New-York tribune., 1907-09-21
HER SUICIDE AMYSTERY
DIES IN j. J. WHITE HOME.
Coroner Fails to Tisit Mrs. Margaret
Cwter's Il Apartments.

the Bide-a-Wee Home who was found dead in
the home OF John ]. White. jr, No. 103 East
ofth street early yesterday morning. with a bull
let hole in her right temple. killed herself ac-
cordins to Coroner Dooley, to whom the task of
investigating her death was given.
There many peculiar circumstances TO the
case which has not yet been cleared up by the
police, who have been working under many dis
advantages. owing to the secrecy thrown around
the suicide by those familiar, with the tragedy.
According the story told by those IN the
house. there not witnesses TO the suicide
and the only tangible account of the affair is
that given by Frank w Clelland the nurse who
was attending Mr.. White at the time
It has not been discovered to whom the re-
volver with which the deed was committed be
longs. which. according to the police. is the
suspicious feature Of the case How Mrs carter
could take the revolver into the house without
its presence being detected by the male nurse
who admitted her, is not yet explained
The suicide. according TO Clelland, occurred
about o'clock yesterday morning. but II was
after o'clock when the coroners' office was IN
formed. and it not until $50 o'clock hVe
and a half hours later. that the police were tolo
that such suicide had taken place The coro-
ners office was told by employees of the stephen
Merritt Burial and Cremation Company that
thew had called for a body at the 5tE street
address. and that death had been caused by
NA N-'NN
bullet wound.
These delays are attributed by those In the
house at the time to the excitement following
the discovery that Mrs Carter had taken her
life.
THE NURSES STORY.
"I was called in TO attend MI White late
Thursday afternoon said Clelland "and fouhu
him in a bad way. I followed the physicians
directions and soon had him resting quletiy'
About o'clock the caretaker OF the house
came upstairs and told me that there was
" oman who desired to see Mr., White
She was extremely nervous, and insisted on
seeing him. finally deciding TO wait until ne
shouId awake Finally she became so eA-
cited X became necessary for me TO summon Dr.
George V Foster. Of No. 100 East llSth street.
the White family physician.
y was awakened by Mr. White at 3:45 o'clock
and as got up TO go TO him Mrs. Carter asked
me the time. I told her and went into the SICK
room.
~ had scarcelv reached his bedside when I
heard the shot and ran back into the other room.
Mrs Carter was lying on the couch. a revolver
erasped in her right hand and gaping wound
in her right temple. Immediately telephoued
DR. Foster and on his arrival short time later
he said that death had been instantaneous. Iheh
the undertaken was notified. and the oversight Of
notifying the officials I can only explain by say
ing that By this time were all very exciied
and hardly knew what We're doing.
SAW MR.. WHITE ASLEEP OR FEIGNING."
When Coroner Dooiey arrived. ne saId. he
Mr.. White lying in bed asleep. or else feignins
sleep" He did not talk to him. and the only
one he examined was Clel!and
on the body was found envelope addressed
70 Mr.. White. containing a receipt dated sep
tanber 49, which read;
M-c hundred
dollars 5000 in full payment Signed.
IRA SCHAEFFER."
There also were found a one hundred dollar
bill and a pair Of cuff links. which Coroner
Dooley said We're the property Of Mr.. White
There is a great deal OF mystery surrounding
Mrs Carter's life Some Of this might have
been cleared up yesterday had Coroner Dooley
visited her apartments, at No. II West 18th
street where she occupied three room studio.
the expenses of which said to have been
paid by Mr. and Mrs White. With several re-
norters detectives from the West Both street
police station visited the Goth street house and
there found several letters. However as tho
case was still in the corOner's hands, the police
refused to touch any Of the dead woman's
effects.
Dr Foster said he had known Mrs. Carter
about eight years. the same length OF time he has
known the White family. He has treated her
melancholy at times. and had told him more
than once that she wanted TO die. Her marriage
had been unhappy. She having separated from
her husband some years ago. Since then he
died
Mrs Carter has always been friend of the
White family, and Mrs White fully
versant with whatever aid Mrs. Carter may have
received from her husband said DR.. Foster az
always considered her good. pure woman. with
ol hon IA
about : O'Clock on Thursday night that Mr..
White was having another one of his spells, and
that she had already telegraphed for Mrs. White
Bar Harbor TO hurry home.
Mrs White says she received a telegram
calling her home on Thursday night. and came
Immediately She was met at the Grand Central
Station by q messenger, who told her the bare
facts in the case and asked that she remain
away from the house until the evidences of the
suicide had been removed. This she did. arriv-
ing home about 10 o'clock.
After visiting her husband Mrs. White told
Detective Crotty of the East 51st street sta
ton. that she first met Mrs. Carter while doing
missionary work and had known her for long
time.
Because of her charitable disposition and
her love for animals we became great friends
said Mrs. White land both Mr.. White and
/ have helped her financially from time TO time
Possibly / have done more for her than my
husband. She has often waited upon Mr.. White
while he was sick and l was away have
hoticed for time past that she appeared
slightly demented and unbalanced, but why she |
did this terrible thing 1 cannot explain
Eliza Waters, Mrs Carters negro maid said |
she knew that Mrs Carter had contemplated !
suicide for time. Mr.. Horton. of the So |
ciety of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals |!
said Mrs. Garter joined the society in 1905 and |