The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-06-30
THEY DID NOT FEAR DEATH
DOUBLE SUICIDE OF CONNECTICUT
PEOPLE NEW YORK.
A Prospcrous Hartford Rcstnurnnt
Keeper and Toung Woman shoot
Themselves--Lcave Note SO Ihntfn
Case of Accident Neither One could be
Charged with Murder.

New York, June pa man about
thirty-five years old and woman about
twenty two, who registered at the Ho-
tel Van Twiller, at TWenty-fourth
street and Lexington avenue, ten days
ago as "Charles Duran and wife, Los
Angeles, Cal.," committed suicide IN
their room this morning by shooting
themselves through the head They
were found, undressed, in their bed,
each with a revolver in one hand. Sew
eral letters were found, one signed
''Charles Koch" and Marie Duran"
and another reading as follows:
please notify my folks, Mary Duran,
Windsor Locks, Meriden, Conn, and
Charles Koch, Hartford, Conn.,
The proprietor of the hotel said that
the couple had been at the hotel on sew
eral occasions. They always paid very
promptly and gave no trouble whatever
The bodies of the couple We're discover
ed by the elevator man in the hotel
The man was found at the head of the
bed He held a revolver in his right
hand and blood was streaming from a
wound in the right side of his head. He
was dead and the body was cold. The
| body of the woman was found at the
! foot of the bed, She held revolver in
her right hand, and there was bullet
wound in the right side of her head.
| Letters and pieces Of music were here
/ and there on tables and dresser. Two
/ of the letters We're open. All We're
written on hotel note paper One had
a bit of music drawn at the top and
under 1t was written the following: 1T
is the last lot of friends, so we part. 1t
is not death we fear--it is the separa-
tion. We have made the most of our
lives during our short acquaintance.
Goodbye"
There was no signature on this. The
other note written in a mans hand,
read
"This affair is a double suicide. Each
one voluntarily kills theirself. We write
so, if one of US should be unfortunate
enough not to die, that no charge OF
murder should be instituted against the
other. (Signed)
"Charles KOCH
Marie Duran"
This piece of paper was folded and
lay on the table. Some other letters
were found in one of the mans coat
pockets, but the police captain who
took charge of the case would not oper
them, and he turned them over to the
coroner He put a policeman in charge
of the bodies until the coroner or his
representative should reach the scene
The man was dark and fairly good
/ looking and apparently some years old
er than the woman. Their clothing was
good. The woman was brunette. Hel
face had regular features and SHE
would be called pretty. She had darl
| hair and dark eyes
The hotel proprietor said that the
man and woman first came to the no
tel about sixteen months ago They
were there the last time about three
months ago. Each time they remained
some days They We're quiet people
and gave no trouble at all. He sai(
that they used to have visitors once il
a while, one woman about forty-fv,
years Of age calling every second day
| He did not know who she was.
! August Koch president Of the Sanitar!
Brewing company of Hartford, Conn.
called at the morgue tonight and view
ed the bodies. The dead man was hi
| brother Charles. He said he did no
know the woman, The brewer said hi!
brother left Hartford eight weeks agt
taking about $4,000 with him. He con
| Quoted a restaurant having bought /
from his brother year ago. He wa
prosperous and could have had none.
in almost any reasonable sum. Mr.
! Koch made arrangements for the re
moval of the body to Hartford. Th
| l>.ro mid o,,,
one child, who live in Hartford.