New-York tribune., 1905-08-18
SUICIDE LEAVES MYSTERY
CLAIMS RICH REL4TIVES.
Letter Says They VII Care for
Wido5C-TelLs of Double Life.

Philadelphia. Aug. 1I.-Confessing the fact
that he had lived under assumed name for
quarter of a century and revealing the fact
that he was related by blood and marriage to
prominent and wealthy people OF Pittsburg
Joseph A Thompson. of this city, to-day swal-
lowed cyanide of potassium, laid himself
bench in Fairmount Park and died. His body
was found by man who was strolng through
the park. Near him on the bench lay two let
ters which, in part, told the story of his life
The mans name was supposed to be Joseph A
Thomas, but the letters declared that his true
name was Thompson. He had married and
reared family under the name of Thomas
One of the letters was in part as follows:
7 am Joseph Alexander Thompson. of Pitts
burg, Penn, OF Andrew Turley Thompson,
who for years was the agent OF the Young Mems
Bible Society of Allegheny County. My brother.
William r. Thompson. of Spardl n. Y, knows
my circumstances. He married Mary Thaw.
daughter Of William Thaw, who died in Paris.
He second vice president of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad also of the firm of Mark q
Thaw Of Pittsburg, and father OF Alice ThaW
who married the Earl of Yarmouth, and Harry
Thaw. who supposed TO be married to Miss
Evelyn Nesbit, the artists model. Me and mine
are starving, and have been for the last five
months
The letter was signed, Joseph A. Thompson,
No 903 South Hicks-st. Philadelphia Aug. 16.
1905"
and is as follows:
To the Most Loving and Chrst-like Woman on
Earth, Kate Spangler Thomas.
YOU are still young woman and am 100
pleasant and happy future for you and the the
children. I cannot get work on account or my
age so 1 only in the way.
Brother VIII will help you when am gone
for charity's sake. While lived he would claim
that you had husband TO help you
May God, in His infinite mercy, deal gently
and my
unworthy 1 To you and the children L
leave a thousand kisses. It is all L have TO give
JOSEPH A. THOMPSON
p. 81 have lived the last twenty-five years
under an assumed name. My brother, Wililam
R. Thompson, of Fittsburg. now 1T Sparklll
n Y knew ali the time of my double life from
the time your first child was born. To make
you happy for the future must make you ull-
FROM ;TS5 ONE WHO LOVES THE GROUND
YOU WALK ON
The mystery surrounding the mans alleged
double life has net yet been cleared up by the
police, and they believe that only the brother
mentioned in the note to the wife can throw
light the case.
Thomas, or Thompson. about f1fty-fve
years old He married Miss Kate Spangler, Of
this city, twenty-five years ago, and the couple
had four children-twc sons, aged twenty-five
and nineteen years, and two daughters seven
teen and eight years old. He had been out of
work for the greater part of the last three
years and the two boys and the eldest daughter
were the principal support of the family.
Mrs Thomas is prostrated. Her brothers said
they had ALWAYS known their brother-in-law
Thomas but of late they had suspected that his
name was Thompson A member OF the family
ia authority for the statement made tonight
that William r. Thompson. of Sparkill sent
a telegram of coincidence TO the widow.
When inquiry was made at the home of Will
liam r. Thompson in Sparl1ill, N J., yesterday
concerning Joseph Alexander Thompson, the
statement was made that Mr.. Thompson was i'll,
ana couId see no one. It was impossible to OBJ
tain information regarding the dead man.