New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-10
J. H. THOMPSON MURDERED
SCHOLER MADE MISTAKE.
Robbery Said To Be Moti0e for k'A-
ing Times" Editor.

Investigation into the of the death of Jacob
H. Thompson, who died at Flower Hospital on Fri
day night from injuries received in HIS room at the
ST James Hotel, showed that Mr.. Thompson had
not died from apoplexy. at first supposed by
Coroner Scholer, but had met with foul play
After the autopsy yesterday the ad-
mitted that he had been wrong in his first theory,
and said that Mr.. Thompson had undoubtedly been
murdered.
The reason now assigned for the murder Ia rob
berry. Mr. Thompson is known to have carried two
wallets constantly with him. a small which
he carried change. and the other large book. In
which he frequently carried much 500 or 500
When Mr.. Thompson round this wallet was
missing Arthur Wendell n nephew of the dead
man. said that Mr.. Thompson banked in trust
company. and every ve1v. before going on his vaca-
ton. drew out enough to last him while away.
Mr.. Thompson was gois g on his vacation on Mon
day. A letter write Mrs. Arthur Wendell
shows that Mr. Thompson intended TO visit class
mate in Boston the day he killed His friends
said yesterday that he going to Boston, and
Immediately after going his vacation it
strange that had only the so in the small wal
let 70 md on him.
Detectives say they have been hindered in their
work of investigation by the action of the man
agement of the St. James Hotel. Captain Gal
lagher complains that the in which Mr.
Thompson found had been thoroughly swept
and cleaned before the police arrived. In the little
room in which the telephone. new hammer
found, which, however. bore evidences OF
having been used as a weapon.
DR.. Scrachen of Flower Hospital, complains of
the incivility with which he was treated at the
hotel. A reporter went to the hotel yesterday and
asked for Mrs. Mott, who occupied the room next
TO that Of Mr.. Thompson. He told that she
was out Not satisfied, he brbed a bellboy, who
soon brought back note from Mrs. Mott, say
ing that she was in and would the reporter.
when l am in error I willing to admit 1t,
said Coroner Scholer. in discussing the case The
autopsy shows that Mr.. Thompson did not die Of
natural causes. and that his death not the re-
suit of accident. We found three fractures of
the skull One Of them lareg triangular tract
the left eye. another a fracture six
inches in diameter the crown Of the head. and
the third fracture at the base of the skull These
fractures could rot possibly have been caused by
one blow. must have been the had Mr..
Thompson fallen against table dresser. At
least six blows must have been necessary to infict
them
In addition the three fractures five scalp
wounds were found the dead mans head. There
was also liberation of the left ear.
Arthur Wendell, husband of a niece of the dead
editor. and DR.. Fuller his brother-fn-law were
present at the autopsy. Dr. Fuller said that he had
believed from the first that his hrother-n-law had
morning when the BODY was found.
When W w; Wyckoff, manager of the St. James
and told that the coroner had declared Mr.. Thomp
accident. he showed some Indignation 7'' al
II cannot believe that Mr.. Thompson was muir
dered." he said. He was very methodical in his
habits, was popular with the guests of the house
and the servants and, as far as I know had not
an enemy
Mrs. Mott, who occupies the room adjoining that
of Mr. Thompson. has declared that she was in her
room all night, and although the partition between
the rooms is thin, and she had been accustomed
to hearing sounds from Mr.. Thompsons room she
heard nothing unusual on Thursday night. BY the
hotel people this is taken as meaning that Mr..
Thompson could not have been attacked How the
aged editor could have fallen with sufficient force
to fracture his skull without the fall having
heard is not explained
A conference was held last evening between Ar
thur Greaves, City Editor of The Times In
Spector Floor and Coroner Scholer which.
cording to the coroner, the theory of murder was
accepted.
The is of my hands, said the
coroner, later. 1T is up to the police to find
the guilty person persons