The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-07
RISKS LIFE TO SAVE A MANIAC
MRS. YOUNG FIGHTS on A ROOF
TO PREVENT A SUICIDE.
Crowd Sees Mrs. Martin Try to Jump and
struggle to Drag Down Her Would.
He Protector - woman Is Held by
Her Skirt, but Finally Falls to Death.

He Protector - Woman Is Held by
Her Skirt. but Finally Falls to Death.
A crowd of several hundred men, women
and children witnessed yesterday one Of
the most dramatic suicides that ever
took place in this city when. after des-
perate fight with another woman, Mrs.
Annie Martin. young widow. threw her
self from the roof Of the five-story tene-
ment at 500 West Forty sixth street, where
she lived. The crowd on the streets below
and scores Of people in the windows Of the
tenements OPPOSITE witnessed the fifteen
minutes fight that preceded Mrs. Martins
final leap.
1t was fearful scene. for time and again
the young widow succeeded in getting to
the edge Of the roof, only to be hauled
back by the woman who would save her,
Mrs. Stella Young. Finally, infatuated at
Mrs. Young's interference, Mrs. Martin
clasped her in her arms and tried to carry
her over the roof with her. She almost
succeeded and the witnesses OF the struggl
closed their eyes to shut out the awful
tragedy that seemed inevitable. But Mrs.
Young managed to free herself and Mrs.
Martin, after hanging in midair for several
seconds, fell to the pavement alone.
Mrs. Martins husband died several
months ago and since then she has been a
nurse in the Metropolitan Hospital for the
Insane on Randall's Island. Two weeks
ago q patient in the hospital struck her
over the head with a club, causing a clot
Of blood to gather on the brain. After
that she showed signs Of being demented,
becoming very violent at times. On Satur-
day last she was sent by her sister, Mrs.
Sarah Farrell. who lives in the Forty sixth
street house, to Bellevue for examination.
On Monday afternoon Mrs. Martin was
back to Mrs. Farrells rooms to stay until
she could get employment.
After breakfast yesterday morning Mrs.
Farrell went out, leaving Mrs. Martin alone.
The young woman read for while and
then made her way to the roof. She walked
Mrs. Young, who lives on the top floor,
came out, thinking some children were
playing and meaning to warn them not to
60 too near the edge.
The first thing that she saw was Mrs.
Martin, standing near the edge. The
I am going to jump! l am going to
jump
Young. and rushed forward and grabbed
the woman.
Then began desperate fight. Mrs.
away from the edge. Meanwhile Mrs.
Martin was yelling at the top Of her lungs.
Mrs Della Manning, who lives on the top
floor of one Of the opposite tenements, could
see the fight from the window Of her rooms
and she cried to the people below to get
the police. No one went for a policeman,
however, everybody looking up to see what
was the matter.
Meanwhile Mrs. Martin, who was stronger
than Mrs. Young, had succeeded in hauling
the latter to the edge OF the roof again. She
managed to get one leg and part Of her
body over the cornice and stayed there
for several seconds until Mrs. Young suo-
ceeded in hauling her back. As she dangled
over the edge the crowds below could
hear her shout:
Let me go! will die, tell you'll"
The excitement on the street was intense,
but no one thought Of running up to the roof
and helping the woman who was fighting
might have been saved, FOR, after she was
hauled back the second time, she became
furious and for several minutes chased
her rescuer around the roof with stick.
Mrs. Young managed to dodge the stick
and Mrs. Martin made another effort to
grabbed her just in time Then Mrs: Mar
tin threw her arms around Mrs. Young
and told her she would take her with her.
For a moment it looked as though the ma
MAC would succeed, but Mrs. Young managed
to free herself. and as she did to Mrs. Martin
stepped off the cornice. A cry of horror
went up from the crowd in the street, but
the woman did not fall. With remarkable
courage Mrs. Young grabbed her skirts
and managed to hold her dangling in mid
air for several seconds. Not until then did
ANYBODY below think Of going UP to help
the brave woman on the roof, but 1t was
too late.
In her weakened condition Mrs. Young
could not hold on, and the skirt slipped
from her hands until the edge parted with a
rip and Mrs Martin foil Her body struck
lire escape as 1t went down and was thrown
out SO that it landed in the middle Of the
street at the feet Of group of men.
Bystanders picked up the crushed body
and sent for an ambulance. A priest was
also summoned and he administered the
last rites of the Church TO the woman, who
was unconscious. She was then taken to
Roosevelt Hospital. where she died shortly
afterward
Mrs Young was completely Frustrated
after the woman she had tried 80 hard
20 save went over the edge OF the roof.
She was put to bed and cared for by the
neighbors When Mrs. Martin fell several
women on the street tainted and number
Of men were so sickened by the sight that
they had to be attended by the ambulance
surgeon.
POISONED BY GIFT CRACKERS.