The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-09-11
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HORRIBLE l,'O ]. AFFAIR 3
Son Of Former Mayor Kills Wifs's
Friend and Himself.

q ~ ~ X t:Sy ~ stsS 2 7
Friend and Himself.
He LOVED HIS VICTIM MADLY. ii Il z: I
He Iinplored Her, in His wirs's
Presence, to Leave Her !.
Husband and Fleo
| III. With Him.
8: Townsend Edison, son Of former
mayor OF New York, franklin Edison,
In his apartments at 20 West Ninety
second street, New York, Wednesday
shotsand ins family killed nj rs & Fannie
Pollen Of 673 West; End avenue and
then shot and Killed Himself. The
murder and rshicide 5appear@tois have
been spremeditated and followed !. 4 4
dramatic scene in which, Edison called
upon Mrs. Pullen,f a close and honcrcd
friend OF his wife and family, to de-
sert her. husband and children and ily
with him TO nnoLher, State. nj rs. Pull
len, a 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 EdSon,' who was
"comptroller' Of St. Michael's Protes-
tant Episcopal church, had been sus-
pected Of misappr0priating 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 financially
distressed because OF Wall Street
speculations. 81 .,.t .As : .-t55 551its5 -.s57
| Whatever may have been the prc.
else cause Of the tragedy, members or
the Edison family insist that the man
was insane. There arc many indica-
tionsn that Edison was madly in love
with Mrs. Pullcn. 81
On the body Of the man was found
the following letter:
Mrs. Pullen: Darling, trust John
Implicitly. He will always be q GO be-
tween and faithful. l know him
thoroughly. He will tell you where 1
am waiting for you, to see your sweet
face once more before J. go. I am GO
ing far, far away, but will die true to
you. No matter how long live L shall
lead new life, and an honest one, and
i'll can ever come back to you with
my past cleaned up; Twill, dearest.
On, my God, let me see and speak to
you once more. cannot 60 until you
do. l hope and pray. that you put in
today's (Sept.) personal. Any way L
answered it in t0morrow's. I hope
you see it. l cannot sleep. I can only
pray and pray that yon%will come to
me once more. Surely you will after
all you have been to me In the past 10
G5: l2Ss q he 5R5gl45fs ieti
darling IL only to say goodbye. Z
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
iislled IN morning newspaper We'd
ncsday: i.
"B. Loyal Nothing in answer to
message; be good to me; worried about
you; send word today; just as true to
you as always; with lovc.'
The following evidently reply to
the foregoing, appeared "Wednesday
morning:
F;tnny--I am loyal and true; can
not go till l see you; trust John: he
Will tell you where am; with love-"
These are believed to be the two
personals referred to.
DR.. Peters Of ST. Michael's church,
who knew the dead man we'll, Is en-
phatic in his declarations that none
but the most honorable relations cx-
istcd between Edison and Mrs Pullen.
She was, he said, Edson's "fricnd 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 Of
separation, signed the night before.
The life of the couple had not been
happy. Edison had been acting in a
peculiar manner. For that reason fur
niturc movers were in the house pack
ing up furniture and bric-a-brac.
Mrs. Edison spent Tuesday night
with her. friend, Mrs. pnlen. She was
about to so out Wednesday morning
when IL note came from Edison, asking
that Mrs. Pullcn accompany his wife
where lie was, Edison, his wife. Mrs.
Pullen, and DR.. David @. Edison, a
brother Of Edison, met in Edson's
home.
During the conversation in the dim
ing room, Edison, Is said TO have turns
Ell to Mrs. Pullcn, and suggested that
she leave her home with him and 70
to some other State where they could
be 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 6few
minutes when Edison again& turnedfto
Mrs. Pullcn and began to cntreat her
to clope with him. Mrs. Pnllen was
Mortified at the suggestion, and pos
scsscd with fear OF the man ran out or
the room. Edison, however, seemed
to recover his elf-posscssion and all
went into the dining room again. 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, a furniture man
| working nearby in The hallway, Edison
pulled revolver from his pocket, and
pointed 1t at Mrs. Pullcn, shouted:
You must go with me. If you don't
elope with me I'll see that you 20
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