed in
this city. Stridiron went to the hotel on
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
company of Stridiron, and it was noticed
that both men were drinking heavily. On
Saturday the suicide registered, but for
some reason, under the assumed name of
II. ]. Ford, Boston. He was assigned to
room No. 25S. Stridron had room No.
800 on the eighth floor, looking into Forty
first street. The two men entered the hotel
about o'clock this morning and asked
for their keys. Both were under the in
fiuence of liquor. On the way up to their
rooms Esson said to his companion:
II believe I'll go TO your ROOM"
"What for?' was the reply, you have
cne of your own"
"Oh, 1 want to lie down." was Esson's
answer. Cant you let fellow even lie
down your bed?'
A moment later the guests in the corridor
of the hotel were startled by three revolver
shots in rapid succession. 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 him
self by sending bullet through the roof OF
his mouth into his brain.
10 the coroner StrldlrOn MADE the 1Ol-
lowing statement: Coroner yucca, I am
Harold II. Stridiron. of No. lis Seeley ave-
nue., Chicago. / came here for the Fitz-
simmons and Rubin fight from Chicago. L
met John Esson there two weeks ago and
saw him several times afterward We
drank together and went around together
/ met him yesterday afternoon (Sunday.
Aug. 26) l got him room at the Ven
dome and / signed for his meals This
morning he came TO my room and we went
out for automobile ride on Riverside
drive. When we returned to the hotel he
insisted upon going 10 my room TO lie
down. While there he shot me. On Satur-
day afternoon he told me that he had at
tempted to commit suicide but was stopped
He asked me 10 telephone 10 a girl that
he had attempted TO commit suicide. Short
iy after l found the girl hunted him up
and demanded her jewelry She then went
away with Esson. While We were riding
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