The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-09-23
KILLED FRIENDS WIFE
Former Mayors Son, Forger and
Thief, a Suicide Also
Terrible Tragedy Enacted in tho Presence
of His Own Wife-Slafn Woman
Had Refused to Elope.

New York .-Spurned by WON.
an who was his wifes dearest friend.
and with whom he was infatuated, and
threatened with exposure for the al.
legged embeszling Of church funds.
Henry Townsend Edison. son OF former
Mayor Franklin Edison and brother Of
DR.. Cyrus Edison, the distinguished
physician, shot and killed Mrs. Fannie
Pullen and then blew his brains out in
his apartment on West Ninety-second
street.
EIson's wife and his brother, DR..
David D. Edison, were in the room
when he pleaded with Mrs. PuIlen to
elope with him. Mrs. Pullen, weeping
Historically, made a scornful refusal.
Instantly Edison whipped pistol from
bis pocket and fred The weapon was
so close 10 the woman's face that the
powder scorched her cheek. He fired
second time as she fell. DR.. Edison
leaped toward his brother to strike up
the weapon. but the murderer placed
the barrel Of the pistol in his mouth
and fired twice, the first bullet shatter-
ing his teeth and the second entering
the brain.
In addition to the disclosures made
by Edison few moments before the
tragedy, confirmation Of his motives
was found short time later in letters
addressed to Mrs. Pullen in endearing
terms.
Edison was controller Of st. Michaeps
Episcopal Parish Church, at Amster-
dam avenue and West Nlnety-ninth
street, of which the Rev. DR.. John G.
Peters Is pastor. Edison was also chair
man of the Board Of Trustees and'one
of the most active workers in the
church. of which Mrs. Pullen was also
q member Letters were found which
showed that Edison had been ruined in
Wall Street. Exposure and disgrace
faced him, and he had appealed to his
father, the former Mayor Of New York
City, to come to his apartment and aid
him.
Traston Pulien, sixteen-year-old son
of the murdered woman, was told Of
her death. and hurried TO his home
from the Columbia Grammar School.
He answered ring at the door bell,
and Immediately asked: "Is Mr.. Edison
dead? I am not sure about it, and II
LIE is not. I'll kill him. 1 have revol-
yer here."''
The boy drew pistol from his pock-
ct and he appeared determined to start
on hunt for his mothers slayer until
assured that Edison was dead.
The Pullens live on West End ave-
nue.. John Pullen is chief clerk Of the
New York Central Railroad. His wife
was q schoolmate and an intimate
friend Of Mrs. Edison. Edison told his
wife several days before of his infatU-
alton for Mrs. Pullen. Mrs. Edison did
not believe all the disclosures III her
husbands confession.
Coroner Jackson took possession OF
several letters in the apartment, which
he said, showed not only that Edison
was infatuated with Mrs. Pullen, but
also that be was financially ruined.
Edison was found to have been a
forger as well as an embezzler from
st. Michael's Protestant Episcopal
Church, Of which he was parish clerk.
The Corn Exchange Bank was a loser
by bis fOTgeries. it was learned. 1t
was also said that Edson's indebted
ness to st. Michael's Parish is known
to be more than $1,000.
There is nothing whatever in the evil
dence gathered since the shooting to
show anything except that Edison was
a madman. All of the persons init
mately acquainted with the Edison and
Pullen families unite in declaring that
the murderer's passion for Mrs. Pullen,
which he expressed a moment before
the shooting. was q surprise to Mrs.
Pullen as we'll as to Mrs. Edison. 1t is
feared that as a result Of the tragedy
Mrs. Edison may permanently lose her