New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-06
MURDERED. SAY POLICE
.M4N DEAD IN Il HOTEL.
-Four Employees arrested as "Sus-
picious"-Mystery IN Case.

Suspicious circumstances surround the death
OF Thomas Sullivan, thirty-five years old, super
intendent Of the country place the lower
Hudson OF Henry ]. Roberts, lawyer and pro-
noter of No. 132 Nassau-st, who was found
dead yesterday I'm room No. %, on the second
floor OF the Florence Hotel, at Nos. 13J and 137
Third-ave. The man apparently died from gas
asphyxiation, and IL at first supposed he
committed suicide. Conflicting stories told by
employees of the hotel, and the sudden reappear-
ance OF jewery and money owned by the man,
led Captain Gallagher, of the East Twenty-sec-
ond-st. station, to declare that he suspected
foul play, and TO arrest two men and two
women employees OF the place.
The prisoners are John j. O'Connor. a waiter.
OF No. 20 East Fourteenth-st.; Edward Coe.
of No. 221 East Thirteenth-st-. the night clerk;
Minnie Baumgartner. OF No. 224 East Twenty
seventh-st.. and Anna Dora, of No. 139 Pitt-st.
chambermaids. They are charged with peins
suspicious persons"
According to the story told to the police by
Anna Dora. she detected the odor OF gas in the
hallway on the second floor about noon yester-
day. Patrolman waunder. OF the East Twenty
second-st station. was sent for and he broke
onen the door and found Sullivan fully dressed
lying on the bed.
wander saws he carefully searched the mans
clothing and looked at his fingers. but found
no money or jewelry. Leaving the podg' ne
went to n telephone and made a report OK the
case to Captain Gallagher. He said he FOUND
the gas turned on full in the room. the crevices
In the windows and doors having been stuffed
with paper.
I 7 Head. Mr.. Roberts's secretary. identihed
the body.
Captain Gallagher, in turning the body over
on the bed noticed two rings on the second
finger of the right hand. One was silver ring'
act with 4 carat diamond. and the other goio
ring set with q sapphire. The rings were only
part way on the fingers and looked as IL they
had been slipped on hurriedly. The knuckles
were so colo that the rings could not easily pass
over them. Then the captain. In the right trou-
sers pocket at the side. found S137 in bills.
They were near the edge of the pocket, and
looked as IL they had been placed there quickly.
waunder had found neither rings nor money.
though he had looked.
Captain Gallagher then took all the employees
OF the hotel into the reception room and put
them under cross examination. He says their
stories we're so conflicting that he decided to
make the arrests.
Minnie Baumgartner declared according to
| Captain Gallagher. that Sullivan and a well
dressed young woman appeared at the hotel
on Thursday night. and registered as Thomas
! Sullivan and wife. They assigned to Room
| % Later Sullivan ordered two ginger ales
I
| brought to tho room. An hour after that Sul-
| van and the woman appeared I'm the hallway.
| and Sullivan. speaking To Minnie Baumgart-
/ ner said his wife was going away a train.
and that he would like TO return and take the
/ room for the rest Of the night
/ About 1890 a. m. Sullivan appeared at the
! hotel again. He went 20 his room Immediately.
/ In passing Minnie Baumgartner in the hail. he
told her no was tired. and was going straight TO
! bed.
The stories told by the other employees" said
Captain Gallagher last night, ARE similar as 20
/ names and places. hut differ substantially as to
| time. The reappearancs OF tho jewelry and
/ the money is extremely suspicious. and the casa
/ looks 10 Ike OF foul play"
Detective Michael Gallagher said that there
/ was reason 10 believe sullivan might have been
drugged.
Coroner's Physician OHanlon sfterwaTd said
! the man apparently died from gas asphyxiation.
/ but that an autopsy would probably be held