The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-03
MURDER AND SUICIDE
rvACTED BY THE SON OF A FOR
MER NEW YORK MAYOR.
EDSON'S MAD INFATUATI0N
rArsED HIM TO KILL THE WOMAN
AND HIMSELF.

cburch-He Wanted Mrs. PuIIen to
NV with Him to Another State.
Love Letter He Wrote Her-Per-
sonaIs Published.
New York Sept. 2.-Henry Townsend
Edison. son of a former Mayor of New
York Franklin Edison. in his apart
roents at 292 West Ninety-second street,
to-day shot and instantly killed Mrs.
Fannie Pullen, of 673 West End avenue,
and then shot and instantly killed him
self
The murder and suicide appear 10
have been premeditated and followed
dramatic scene. in which Edison called
friend of his wife and family, to desert
her husband and children and fly with
him to another state.
Mrs Pullen, a very handsome wom-
an, is said to have been the daughter
of United States naval officer.
The double tragedy brought to the
surface the fact that Edison. who was
Controller of St. Michael's Protestant
Episcopal Church. had been suspected
OF Incorporating funds belonging to
the parish, and expert accountants are
at work on his accounts. 1t was de-
clared by those related with the family
that Edison was financially distressed
because of Wall street speculations.
Whatever may have been the precise
cause of the tragedy, members of the
Edison family are insistent Ebat the
man was insane.
Was MadIy in Love.
There are many indications that
Edison was madly in love with Mrs.
Pulen. On the body of the man was
found the following letter:
Mrs. Pullen: Darling-Trust John
implicitly. He will always be go-be-
tween and faithful. l know him thor
oughly. He will tell you where l am
waiting for you to see your sweet face
once more before 1 go. am going
far far away. but will die true to you,
no matter how long l live. l shall lead
a new life, and an honest one, and If
can ever come back to you with my
past cleaned up, l will, dearest. Oh!
nv God. let me see and speak to you
once more. 1 cannot go until you do.
hope and pray that you put in to-daY-s7
sept. y personal. Anyway l an
swered it in to-morow's. l hope you
see it, / cannot sleep. l can only
pray and pray that you will come to
me once more. Surely you will after all
you have been to me in the past ten
years You do love me, darling; 1 know
you do Come to me once more, dar-
ling. if only to say goodbye. shall
wait here until you see me, no matter
how long. John will tell you my no
tel name. Ask clerk for me-"
Personals Appeared.
The following personal was pub
lished in a morning newspaper yester-
day.
"B. LOYAL.-Nothing in answer to
message; be good to me; worried about
you send word to-day just as true to
you as always; with love"
The following, evidently reply to
the foregoing, appeared this morning:
FANNY am loyal and true; can
not go till l see you; trust John; he
will tell you where 1 am; with love-"
These are believed to be the two
personals referred to. DR.. Peters, of
st. Michaers church, who knew the
dead man well, is emphatic in his dec
laratiOn that none but the most hon
orabe relations existed between Ed
son and Mrs. Pullen. She was, he said,
Edson's friend and adviser"
Mrs. Pullen lived with her husband,
John F. Pullen, an agent at the Grand
central station, and her two children,
Irafton, 16 years old and Mary, IA
years old. The Edson's were to break
up their home this morning. as a result
OF an agreement of articles of separa-
tlon, signed the night before.
The life of the couple had
not been happy. Edison had been act
ing IN peculiar manner. For that
reason furniture movers were in the
mousse packing up furniture and brio
a-brac.
Proposal Disguised Her.
Mrs. Edison spent last night with
her friend. Mrs. Pullen. She was about
70 go out this morning when a note
came came from Edison, asking that Mrs.
fullen accompany his wife to where
Ne was. Edison. his wife, Mrs. Pullen
and DR.. David o. Edison, a brother of
EoSon, met in Edson's home. Dur
ing the conversation in the dining room
[1+son is said to have turned to Mrs.
LuIlen and suggested that she leave
Het nome with him and go to some
VTher state where they could be happy.
,H'IS' Edison was Mortified. Mrs. Pull
ie1 turned away in disgust.
Dr. Edison, after sharply rebuking
ms brother. left the room with Mrs.
-iSoh' but both returned in few
.,tilnutes, when Edison again turned to
,HiS' Pullen and began to entreat her
~ eiope with him. Mrs. Pullen was
Hotflhed at the suggestion, and pos
seSSed with fear of the man. ran cut
81 lhe room. Edison, however, seemed
~ recover his self possession and all
vent INTO the dining room again.
\ very few moments after, Mrs. Ed
~ Who was weak and trembling
I'm the ordeal, was assisted to an
''Aer room by Dr. Edison.
How 1t Was Done.
a momnt later. according to Woods.
"a lrniture man, working nearby in
e'e hallway, Edison pulled a revolver
NJ" ms pocket and pointing it at
~ Pullen, shouted:
GU must go with me. If you don't
cope with me I'll see that you go with
me, anyway"
IN terror, Mrs Pullen started to run
~" the room. she had gone but a
-. steps when four pistol shots rang
Ia' lh quick succession. The first bull
tore Mrs. Pullen's left cheek and
b second entered the riCht side of
,No. ording TO Wood. Edison looked at
," woman for a moment. and then
M yea the muzzle OF the revolver TO
r',. mead, firing two shots almost ST.
r.,i,l,et neously. Both entered about the
t'4le or the forehead and he fell his
p.1 striking and resting on Mrs.
t4-ien's feet
~, ~ The first shot DR. and Mrs. Edison
AeI 10 the door Of the room, reach