The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-05-09

New York, Nav 6.-The Police of
this city were puzzled tonight by new
turn taken in the case of Mrs. J. W.
Gray, said to be the widow of a veal
thy Chicago broker who committed
suicide in her apartments at the Impe-
rial Hotel today. The woman left let
ters addressed to Charles H. Stoneham
telling him her love, declaring his cru
city IN conversation with her over the
telephone had induced her to take her
life. After being absent from his Office
at A Broadway all day, Charles II.
Stoneham, broker of this city wtc
was believed to have been the person
to whom the letters were addressed and
SO declared by the New York friends Of
the dead woman. returned late tonight
to his home in Jersey City. He denied
absolutely that he knew Mrs. Gray or
tht he was connected with the case
in any way.
Il never heard of the woman" said
Mr. sStoneham.
He expressed ignorance of the suicide
and declared that the newspaper men
brought him the first news he had re-
ceived of the tragedy.
She may have been customer OF
our firm, and in that way may have
a 1fYsa1 -
said. "The name is not at all familiar
to me, however, and l do not think
we had such person in New Orleans
as customer"
Mr.. Stoneham declined to discuss his
whereabouts during the day. He Was
emphatic, however, in his denial that
Mrs. Gray and declared that he has
been at home every night for many
weeks.
New York, May 6.-Mrs. J. w. Gary.
believed to be wealthy and said to be
the widow of Chicago broker and
who was described by her friends as a
| remarkably beautiful woman, commit
ted suicide in the Hotel Imperial to-
day by shooting. She was found lying
unconscious before her mirror in her
bed room with a bullet wound in her
head, and died few hours later at a
| hospital without regaining conscious
| ness. Letters left by the suicide irdi-
| Gated that she was the victim of an
| unfortunate love affair and that al
| though possessed of ample means, she
had no desire to live without the man
she loved. Accompanied by a man j
few years her senior, the woman ap-
peared at the Imperial on April 20.
| The couple registered as 81. w. Gray
and wife, New Orleans They went
out together frequently and the man
was away in the day time, but there
was nothing about them to excite un-
usual interest When watchman was
making his rounds early today he heard
a muff1ed report like a pistol shot, in
the room occupied by the Grays. Look
ing over the transom the watchman
saw the woman lyin on her face on the
!, floor beside the bed with her hands
outstretched. Sha was in her night
dress and a stream of blood was flow
ing from an ugly wound in her right
temple She was alone in the room
The door was forced and the woman
| was hurried to 4 hospital.
ASOIc Vi Tie uJIcl cIApIOy0 y0cS ICIAcni-
bered having seen Gray during the
night and he could not be found around
the hotel at the time of the shooting.
The suite occupied by the Grays was
the finest on the Broadway side of the
hotel.
| The woman lef. four letters, one OF
these, which was sealed, was addressed
to Charles II. Stoneham, A Broad
wall on the back of it was written Il
wish that no one would open this but
the person addressed.
A second sealed letter was addressed
to a storage warehouse, this city.
The third letter was unenclOsed and
written on two sheets of paper. 1t ap-
peared that one portion had been writ
ten yesterday afternoon and the other
early today before the woman shot
herself The letter began:
Dear Sweetheart: When I called
You up on the telephone You talked sc
cruelty to me that went out and
bought q revolver, intending to ID il
then l was brought up in convent