The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-27
SUICIDE OR A MURDER ?
MYSTERY IN THE DEATH OF JOHN
DAVID FITZPATRICK IN NEW YORK
His Sister, Mrs. John p. Cook, of La
Help Clear Up the Case.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
LAPORTE, Ind, Sept. 26.-Mrs. John p.
Cook of Laporte county is in New York
city for the purpose of solving, if possible.
the mystery surrounding the death of her
brother, John David Fitzpatrick. the wealthy
young man who was found dead in his
apartments in the Hotel Martinique Mon
day, with a bullet hole in his heart, as told
in the press dispatches from that city.
According to advices received here to-
day from Mrs. Cook, Police Inspector Nc
Clusky will report to Coroner Brown that
her brother committed suicide, but Coroner
Brown believes that the young man was
murdered and so will ask the district at
torney to put some of his men the case.
Charles d. Lindley, who shared apart
ments with Fitzpatrick, has returned TO New
York at the request of Mrs. Cook and at
the Fifth-avenue Hotel, where Mr.. and
Mrs. Cook are stopping. he told again the
story of the death of Fitzpatrick. He said
Fitzpatrick and he had spent Sunday visit
ing a sick friend, and in the evening Kill
patrick went to call on Miss Aline Red
mond, an actress. So far as he could learn
fitzpatrick stayed at her boarding house
until II o'clock Sunday night He Gid not
Monday morning. His story of the finding
of the body agreed with his former story,
as told in the press dispatches.
j. Edward Lambie, Kilpatricks step
father, told Mrs. Cook that two torn let
tiers had been picked up in ME, her brothers
Fitzpatrick spoke of a check for $500 to
pay doctors bill and suggested that she
get a receipt. Mr.. Lambie also said that
Miss Redmond had been seen and she had
admitted having received the check on Sun
day night. Fitzpatrick had evidently intend
ed sending the check by letter, but changed
his mind and took the check himself. MIR.
Lambie added that he was now fully salts
fled that Fitzpatrick had committed suicide
as there was nothing in any of the letters
TO suggest murder. Mrs. Cook writes that
she is convinced that her brother became
mentally deranged and while in this state
took his own life.
A letter addressed to Fitzpatrick and
mailed Tuesday night has just reached the
Martinique. IL reads as follows: Dear
Jack: l have just returned TO town and
shall be pleased to have you call and see
me as soon as you have time. / hope you
will forget the naughty. disagreeable note
/ sent you last. Hoping 10 see you very
soon. yours lovingly. Sylvia"
Coroner Browns belief that Fitzpatrick
was murdered is evidenced by statement
made last night He said: 81 still believe
that young fitzpatrick was either murdered
or killed accidentally by one of his friends
In the first place. the pistol with which
the shooting was done was found foot
away from the dead mans elbow. Ii was
lying on the bed in a position which would
seem to- indicate that il had been placed
there carefully after the bullet had been
fired have some letters in my possession
which do not intend to make public and
which / know the police will not make
public. The police have started the theory
that the young man committed suicide and
no matter what evidence turns up they
seem bound 10 stick TO It. There may be
some developments OF interest at the In
quest. which will be held next week"
Fitzpatrick spent considerable time this
summer In Laporte county at the home of
his sister and 80 the case Is being care
fully watched here The body OF the young
man was shipped 10 Washington for burial