New-York tribune., 1906-12-12
WOMAN'S FATAL PLUNGE
JUMPS THROUGH UINDOW
TsCO Other Similar Suicides at Pr
cate SanatOrium U7ithin Year.

Mrs. Cora Thomas. forty-two years Old
jumped out of a front window on the fourth
floor of DR. Josephine Sherman's private sana-
torium, at No 126 East Goth street. at o'clock
yesterday afternoon, and was dashed to death on
the sidewalk. This is the third suicide at the
sanatorium within a year. man having jumped
from the same window nearly year ago, ana
a young woman from window.
Mrs. Thomas had been suffering from melan-
cholia and had been in the sanatorium a week
She continually watched by a nurse. Mrs.
Louise Thompson, but DR.. Sherman said that
she was not considered a dangerous patient.
The nurse was with Mrs. Thomas yesterday
afternoon when the latter suddenly rose from
her chair and moved toward the closed window.
saying she would like to see the street. Her
manner alarmed the nurse. and she put her
hand on the patients shoulder TO detain her
Mrs. Thomas Immediately grappled with the
nurse, and after desperate struggle on the
floor overpowered her. and then hurled herself
backward. crashing through the glass and fall
ing to the street. Her skull was fractured and
a number of bones broken. She died instantly.
Sgmund F1eisch. of No. 3JJ East SD street.
was passing at the time and saw the body Of
the woman falling through the air. He put
out his arm 10 catch her. but failed TO break
her fall.
Mrs Thomas was divorced from her husband,
f. r. Thomas. a retired drygoOds merchant. OF
Hoboken six months ago. and it is thought that
her melanChoa was due TO the circumstances
attending this separation She was brought to
the sanatorium by her brother. Frederick A
Steele. on the advice of DR.. Daniel Lewis. of No.
Gle Madison avenue. and was twice visited
there by her Milton Watkins. twenty-one
years old. Shortly after her death her son called
with a chane of clothn for her.
Coroner Hamburger was hastily summoned
when it was found beyond doubt that Mrs.
Thomas dead and heated discussion en-
sued between him and DR.. Sherman When he
came out of the house he told the reporters that
DR. Sherman had refused TO give him any IN
formation about the woman further than that
her name was Mrs. Thomas and that she had
told him there we're no records kept at the sana-
torium of the history or antecedents of the pa
tents
Coroner Harburer said he would call the
District Attorneys attention to such an i'm
portant omission In an institution Of the kind
and would ask for an investigation. he then
gave the doctor his telephone number. and SAID
that if she did not call him up and supply 1uil
particulars about the woman by o'clock ne
would call in the police.
Dr. Thomas was able to get details bout the
patient from Frederick Steele Mrs. Thomas
brother. whom she called up by telephone. She
then called up the coroner and gave what she
had learned 10 him.
About $50 O'Clock Coroner Harourger visited
the sanatorium again and another lively scene
ensued. in which he accused DR.. Sherman of
having had three suicides within year at her
institution. and said that she should have had
iron bars put up at the windows If she harbored
such patients He left the house with the part
ing shot that he not vet through with her
establishment.
Mrs. Thomas. DR.. Sherman said, had been
treated by her for meIanchOlia twelve years ago
and had been cured. She was married to E. r.
Thomas about six years ago.
on May -. last year. Matilda Weineke either
Jumped or fell from the fourth story window Of
the sanatorium. She died the next day Mount
Sinai Hospital The police of the East 9th
street station made every effort to find out
something about the case, but all in vain. An
attendant al the hospital however, said that
they believed the woman had mental trouble
and dived out of the window when the nurse
was looking