New-York tribune., 1900-08-31
MOTIVE FOR ESSON'S CRIME
DISPUTE OVER JEwELRY. RECOVERED
BY POLICE. ALLEGED CAUSE
OF SHOOTING.

Bv the recovery OF Jewels which were taken from
the apartments of Miss Lillian Hayes in the board
ing house of Mrs. Coleman, at No. I'll West forty-
eighth-st last Sunday afternoon, Acting Captain
Burns of the West Thirtieth-st. station believes
he has unearthed the motive for the attempted
murder Of Harold H. Stridiron OF Chicago. in the
Hotel vendome on Monday morning by John H
Esson, and the suicide OF the latter. The jewels
were found last evening in the safe OF the Delavan
House, Broadway and Fortieth-st-. OF which
Tom O'Rourke is the proprietor.
Since the shooting Strtdron, who is patient IN
the New-York Hospital has been guarded by a
policeman. Yesterday afternoon Stridron was
visited by a man. who the police say, is we'll
known along Broadway. The man was leaving the
hospital just Acting Captain Burns and Detec-
tive Lockwood entering. and though they i'm
mediately questioned Stridiron about HIS visitor the
injured man refused TO divulge anything.
Late yesterday afternoon Captain Burns and De
tective Lockwood were walking along Broadway
and noticed the same man who had visited Strid-
iron enter the Deavan House They watched his
movements for time and then inquired Of Tom
O'Rourke the proprietor. who the man was In
the mean time the man had left the place.
O'Rourke according to the police, said that the
man had come the hotel and asked for package
v hich had been left there at about o'clock Mon
day morning, and had been placed in the safe by
O'Rourke.
What is the name on the package?" O'Rourke
is said to have asked
H. H Bond the reply.
said O'Rourke, but you are not the man that gave
it TO me-"
'oh. yes it was l." replied the man.
NO. It wasn't you" replied ORourke. You don't
look anything like the man. but II you say you are
the man let me see you write your signature"
rbs man wrote the name III. H. Bond" but
o'Rourke Was not satisfied with it, and refused TO
give up the package, placing it back in the safe
The man then left the place.
After Captain Burns had been told of the mans
I,a ted
package be given him This done, and then
the police opened It There were two large en-
gsIopes The inside held a small Jewel case
containing five diamond rings. which tally exactly
with the ones Miss Hayes says were stolen from
her by Esson on Sunday afternoon. The 3ewelry
consists of one solitaire ring Of three carats. two
two stone rings of and half carats each' one
Princess ring OF two and a half carats and one
opal ring studded with chipPed6 diamonds all val
ned Miss Hayes says, at 900.
Captain Burns took the rings to the station and
where Miss Hayes lives, but she was noI az @ noIne;
Word was, however, sent to her, ana she PROMISED
TO go to the police station to identify the Je|Glry
Captain Burns visited the NenGome hoteI ana
learned from the clerk that Esson had gone TO the
nanded that bellooy be sent TO SfloToh H 5 Ioo1
tell him 10 come down stairs as he (Essonl
arouse Stridiron as EssoR intoxicated, but the
insisted strongly that finally q boy was
In a few minutes Stridiron appeared in the lobby.
Esson was sitting in a chair. but when Stridiron
appeared he jumped 10 his feet. and after wOrdy
war. according TO the clerk. Esson accused strid-
iron OF having something which belonged to him.
Stridiron became very angry and used some pro
fame language TO Esson- The men then walked to
the hotel entrance in Broadway. where they
Iinued their argument.
According TO the police. the men then hired an
automobile and rode up Riverside Drive. On the
trip tho men Quarrelled several times. and at
time the operator of the vehicle separated them
The two men. so Captain Burns says, were accom-
panied by a patrolnan who off duty The
men separated and Stridron returned to the hotel
alone between and o'clock on Monday morning;
Esson arrived at the place later, and then followed
the quarrel between the two men and the shooting
which resulted in Esson's death
O'Rourke has not yet visited the hospital TO see
Stridiron but from the description furnished him
by the police he SAYS he is certain that Stridiron
o'clock Monday morning.
The condition OF Stridiron is much improved The
physicians say that operation is to be PER
formed upon him. They believe that he Will re-