The San Francisco call., 1905-08-04
DIES UNDER
THE WHEELS
Of A TRAIN
New York Editor S
Awful Method
Of Suicide.
R. W. CrisWell Prefers
Death to Trial
for Libel.
Awaiting Criminal Prosecu-
ton for Attacking Friend
Of Miss Roosevelt.
Special Dispatch to The Can.

NEW YORK, Aug. 3.-Robert w Cris-
WELL editor of the New Yorker, week
ly journal, who was recently held to the
Grand Jury on a charge of libel, in
which the names OF friends of Miss
Alice Roosevelt figured prominently, and
whose connection with the Society Edi-
tors Associat ton is now under investiga-
ton, found death tonight by throwing
himself under the wheels of a subway
express train leaving the Seventy-second
street Station. The death was witnessed
by several persons, who unite in their
declaration that the case was plainly one
of suicide
Just as the train was pulling out of the
station, man, evidently. under stress OF
great excitement, ran down the steps from
the street, and, iunn.ng the length of the
platform ieaped in front of the cars
which had attained considerable speed
When the train was stopped the body mad
been cut to pieces. The tragedy mad been
seen hx three persons staEding on the
platform and by two of the. passengers in
the forward car Their cries warned the
others and 1t was only with difficulty
that the train men prevented panic, no
fewer than four women fainting.
When the platform guards had located
the body the train was divided into two
parts and from under the forward truck
of the third car the body was eXtricat-
ed and lifted to the platform. Then the
train was backed up to the other end
of the platform and the passengers re-
quested to alight and avail themselves of
the local service, and it was announced
that no expresses would run for some
time.
1t was seen at once that the presence
of a physician was unnecessary, and the
attendants contented themselves with
notifying the police of West Sixtyeighth
station, whittier the body was later re-
moved in a patrol wagon. There a search
of the pockets revealed letters, the writ
ing on which, although scarcely decipher-
able, indicated the name to have been
Robert w. Criswell, with residence in
the Hotel Belleclaire.
None of those who were supposed to
have been in Criswelfs confidence were
able to assign a cause for the man to
have ended his life, for they are agreed
that he was singularly confident that he
would be acquitted on the charge now
hanging over him.
Criswell was arrested recently on
charge of criminal libel, preferred against
him by Representative Joseph l.. Rhinock
of Kentucky In his weekly publication
the New Yorker, Criswell had printed an
article about the recent visit of Miss
Roosevelt the Presidents daughter, to
Cincinnati, and told of the various per-
sons who were introduced to her on the
race track, among them Mr.. Rhinock,
who. the article said, once had been in
dicted for stealing money from man on
the race track.
Criswelrs explanation was that the ar
ticle had been sent to him by a friend
in whom he had the greatest confidence,
who was then in California, and he
asked to be permitted to communicate
with him. He caused a correction to be
placed in the New Yorker's next issue.
He was placed under bail and was held
for trial in the Special Sessions Court,
with the understanding that the trial
would not be held until autumn.