The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-03
when He Asked His Victim, I'm the
Presence of His Wife and Family,
to Elope with Him.
LETTER WRITTEN By EDISON
IN WHICH HE BEGGED MRS PULLEN
FOR A FINAL INTERVIEW.
Newspaper s'PersonaIs'-The Muraerer
Alleged to Have Misappropriated
the Funds of n Church.

NEW YORK, Sept 2-Henry o. Town
send Edison, son Of Franklin Edison. FORM
erly mayor of New York city, in his apart
ments at No. 292 West Ninety second street
to-day shot and instantly killed Mrs Fan
ME Pullen. of 67S West End avenue, and
then shot and killed himself. The murder
and suicide appear to have been premedi-
tated and followed dramatic scene in
which Edison asked Mrs. Pullen. a close
and hcnored friend Of his wife and family.
to desert her husband and children and fly
with him TO another State. Mrs. Pullen
was a pretty woman and is said TO have
been the daughter of United States naval
officer.
The tragedy brought out the fact that
Edison, who was controller of St. Michaers
Protestant Episcopal Church, had been sus-
pected of misapproprating funds belong
ing TO the parish and that expert account
ants were at work on his accounts. IL was
also declared by those related to the fam
lily that Edison was financially distressed
because of Wall street speculations
Members of the Edison family insist that
Edison was insane. There are many indi-
cations that Edison was madly in love with
Mrs. Pullen. On the body OF the man was
found the following letter:
Mrs. Pullen-Darling: Trust John i'm
plicity. He will always be a go-between
and faithful. ] know him thoroughly. lie
will tell you where / am waiting for you.
to see your sweet face once more before
L 60 am going far. far away. but will
die true to you. no matter how long | live.
/ shall lead a new life and an honest one,
and IL can ever come back to you with
my past cleaned up i. will, dearest oh, my
God. let me see and speak 10 you once
more before l go. cannot go until you
do. L hope and pray that you put In to-
do raoI AFarvr Asa.Ia
to-morrow's. I hope you see IL. i cannot
sleep. L can only pray and pray that you
will come 10 me once more. Surely you
will after all you have been to me for the
past ten years. You do love me. darling:
l know you do. Come TO me once more.
darling IL only TO say goodbye. I shall
long. John win tell You my hotel name
Ask the clerk for me-
NEWSPAPER PERSONALS"
The following personal was published
in morning newspaper yesterday:
"B. Loyal-Nothing i'm answer to mes
sage; be good to me: worried about you;
send word to-day. Just as true TO you as
always; with love"
The following, evidently a reply to the
foregoing, appeared this morning:
Fanny am loyal and true; cannot go
till / see you; trust John; he will tell you
where 1 am; with love"
These are believed to be the Personals
referred TO. DR.. Peters. OF St. Michael's
Church. who knew Edison well. is emphatic
in his declarations that none but the most
honorable relations existed between Edison
and Mrs. Pullen. She was, he said. Edson's
friend and adviser"
Mrs. Pullen lived with her husband. John
F. Pullen, an auditor at the Grand Central
station, and her two children Trafton. six-
teen years old. and Mary, fourteen years
old. The Edsons were to break up their
home this morning as a result of an agree
ment to sign articles of separation, reached
the night before The life OF the pair had
not been happy.
Mrs. Edison spent last night with her
friend. Mrs Pulen. She was about TO 60
out this morning when a note came from
Edison, asking that Mrs. Pullen accompany
his wife to see him. Edison, his wife. Mrs.
Pullen and Dr. David o. Edison, brother.
met in Edson's home. During a conversa-
tion in the d!ning-room Edison is said to
have turned to Mrs. Pullen and suggested
that she leave her home with him and go 10
some other State where they could be happy.
Mrs. Edison was horrified. Mrs. Pullen
turned away in disgust. DR.. Edison. after
sharply rebuking his brother, left the room
with Mrs. Edison. but both returned in .
Pullen and began 10 entreat her 10 elope
with him. Mrs. Puilen. possessed with fear
of the man, ran out of the room. Edison
changed the subject, and all went into the
dining-room again. A few moments after
wards Mrs. Edison, who was weak and
trembling was assisted TO another room by
DR. Edison. A moment later. according 10
Wood a furniture mover, who was working
! i'm the hallway Edison drew revolver from
his pocket. and. pointing 1t at Mrs. Pniien.
shouted: -.
elope with ne. I'll see that you go with me
any way.
FOUR PISTOL SHOTS.
Mrs. Pullen started TO run from the room.
She had gone only few steps when four
pistol shots rang out The first bullet tore
Mrs. Pullen's left cheek and the second
entered the right side OF her head. kill
ing her. According TO Wood. Edson look
ed at the woman for a moment and then
/ turned the revolver 10 his own head. firing
two shots. Both bullets entered the mid
die OF the forehead and he fell. his head
striking and resting on Mrs. PuIlen's feet.
AT the first shot DIR. Edison and Mrs. Ed
son rushed TO the door of the dining room.
reaching there just as Edison fired the shots
| which ended his own life. Mrs. Edison feIl
/ to the floor I'm faint.
| Coroner Jackson. after making thor
ough examination of the house. said that
the evidence showed that the murder and
suicide were Dremeditated; that ne had
4 found letters and other papers I'm Edscn's
/ possession which showed that he had had
/ a love affair
Mr.. PuIlen. who is a vesb'yman OF 81.
Michaers Church. made a statement to-
night In which he branded Edison as de-
faulter and forger and said that he had
stolen from the funds OF ST. Hichaers
! Church. He also declared that Edison had
attempted 10 kill Mrs Edison but missed
and killed Mrs. Pulen by error. Mr. Pull
> lens statement was not borne out by tbs
investigation OF coroner's physician osHan.