The Washington times., 1902-09-21
Mrs. A. S. Speridon, on
Her Way to Visit Mother
in This City, a Suicide.
MIDNIGHT TRAGEDY AT SEA
Mother of Suicide Is Mrs. Al Wilbur, of
46 B Street, This City-0vercome by
Shock = Knows of No Reason for
Daughters Act.

NEW YORK, Sept. 20.-The Frenc
line steamship Touraine, which arrive
this morning, brought into port the new
that one of her first cabin passenger,
Mrs. A. Stapeling Speridon, committe
suicide at sea by jumping overheard o
Wednesday night last. AS soon as
was known that passenger was over
board the ship was slowed up and boa;
were lowered. A search was made fo
the woman. but all trace Of her had dis
appeared.
When the rest of the passengers learn
ed of Mrs. Speridon's act they were as
tonished. Although she had been wit
them but few days, she was known t
all the first cabin passengers, and wa
regarded as the most cheerful and vi
vacious passenger on board. The onl
reason that could be assigned in ex
PLANTATION of her action was that she ha,
undergone a surgical operation a shor
time ago. and was soon to undergo an
other. Sometimes she referred to tn,
ordeal which she passed through, an,
said that she dreaded repetition of it
Found Letter.
The purser of the steamship found :
letter addressed to him in Mrs. Speri.
don's handwriting, after she had jumped
overheard. In it she merely told hin
that she wished her husband to be noti.
fed of her death and gave him his ad.
dress in Nice.
During the few days she was on board
Mrs. Speridon told her fellow passen-
gers a few things about herself. She
was an American. she said, and heI
husband was Greek. They had beer
married nearly ten year and had thre.
children.
Mrs speridon was bout thirty-five
years of age, handso looking, and
tastefully dressed. she gave the pas.
sengers the impressiA \ that she and her
husband both had plenty of money. She
dined at the purser's table and was a
general favorite. Frequently she re-
ferred to her villa at Nice and her resi-
dence at Rome, and talked like wo-
man who had travelled a great deal. She
spoke French and Italian as we'll as
English. She said that the object of
her trip to the United States was to
visit her mother, who is now living in
Washington and is quite i'll.
Chose Suitable Time.
Mrs. Speridon chose suitable time to
jump overheard. She waited on We'd
nesday night until everyone had re-
tired, and no one was on the deck but a
few Of the ships officers and just one
passenger. The passenger and one of the
officers saw her run to the rail and
jump.
1t was clear moonlight and the ship
was going at full speed. The officer gave
the alarm to stop the engines and the
shock which followed aroused all the
passengers. Many of them rushed Up on
deck, thinking something had happened
to the steamship. By this time the boats
were lowered and a search was made,
but nothing of Mrs. Speridon was seen
by anyone.
Mrs. Speridon's brother-in- law aud
friend, who is the proprietor of restau-
rant in this city, were at the pier to
meet her when the Touraine docked this
They were both amazed at the
news of her suicide and said they could
not understand why the woman should
drown herself. unless it was through
fear of having to undergo another oper-
alton.
Discussed Suicide.
Some of the passengers said that Mrs.
Speridon had on one occasion discussed
the question OF suicide, and asked sew
eral persons whether they believed sui
eide under certain conditions were JUS
titled. They had no idea then that she
was meditating taking her life
Among the passengers on La Tou-
raine were W. c. Lotus, ]. B. Martin,
II. L. Moore, E. W. S. Johnston, NJ d.
Howell, Bishop David H. Moore. Charles
O'Donnell, DIR. f. Palmer, Gen. +. Par
goud, J. Fl. Winter. Norman Walker,
Gen. B. d. Woodward, and Prof Sam
ron.
Mrs. Speridon had come aboard La
Touraine known to a few officers, but a
stranger to all the passengers. She was
On the way 10 visit her mother at Wash
lngton. D. C. She was friendly and
agreeable, and made many acquaintances
No passenger walked the deck quite as
much, and in her trim blue travelling
suit. light hat, and white veil she was
much remarked. She was fluent in
French and Italian. and her English
showed traces of Southern birth.
To some of those at her table she con- |
ided that she had family troubles. She |
poke, too OF disease which had neces-
Stated recent operation, and the ILL |
less of her mother at Washington Her |
,lans were to return in October to Eu- |
ope. where she had left her husband and |
hiIdren.
Mr.. Speridon in Rome.
Mr.. Speridon is supposed now TO be in |
some. There Mrs. speridon had spent
art OF her time since her marriage, but
be was particularly attached to her villa
t Nice. and spoke of it often. Her
aaiden name was Stapeling. and she was
bout thirty-1ve years old.
Near to Mrs. Speridon at the ships
lbie were J. B. Martin, of the Cafe Mar
y. New York, and Gen. r. Pareoud. of |,
ong Island, and these gentlemen broke
ne news OF the suicide 10 Mrs. Speridon's
rother law, who was at the dock
hen La Touraine got in today
Mr. Martin could suggest no reason for :
10 woman's act, save her apprehension
,garding her health Mrs Snaridon's 6