The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-08-24
SUICIDE LED A
DOUBLE LIFE
Relative Of Wealthy Pittsburgers
Drank Poison in Philadelphia
UNDETECTED FOR Is YEARS

Philadelphia, Aug. Is. - Confessins
that he had lived under an assumed
name for quarter OF century, and
revealing the fact TO his family and
friends that he was related by blood
and marriage to prominent and wealthy
people of Pittsburg, Joseph A. Thomp-
son, OF this city, swallowed cyanide q
potassium, laid himself on a bench in
Paramount Park and died. His body
was found by a man who was strolling
through the park. Near him on the
bench lay two letters, which in part
told the story of his life. The man s
name was supposed to be Joseph A.
Thomas, but the letters revealed that
his right name was Thompson and that
he had married and reared a family
under the name OF Thomas. One OF
the letters was as follows:
| am Joseph A. Thompson, of Pitts
burg. son OF Andrew Purdy Thomp.
the Young Mems Bible Society, Of Al
Thompson, ot spark aufHe Hill. n. Y. and
Pittsburg, knows my condition well
and will not help me. Me
and mine are starving. and have been
would not help me. He allowed his
brother, DR.. A. B. Thompson, OF Pitts
burg, to fall SO low that he had to
send him to Florida. where he died.
But still he gives $4,000 to the w:
and !. Library. What have / any
slave to hard work for 40 years, and
as Virginius says, there is no other
]. A. THOMPSON.
The second letter was addressed to
his wife and i3 as follows:
To the most loving and Christ-like
woman en- earth-Kate Spangler
Thomas:
You are still young woman and
am too old to stand in the way of
what might be pleasant and happy
future for you and the children. can
not get work on account of my age, so
l am only in the way.
B .ther Will will help you when
am gone for charity's sake. While
lived he would claim that you had a
husband to help you.
May God, In His infinite mercy deal
gently and kindly with you and my
you and the children. t leave 1000
kisses. 1t is all | have to give you.
Your unhappy and unworthy hus-
band. JOSEPH A. THOMPSON.
P. 81 have lived the past Is years
under an assumed name. Ny brother,
now at Spark Hill. N. Y. knew all the
time Of my double life, from the time
your first child was born. To make you
happy for the future l must make you
unhappy for the present.
From one who loves the ground you
walk on.
The mystery surrounding the mans
alleged double life has not yet been
cleared up by the police, and they be-
lieve that only one brother mentioned
in the note to the wife can throw light
on the case
Thomas or Thompson was about SIS
years of age. He married Kate Spang-
Ter, Of this city, rs years ago, and the
couple had four children-two sons
aged 22 and 10 years, and two daugh-
tiers. II and years of age. He had
been out Of work for the better part
OF the last three years, and the two
boys and the eldest daughter were the
principal support of the family.
Mrs. Thomas is Frustrated as re-
suit or the tragedy and the revelation
that followed. Her brothers said they
had always known their brother-in-
law as Thomas. but of late they had
suspected that his name was Thomp-
son. member of the family is au-
thority for the statement that William
r. Thompson, now at Spark Hill, sent
telegram Of coincidence to the widow.