The sun., 1908-12-05
DEAD WOMAN'S HONE LOOTED
JEFELS WORTH $4,000 AND A
FARE PAINTING MISSING.


Unattended In Home Where She HaG
Lived Aione-stFange Beauests Founc
PHILADELPHIA. Dec. 4.-Rare jewelry
valued at $4,000. valuable furs, COPY
Of an old masterpiece valued at S1s,O00
Paris gowns. hats and opera cloaks worth
thousands of dollars are included In the
inventory OF property reported missing
from the residence OF the late Mrs. Georgs
Wood, who was found dead October
10 in her house at 1880 North Broad street
Surrounding the death of Mrs. Wood
and the disappearance Of her vahiables
there s much mystery.
The facts that the dead woman was a
unique and conspicuous figure in society,
that she numbered among her friends
some Of Philsdelphia's exclusive set and
that among the beneficisries Of her will
are titled foreigners and distinguished
Americans add interest to the case.
Mrs Wood, the widow Of George Wood,
former American manager Of the Royal
Insurance Company and a great bon
vivant, was found dead In her home on
the afternoon Of October IS.
She had been absolutely alone in the
house. She had been dead possibly
twelve hours when the body was dis
covered by an employee Of the American
District Telegraph Company.
Several hours later DIR. Thomas J..
Morton. Coroner's physician. after an ex-
animation Of the body, reported death
due to yalvular heart disease. There Is
no record Of post-mortem examination
being held. The Coroner's deputy and
another attache, Frank Kite. took pos
session OF the premises. Valuable jewels
we're found Uttered about in profusion.
The residence, which was a storehouse
Of rare treasures, old paintings, valuable
silver and bronzes. rugs of Oriental weave
and thousands Of dollars worth of per-
sonal property, was under the surveil-
lance OF strangers. There was no relative
TO come in and lay her decently to rest.
No disinterested friend was there to guard
her belongings, even faithful servant
could not be found to put things in order
and pay parting respects to an old mis-
tress.
Mrs. Wood lived alone and she died
alone. She was eccentric. Though she
had hosts Of friends and acquaintance
she spent her days and nights in the big
gloomy house unattended.
On October 10 this house. so Mrs. Woods
friends say, was the scene of confusion.
Strangers trampled through the rooms
below, valuables were piled up and taken
away. Police sergeants. City Hall de-
tectives, Coroner's officials were ali
present. but In spite OF this Mrs Woods
friends say robbery was committed.
The mystery OF the missing valuables
may never be cleared away unless action
is taken by the city. which fallA, heir TO
part Of the estate. the Catholic Church or
the various charities which were men,
TONED as benefciaries In the womRn's
will
There is no person nearly enough allied
10 the dead woman to fight for her belong
ings Her will was such that thoss who
benefited by it did 80 to such a slight ex-
tent that the small sums left to them are
probably intact,
Following the woman's death there
were rumors Of missing will. The one
which was produced was executed July 20.
1904. Since that. her friends say, she
had intimated that she had other provi-
sions in mind for the distribution Of her
wealth. In moods of petulance she had
quarrelled with various friends and be-
come interested in other persons.
Foreign adventuresses who always bad
e hold upon her ina eination, and appar-
emily on her pursestrings, had appeared
at her home. She had been swayed by
men OF indescribable nationality, many
Of them speaking with broad accent.
wearing strange clothes and smacking
of the Riviera and European resorts.
where Mrs Wood spent much Of her time.
Therefore it was surprise to Philadel-
phians when the old will was produced.
But the real surprise came when it was
known that the tr,ls tees, the Girard Trust
Company. and two women members of
old families. Miss Sophie Borie and Miss
Catherine Craig Biddle. had been unable
10 find many OF the valuables enumerated
in the will and personal property which
friends declare Mrs. Wood was in possess
sion Of few days before her death.
Trustees have confirmed the report
regarding the disappearance Of jewelry
and works Of art.
Sensation after sensation has been
encountered by the executors. The man
who discovered Mrs. Wood dead said that
when he found her she had on two BRACE
let's, one circle OF diamonds. which is ac-
counted for.
The other, valued at at least s1o.ooo.
gold chain set alternately with rubies |
and diamonds cannot be found.
A copy Of Leonardo di Vincis famous |
Mona Lisa tiny picture not more
than ten inches long. ID missing. This
painting, done by one OF the masters
pupils. was the rarest and best In the
wealthy widows collection. She valued
It highly and repeatedly said that abe
would not accept any price for II. Once
however, she placed a value OF $4,000
upon it.
Thus far all efforts OF the dead woman's |
friends and the executors Of the estate
10 trace the missing valuables or asoer-
tain who might have obtained them after I
her death have proved unavailing
The police declare that while they have
no official knowledge as to the character
" the jewelry they feel that articles Of
mis- kind could be disposed Of In such
away as to make its discovery almost