Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-09-03
INsANELY-IN LOVE.
A Terrible Double Tragedy,
Wednesday, in New York.
H. T. townsend Shoots Mrs. PuIIen
and Then Kills Himself.
Said to BE Defaulter-She Had Refused
to Elope.

ANcW 1OFk, sept. z.--I1eiiy iO"h
send, son CT former Mayor of New
York Franklin Edison, in his apart
nlents at No. 292 West 92nd street, to-
day, shot and instantly killed Fanny
Pullen of Nc. 6.3 Westend avenue, and
then shot and killed himself. The muir
der and suicide appear to have premed-
lated and followed a dramatic scene
in which Edison called upon Mrs.
PulIen, close and honored friend of
his wife and family, to desert her
husband and children and fly with him
to another State. Mrs. Pullen, very
handsome woman, is said to have been
the daughter of a United States naval
officer.
The double tragedy brought to the
surface the fact that Edison, who was
Comptroller of st. Michaers Profess
tant Episcopal church, had been sus-
pected of misappropriatirg funds be-
longing to the parish and expert ac-
cOuntants were at work on his ac-
counts. 1t was also declared by those
related with the family that Edison was
financially distressed because of Wall
street specuiations.
Whatever may have been the precise
reason for the tragedy, members of the
family insist that the man was insane.
There are many indications that Edison
was madIy in love with Mrs. Pullen.
On the body of the man was found
the following letter:
Mrs Pullen:
Darling:-Trust John implicitly. He
always be a go-between and faithful
2 | know him thoroughly. He will tell
you where / am waiting for you, to see
your sweet face once more befQre I go
am going far, far away, but@WiIl die
true 10 you no matter how l9ag I live.
n shall lead new life and Sn honest
one, and if can ever come back to you
with my past cleaned up | will, dear
est. Oh my God. let me see and speak
to you once more before / COL cannot
go until you do. | hope and pray that
you put in today's (SepteniberD per-
sonal Anyway | answered it in tomor-
rows. I hope you see itaS cannot
sleep. I can only pray and pray, that
you will come to see me Once more.
Surely you will after all You have been
to me for the past 10 years. You do
love nc darling. | know you do. Come
to RE once more, darling, if only to say
Good bye. John will tell you. my hotel
name &sk clerk for me-" sSs
The following Personal" was pubs
lished in q morning newspaper, yes
tcrday: 90 -" /, '.f rrsF ~
BE loyal-nothing in answer 70 nless
sage, be good to me; worried about
you; send word today; 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 i see you trust John: he Will
tell you where | am; with. love"
These are believed to be the Per
sonals" referred to.
Mrs, Pulcn lived with her husband.
John +. Pullen, an auditor ut the Grand
Central station, and has two children,
Trafton. l6 years old and Amy, IA
years Old ~ 49,
The Edsons were to t,rcuk up their
house. todh y" as a result of an agreement
to sign articles Of separation. reached
the night previous The life Of the couple
has not been happy
Mrs. Edison spent last night with her
friend Mrs. Pullcn. She was about to
go out. this morning, when note came
from Edison asking that Mrs. Pnllcn ac-
company his wife to where he was. Ed
son, his wife, Mrs. Pullcn and DR.. David
o. Edison. brother of Edison, met in
Edson's home.
During the conversation in the dining
ROOM, Edison is said to have turned to
Mrs. pulien and suggested that she leave
home witlsshim and go to some other
state where sthey could be happy. Mrs.
Edison. wassherritied. Mrs. Pullen turned
away i,nalisg,ist., DR.. Edison after sharp
~. rebukinG his brother, left the room with
4 Nffs. Edison. -E6son seemed to recover his
y self-posseSsion and joined the others in
the dining room.
A moment later. according to Woods. Il
furniture man working nearby in the hall
way. Edison pulled IA revolver from his
pocket and pointing it at Mrs. Pullon.
shouted. You must go with me. If you
don't elopc with me III see that you go
with me anyway
In terror, Mrs Pullen with a shrek
started to run from the room. She had
gone hut II faw steps when four pistol
shots rang out in quick succession The
FIRST bullet tore Mrs. PullenS left check
anu the second entered the right side near
According to Woods. Edison looked at
the woman FOR moment and then turned
the muZZlc' of the revolver to his own
head. firing two shots almost simulta-
nconsly- Both entered about the middle
of the forehead and he fell. his head
striking and resting on the feet of Mrs.
Pullen's body.
ouSh examination of the house. said that
the murder and suicide were prcmc iitatcd
Mr.. pullcn, the husband of the murder
cd woman, who is II vestryman of St
Mchaers church. made statement. to-
night IN which he branded Edison as Il
defaultcr and forgcr, and said that he
had stoler from the funds of st. Michael'S
church. lie also declared that Edison had
attempted to kill Mrs. Edison. but killed
Airs. Pullcn by error.
Mr. Pullens statement was not borne
. out by the investigation of Coroner's Ply
= stefan Hanlon, who found powder marks
on the dead woman's face. showing that
the pistol must have been held very close
DIR. Cyrus Edison. Il brother of the sui
eide. said. tonight, that the intimations
of improper relations between his brother
and Mrs. Pullen We're absolutely false.
His brother, he said had recently been
acting very strangely and had admit ed
that he was involved in financial diff
culties.T The shooting DR. Edison de
clared, WIS undoubtedly committed in a
moment of maniacal frenzy
The division of publications of the
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