New-York tribune., 1903-04-07
CAUSE STILL 4 MYSTERY.
Dependency Only Reason AdUanced
for hrs. Pan Weik's Deed.

/, The mystery that shrouds the motive that i'm
pelled Mrs. Louise Ames Van weik to commit
suicide at Jersey City not cleared away
yesterday, and may never be revealed Her fos-
ter brother, Campbell B. Royston, of Baltimore,
could advance no reasonable motive. Charles
II. Townsend, of this city, who was an intimate
friend declares that she Respondent, and
must have been demented The registered let
ter she mailed to Royston or the package she
sent by express to Townsend may throw Hsnt
on the mystery. Townsend volunteered to sur
render the box and contents to Joseph w. Br1s-
ter the representative OF Royston.
Townsend and Royston met for the first time
YESTERDAY Townsend, who had been Informed
on Sunday afternoon of the tragedy, did not
visit Jersey City until noon yesterday. A long
conference was held in Chief Murphy's office
At its close Mr. Townsend declared that he had
declined to serve as executor of Mrs. Van Weik S
estate and had conveyed the authority alb
solutey to Mr.. Royston, also named as an eX-
ecutor. He said that he met Mrs Van Weik
in Washington in the winter of 1900. but that
he had not seen her frequently. She called upon
him about nine months ago, while on her way
to South Dakota TO get the divorce from Count
Wolfbauer and he did not again see her until
THURSDAY when she called just as he was leaV-
ing to give a lecture in Brooklyn He apoio-
gized and invited her to call the following day.
She visited him on Friday. She was detected
then. and declared she alone and friendless.
Il tried to cheer her." Mr.. Townsend said' and
said I would cali and take dinner with her L
did not feel we'll and did not go that evening
The following day, Saturday, received tele-
gram from her stating that she was at the Jer-
sey City Hotel and would leave next day Tor
Baltimore"
.she addressed you by your Christian name?'
he was asked.
"Yes, she had done for some time"
The picture found in Mrs. Van Weiks ROOM
he said was his He added. that he gave it to
her unframed. When it found in the room
it was inclosed in pretty gilt frame.
Mr.. Royston left Jersey City for his home IN
Baltimore in the afternoon. The body OF MS
foster-sister went on the same train. Mr.. Roy
ston who arrived in Jersey City early in the
morning, told a Tribune reporter that Mrs Van
Weik's father Captain Arnes. had unconsciously
made her extrava CANT, paying her literally, for
instance, when she was schoolgirl. TO recite her
lessons to him. She ordinarily sweet and
amiable, he declared, but had violent temper
when aroused. He said Otto B. Weike was the
name Of her first husband. and that Van Weik
was the name she adopted after she had d.
vorced her husband. He worshipped her, MI
Royston said but as general manager at
Baltimore for pickle company his income
inadequate and they parted. Her grand
father, Bishop Ames. left all his property to
another grandchild. She contested the will, was
successful, ana received ABOUT SOO,pp
Mr.. Royston said Wolfbauer lived in Baltimore
and that he tried to find him Sunday night.
In the box at the Garfield Safe Deposit Com
panys vaults found the deeds to the two
houses in Washington, the original will and two
boxes marked valuable" and supposed to con-
tain her Jewels The boxes were addressed to
her daughter, Dorothy with instructions that
one should be delivered to her on her fourteenth
birthday and the other when she had attained
her twentieth year There was also a sealed
letter addressed to Mr.. Royston, in which she
appealed to him TO repeat the kindness OF his
parents and adopt her daughter.
She evidently contemplated suicide when she
rented the box on Saturday