The San Francisco call., 1905-02-27
BOY ENDS LIFE.
GIRL FORCETS
Edward Miller Inhales Gas
and Woman Who Said She
Loved Him Only Smiles

Edward Miller. a vaudeville actor.
ended his life yesterday by inhaIins
gas. When told that he was dead Miss
Eva May Van Druff, who four days
ago wrote him a passionately sndear-
ing letter. smiled and said, IT only
knew him slightly about a year ago.
By the dead boys side were found
letters in which Miss Van Dr,ln swora
that she could not live without him
and that she would kill any woman
who should ever come between them
Her letters are full OF the hysterical
endearments that certain women In
love scrawl over double sheets OF
paper. Yet last night Miss Van Drun
declared that she had only seen Miller
once. q year ago, and had only writ
ten to him twice. and these on bush
ness.
She said this In q quiet, unconcerned
way. There was not a tear in her eve
her cheeks retained their color and her
lips parted in smile.
TWO weeks ago she wrote to him.
Dearest, you are all my happiness IN
this world" Yesterday she repudiated
the dead boy.
Miller met his death In a room at 118
Sixth street. He rented the apartment
on Saturday night. Yesterday after
noon Japanese boy employed at the
place noticed a strong smell OF gas.
The odor was traced to Miller's room.
When the door was broken down
Miller was found dead. He had
plugged all the crevices In the doors
and windows to make sure Of death.
Clutched in his hand was medallion
picture Of Jean Melville, a vaudeville
actress with whom he had once done
turn" In New York There were no
letters to show in what way this wo-
man was connected with Miller's death.
What made him tired OF life at %
cannot be fathomed. 1t is thought that
he committed suicide because he was
out OF work and respondent Miss Van
DruH says she does not know why he
sought death. She knows very little
about him she says. The letters that
passed between them were purely busi-
ness letters. Here is a sample of one
of the business letters:
NY dearest Eddie. 4 lust read your dear
kind letter. and dearest. you must have
known how happy was TO hear from you my
Dearest. sorry to hear that you did not
get the position you expected
You are capable Of filing any position you
care to take Well, dearest, it seems a year
since I my little boy. You see. sweet
heart, you belong to me and you are so much
smaller than me that call you my little boy.
Dear. read nice long letter from papa to-
he can come and live with US.
Oh. Eddie, hope you will find good posi-
tfon So that will not have to wait very
long to have you by me. dearest you know
you are all my happiness In this world
Eddie. so lonesome without you and
you cannot realize how dearly I would love
to be with you. as you said would be- When
I with you life seems a dream When
you leave me am back among such common
people and don't belong anywhere but with
you. Oh Eddie. don't know what I would
do II you let any take you from me.
Mr.. Musta called at the house. He loves the
ground I walk on. fear that Lester
said that II you were here he would have
Eddie help him kill Musta-
Mamma was happy when told her about
you She says when 1 married she viii
take Of my babies I the happiese
girl in the world hope you are as happy.
Then follow five postscripts. one OF
which reads, Mrs Eva MiIler-see how
the name is going to 1ook7''
There are several letters from MISC
Van Druff to Arthur Currans about
Eddie" She threatens to leave this
cruel world II Eddie forsakes me-"
Miss Van Druff held a consultation
with her family before she would grant
an interview at her home at 31S Fell
street When seen she was In the best
of spirits and snilingly denied that she
knew Miller intimately. 1t Is thought
that she heard Of Jean Melville and
that jealousy hardened her.
Millers parents live at 2403 Eigh-
teenth street. His father IL Henry II.
Miller, a sign painter. The young fell
lows parents say that he left home q
year ago and that they had seen lfttlA
Of him since then.