Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-26
IDENTITY ADMITTED
Woman Who Attempted Sui
eide is Named Grissom.
FROM NORTH CAROLINA
TOWN NEAR DANvILLE, VA, HER
PLACE OF RESIDENCE.
Substances of Admission to Detectives
Persists in Declaration That
She Wants to Die.


dent Of police Of Danville. Va. the woman
who attempted suicide in Farragut Square
yesterday morning by shooting herself, as
stated in yesterdays Star, has been induced
to admit her identity. She confesses that
she is Mrs. v. Grissom. and that her home
is In the town of Spray, N. c., about TWEEN
ty miles from Danvilie. Early last night
Capt. Boardman received a message from
Chief Akers telling him he thought the wo-
man who had shot herself was Mrs. Girls
son. who had come to Danville from Spray.
This information was communica ted to the
surgeons at the Emergency Hospital and
DR.. Martyr went to the room where the in
jured woman had been placed to hear what
she would say about the message.
How are you feeling this evening, Mrs.
Grissom?" he asked the patient.
The patient had not fully recovered from
the effects of the anaesthetic. but seemed
more interested in her surroundings than
she had at any other time since she was
admitted to tho hospital. She hesitated a
moment and then asked the physician:
why do you call me Mrs. Grissom?"
Isn't your home in Spray, N. C.?' the
physician then asked.
my name is Grissom and my home is
In Spray" she admitted, after she had been
told that a dispatch had been received from
the North Carolina town making inquiries
about her But" she added don't let it
get into the newspapers"
Refrains From Further Questioning.
On account of her weakened condition
the physician deemed 1t advisable not to
question her any further last night and
left her in charge of a nurse. Mrs. Girls
som volunteered nothing to the physicians
and nurses about her identity or her reason
for wanting to die. From what little she
did say when questioned the police think
she had domestic troubles that caused her
first to leave home and next to attempt
self destruction That she intended to kill
herself the police have no DOUBT. The only
reason she came so far away from home
before making the attempt, the police be-
Heve, was that she preferred to die among
strangers and be buried without her rela-
tives being any the wiser
Since reaching the hospital she has made
.non fnEthegss attempt Ito harm herself. but
the surgeons and assist in the effort to
save her life. She has not changed her
mind about wanting to die, however, and
still insists that there Is nothing for her to
live for. 1t is because or this remark and
her refusal to discuss her husband or give
any information about him that the police
believe her act was the result of trouble
in her own household.
You know. you didn't mean that" said
one of the surgeons when trying to get
the patient to say something to simplify the
work of ascertaining her identity.
Yes, / did mean it, was her prompt re-
spcnse. Il did it and want to die
Inquiries Frequent
Many inquiries Were made at the hosp tai
yesterday afternoon for infcrma ton regard
ing the injured woman by persons who
thought they knew her. One man called
at the hospital and said he thought she
was the wife of a man in Richmond, but
changed his mind when told that she had
dark brown hair ttnged with gray, and
blue eyes. Most of those who made in
quries about her were from Virginia. and
thought they knew her, but withdrew last
night when they learned that she had adj
mitted her identity.
Several of the curious persons who called
were anxious to see the wounded woman,
but none was admitted to her room. 1t
was after Z o'clock last night when Capt.
Bcardman received the message from Chief
Akers telling him that she was probably
from Spray, and he then sent message to
the postmaster at Spray, given a descrip-
ton of the injured woman. and asking him
to make inquiries and send an answer.
The police have interviewed witnesses who
were in the vicinity of Farragut Square yes
terday morning when the shooting occur. ell.
They tell substantially the same story, say
ing she entered the park and had been there
only few minutes when she took the re-
voiyer from the box and deliberately shot
herself. One of the witnesses said there
was an elderly man in the park at the
time and he was not far from where Mrs.
Grisson was seated when she shot her
self. This witness thought she had spoken
to the man. He was astonished, he said,
when he saw her draw the revolver.
Others who saw the deed committed say
that Mrs. Grisson spoke TO nobody in the
park 1t is thought by the police that
she said nothing to any one in the vicinity
and she came here for the purpose of kill
ing herself and for no other.
Fail to Locate Dealer.
Nothing has yet been learned by the po-
Ice respecting the place where Mrs. Girls
son purchased the revolver with which she
irfiicted the wound. 1t is stated that weap-
ons of that particular make have been on
the market but few years and that not
many of them have been sold in this city.
Dealers who were seen by the police denied
that they had sold any such weapon to a
woman yesterday morning The patient
was not questioned concerning the weapon,
and the attending physicians do not think
it advisable to have her annoyed at this
time Her condition is serious, the bullet
not having been extracted at the time the
operation was performed yesterday.
While her condition is serious, the ply
sicians say she has good chance for re-
covery unless she becomes violent and
makes another attempt upon her life.