The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-09-11
HORRIBLE B AFFA !.
Son of Former Mayor Kills Wife's
Friend and Himself.
HE LOVED HIsvICTIM MADLY.. ,i,

He implored Her, in Ills WiTo:s
Presence, to Leave Her
Husband anu Flee
With Him.
&: Townsend Edison, son Of former
mayor Of New York, Franklin Edison,
In his apartments at 20 West Ninety
second street, New York, Wednesday
shot.and INSTANTLY killed Mrs. Ealinie
Pullen OF 87a West End. avenue and
then shot and Killed Himself. The
murder and sslicide iappearssto tots have
been spremeditated and followed IA, 4
dramatic scene in whicheEdson called
upon. Mrss Pnllen,i a. close and honored
friend OF his wife. and family, to de-
sert her husband and children and fly
'wlthifim to another State. Mrs. Pull
len, q very handsome woman, is said
to have been the daughter or United
States naval officer. Is .5l .5
The double tragedy brought to the
surface the fact that EdSon,H Hwllo was
comptroller" 0f ST. Michael's Protes-
tant Episcopal church, had been sus-
pected Of msappropriating funds be-.
longing to the parish, and expert ac-
conntants are at work on his accounts.
1t was declared by those related with
the family that Edison was finanaially
distressed because OF Wall Street
iSpeculatiOnS. .sT &. .l.g{s.
Whatever may iiave been the pre-
else cause Of the tragedy, members or
the Edison family insist that the man
was insane. There arc many indica-
tions that Edison was madly in 1--we
with Mrs. .Pullen. -iilt.s ''.s. ~ s
On the body of the man was found
the following letter: E.
Mrs. Pullen: Darling, trust John
implicitly. He will always be go-be-
tween and faithful. know him
thoroughly. He will tell you whore L
am waiting for you, to see your sweet
face once more before 1 go. l am go
ing far, far away, but will die true to
you. No matter how long live shall
lead new life, and an honest one, and
III can ever come back ito you with
my past cleaned up, will, dearest.
Oh, my God, let me see and speak to
you once more. 1 cannot 20 until you
40. hope and pray that you put in
today's (Sept.) personal. Any way L
answered it in tomorrow's. 1 hope
you see it. Icannot l sleep. J. can only
pray and pray that you will come to
me once more. Surely you will after
all youshaye been to me In the past 10.
aS. sga q ms 5aJ5ltls5fs'
darling, II only to say. goodbye. 1
shall wait here until you see me, no
matter how long, John will tell you
my hotel name. Ask clerk for me..''
The following personal" was pub
lished In morning newspaper We'd
nesday:
"B. Nothing in answer to
message; be good to me; worried about
you; send word today; just as true to
you as always: with love-
The following, evidently q reply to
the foregoing, appeared Wednesday
morning:
Fanny--I am loyal and true; can
not 70 till see you; trust John: he
Will tell you where l am; with love-"
These are believed TO be the two
personals referred to.
DR.. Peters Of st. Michacl's church,
who knew the dead man we'll, is en-
pllatic in his declarations that none
but the most honorable relations ex-
listed between Edison and Mrs. Pullen.
She was, he said, Edson'S friend ad-
visor"
Mrs. Pullen lived with her husband,
John e. Pullen, an auditor at the
grand central station, and her two
children, Trafton, l6 years old, and
Mary, II years old.
The EdSOnS were to break up their
home Wednesday morning, as a result
of an agreement to sign articles os
separation, signed the night before.
The life of the couple had not been
happy. Edison had been acting In
peculiar manner. For that reason fur
niture movers were in the house pack
ing up furniture and bric-a-brac.
Mrs. Edison spent Tuesday night
with her friend, Mrs. pullen. She was
about to go out Wednesday morning
when a note came from Edison, asking
that Mrs. Pullen accompany his wife
where he was, Edison, his wife. Mrs.
pullen, and DR.. David O. Edison, a
brother OF Edison, met in EdSon'S
home.
During the conversation in the din7.
Ing room, Edison, is said to have turn.
Ell to Mrs. Pullen, and suggested that
she leave her home with him and 70
to some other State where they could
he happy. Mrs. Edison was Mortified.
Mrs. Pullen turned away in disgust.
DR.. Edison, after sharply rcbuking his
brother, left the room with Mrs. Ed
son, but both returned in a few
minutes when Edison again. .tlrnedFt to
Mrs. Pullen and began to cntrcat her
to cl0pc with him. Mrs. Pullen was
horriiicd at the suggestion, and pos
scsScd with fear OF the man ran out OF
the room. Edison, however, seemed
to recover his self possession land all
went into the dining room agGin. A
few moments after, Mrs. Edison, who
was weak and trembling from the
ordeal, was assisted to another room
by DR.. Edison. A moment later, ac-
cording to Woods, Il furniture man
working nearby in the hallway, Edison
pulled a revolver from his pocket, and
pointed it at Mrs. Pulen, shouted:
You must go with me. If you don't
clope with me I'll seq THAI you 80
with me anyway"
In terror, Mrs. Pullen started to run
from the room. She had gone but a
few steps when four pistol shots
rang out In quick succession. The
frst bullet tore Mrs. Pullcn's left