The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-19
LIVED DOUBLE LIFE
Only a Brother Can Clear
the Mystery.
Ard This Man Permitted Other Broth
ers to ST. We to Death, and His
Wife's Sister to Live in SquaIor
NTH Rats.
(By the Associated Press.)

Philadelphia, Pa, Aug. 17.-Con-
Tossing that he had lived under an
assumed name for quarter of CEN
tury and revealing the fact to his
family and friends that he was re-
lated by blood and marriage to proml-
nent and wealthy people of Pittsburg,
Joseph A. Thompson, of this city, to-
day swallowed cyanide of potassium,
laid himself on a bench in Fairmont
Park and died. His body was found
by a man who was strolling through
the park. Near him on the bench lay
two letters which, in part, told the
story of his life. The mans name
was supposed to be Joseph A. Thomas,
but the letters revealed that his right
name was Thompson, and that he had
married and reared family under
the name of Thomas. One Of the let
tiers was as follows:
II am Joseph Alexander Thompson,
of Pittsburg. Pa, son of Andrew Tur-
ley Thompson. who, for years was the
agent of the Young Mems Bible So
ciety, of Allegheny county. My
brother, William r. Thompson, OF
Sparkill N. Y. knows my circum-
stances and will not help me or. my
family. He married Mary Thaw,
daughter of William Thaw, who died
in Paris He was second vice presi-
dent of the Pennsylvania railroad, also
of the firm of Mark & Thaw, of Pitts
burg, and father of Alice Thaw, who
married the Earl of Yarmouth, and
Harry Thaw, who was supposed to be
married to Miss Evelyn Nesbit, the
concert artists model. l am con-
nected with Harriet Thaw, who lives
on Cross Street, between 9th and 10th,
and who was allowed to live in squalor
with rats as her companions. Me and
mine are starving and have been for
the past five months, but they would
not help me-.
He allowed his brother. DR.. A. d.
Thompson, to Starve to death In Phil
adelphia in 1879 or 1880, and also j.
r. Thompson. Of Pennsylvania Ave-
nue., Pittsburg. to fall so low that he
had to send him to Florida, where he
died and still he gives $4,000 to the
w. and 1. Library. What have 1. as
his brother, to look for? 1 have
been slave to hard work for forty
years and as Virginia says, There is
no way but this
The second letter was addressed to
his wife and says:
ITO the most loving and Chrlst-like
woman on earth-Kate Spangler
Thomas:
LOU are SILL Il yOuHS WOIIliH
1 am too old to stand i'm the way OF
what might be pleasant and hapIc,
future for you and the children.
cannot get work on account of my
age, so / am only in the way.
Brother Will will help you when
1 am gone for charity's sake. While
/ lived he would claim that you had
husband to help you.
"P. ST have lived the past twenty
five years under an assumed name.
My brother. William r. Thompson, OF
all the time of my double life. from
the time your first child was born.
To make you happy for the future /
must make you unhappy for the pres
emf
From one who loves the ground
you walk on
The mystery surrounding the mans
alleged double life has not yet been
cleared up by the police, and they
believe that only the brother men
toned in the note to the wife can
throw light on the case.
Thomas or Thompson was about
Kate Spangler. of this city, twenty
five years ago and the couple had four
children--twO sons, aged % and 10
years, and two daughters, II and s
years old. He had been out of work
for the better part of the last three
years, and the two boys and the eld-
est daughter were the principal sup
port of the family.