The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-09-04
MURDER AND SUICIDE
HENRY YEDSON KILLS MRS. PULLEN
AND THEN KILLS HIMSELF.
Edison is Believed to HIVE Misappr0-
prOated Church Funds-He Wanted
Mrs. Pullen to Fly With Him and
Leave Her Family.

New York. September 2-Henrx
Townsend Edison. son of former mayor
of New York. Franklin Edson in his
apartments at 292 West 92nd street, to-
day shot and instantly killed Mrs.
Fannie Pullen. of 673 West End avenue.
and then shot and killed himself The
murder and suicide appear to have been
premeditated and followed a dramatic
scene. in which Edison called upon Mrs.
Pullen a close and honored friend of his
wife and family to desert her husband
and children and fly with him to an
other state. Mrs. Pullen. a very hand
some woman, is said to have been the
daughter of a United States naval of
ficer.
The double tragedy brought to the
surface the fact that Edison. who was
"comptroller' of ST. MichaeFS Protest.
ant Episcopal church. had been SuS-
pected of misappropriating funds be-
longing to the parish and expert ac-
countants are at work On his accounts.
1t was declared bv those related With
the family that Edison was financialIN
distressed because Of Wall street spec
ulatiOnS. -
Whatever may have been the precise
cause of the tragedy. members of the
insane. There are many indications 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
plicitly. He will always be a go-be-
tween and faithful. 1 know him thor
oughly. He will tell you where I am
waiting for you. to see your sweet face
once more before I go. I am far, far
away. but will die true to YOU, no mat
ter how long 1 live I shall lead new lifes
and an honest one. and if I can ever
come back to you with my past cleaned
up L Will. dearest. Oh. my God. let me
see and speak to you once more. l can
not go until you do. I hope and pray
that you put in today's (Septemberl
personal. Anyway l answered it in to-
mOrroWS. L hope You see it. I cannot
sleep. [ can only pray and pray that
you VIII come to me once more. Surely
you will after all YOU have been to me
in the past years. You do love me.
darling: l know you do. Come to me
once more, darling, if only to say good
bye. [ shall wait here until YOU see me.
no matter how long. John will tell YOU
my hotel name. Ask clerk for me.
The following "Personar' was pub
llshed in a morning newspaper yester.
day.
"B. Loyal-Nothing in answer to mes
sage send good to me; worried about
you: send word today: Just as true to
you as always. with love"
The following evidently is a reply to
foregoing as anneared this morning.
Fannv-I am loyal and true: cannot
go till L see you: trust John: he will
tell you where L am: with love-
These are believed to be the two per
sonals referred to. DR.. Peters. Of ST.
MichealS church. who knew the dead
ho in
that none but the most honorable rela-
tons existed between Mr.. Edison and
Mrs. Pullen. She was. he said. Edson's
friend adviser
Mrs. Pullen lived with her husband
John +. Pullen. an auditor at the Grand
central station. and her two children.
Irafton. sixteen years old and Nary
fourteen years old.
The EdsOnS were to break up their
home this morning. as a result of an
agreement to sign articles of separation
signed the night before The life of the
couple had not been happy. Edison had
Deen acting in a peculiar manner For
that reason furniture movers were i'm
the house packing up furniture and
pr1c-a-brlc. Mrs. Edison spent last night
With her friend. Mrs. Pullen. She was
about to go out this morning, when q
note from Edison asked that Mrs. Pullen
accompany his wife to where he was
ANSOii, uIS "Ilc, NILE uIle1 ana LIZ.
David o. Edison. a brother of Edison.
| met in Edson's home During the con-
! versation in the dining room. Edison
| is said to have turned to Mrs. Pullen
| and suggested that she leave her home
! with him and go to some other state
| where they could be happy. Mrs. Ed
| son was Mortified. Mrs. Pullen turned
| away in disgust. DIR. Edison. after
| sharply rebuking his brother left the
| room with Mrs. Edison. but both return
ed in few minutes when Edison again
! turned r. - Pullen and began to en-
| treat her to elope with him. Mrs. Pull
| len was Mortified at the suggestion. and
| possessed with fear Of the man, ran out
| of the room. Edison. however. seemed
| to recover his self-possession and an
| went into the dining room aoain. A
| very fe- moments after. Mrs. Edison.
| who was weak and trembling. from the
| ordeal. was assisted to another room
| by DR.. Edison. A moment later. accord
| ing to Woods. a furniture man working