New-York tribune., 1903-08-24
WIFE WINS DEATH FIGHT
Sister Burned Wresting Acid from
Urs. KIeeberg.
IN WEST END-AvE. HOME.

While other members of the family laughed
and chatted on the piazza of the home of Mr..
and Mrs. Philip Kleeberg, at No. West End
ave-. last night, Mrs. Kleeberg and her sister,
Mrs. Sands. fought for the possession OF bottle
of carbolc acid gripped in the hands of the
former, who. despite the fact that Mrs. Sands
wrested the bottle before that occurred,
drank enough of it's contents to cause her death
a short time later.
Mr., Kleeberg is dealer in laces at No. 50
Mercer-st, and is given in the directory as a
broker at No. % Broad-st.. and viCe-president
at No 81 Broadway. The West End-ave- home
was the property of Mrs. Kleeberg, and was
given to her by her father about five years ago
1t is built of sandstone Inside a wide marble
stairway leads to the upper floors from large
panelled hall, and the rooms are filled with cost
ly furniture bric-a-brac and works of art.
Mr. and Mrs. Kleeberg had been to Europe
early in the year, and returned about month
ago. They spent some time in the country, and
last Tuesday to the city house Yester-
day a large family party gathered at the
house, with several brothers and sisters of both
Mr. and Mrs. Kleeberg. and their children
After dinner Mr.. and Mrs. Kleeberg went for
a drive, and, after returning, at about o'clock,
they joined the party which laughing and
talking on the porch in front of the house At
10 o'clock Mrs. Kleeberg. who had been one of
the gayest of the party, excused herself and,
when she did not return half hour later her
sister Mrs. Sands went to look for her. She
found her in the bathroom. in the act of putting
a bottle of carbolic acid to her lips.
Mrs Sands seized the bottle. and after
struggle, during which the acid was spilled
ove~ her face hands and arms, burning them
badly, she succeeded in taking it from her sis
ter but not before she had swallowed a con-
siderable quantity of the acid.
Roth women screar med. and he whole family.
hearing the cries, rushed to the room from the
piazza. They found Mrs Kleeberg lying on the
floor of the bathroom moaning in pain, and
carried her into the dining room, where she
was laid on a lounge. Servants were sent hur-
rying for doctors in all directions. and one met
a policeman In the street and told him of the
tragedy.
He reported to the station and then went to
the house. but not allowed to see the
woman.
DR.. Franklyn of No 46 East Seventy -hfth-st.
a friend Of the family. happened to call at this
time and at once went to the dying woman's
side He found that she was beyond aid, and
sent to Roosevelt Hospital for ambulance.
| By the time Dr. Moore. of the hospital, reached
! the house. Mrs. KIeeberg was dead.
! Mr.. Kleeberg simply said that his wife had
| all that she could desire, but that she had been
respondent for some time. Mrs. Kleebergs son,
! Gordon, sixteen years old. present when his
mother died.
| In the time. a crowd OF over q hundred
people collected about the mansion, attracted by
! the sight of an ambulance at that hour Of night
stopping before one of the most imposing houses
on the drive.
| The fact that there had been a suicide at the
Kleeberg mansion spread through the neiShbor-
| hood and reached the Ansonia Hotel, at Seventy
sixth-st. and Broadway. The news was brought
there by the kleebergs' second butler, George,
| who rushed wildly into the office OF the hotel
Get the doctor! My God. get the doctor
! quickr'
The clerk tried to quiet the man, but could
not.
Instead. the butler dashed into the corridor
| Of the hotel and shouted to several of the
! guests:
Hurry up! a woman is dying! Get a doctor!
| Ny God. why don't you get doctor?"
| House Detective Michael Bennett up to
| the man, while the guests fled in all directions
| from the butler believing the man was mad
The butler danced wildly about the detective
| shouting for doctor. He was without hat, coat
The detective pushed him up against the wall
| of the corridor and ordered him to be quiet
| Finally he was able to tell his story.
The resident physician al the Anson1a being
| out the butter sent to a physician living IN
| Seventy-fOurth-st.
In the midst of the excitement at the Kleeberg
| mansion Mr.. Kleeberg remembered that his
| brother Arthur the Colonial Club. Sew
enty-second-st. and Amsterdam-ave.. and tele-
| phoned for him. He arrived soon after the
| ambulance.
Soon other telephone messages from the Klee-
| berg house called relatives and friends from al
| over the city 10 the house. By midnight score
| of carriages were standing outside in Seventy
! Second-st. and their owners were in the Klee-
berg house, where they remained until morning
An undertaken arrived and took charge OF the
| body about l o'clock this morning.
No representative of the Coroners office had
| arrived at that hour.
Il said that the Kleebergs We're warm
friends of the Astor Chanlers, and that Mrs
| KIeeberg was a relative of the Hartman family