The morning journal-courier., 1908-08-24
SOCIETY GIRL
 KILLS HERSELF Winifred Parsons, Daughter of Railway President, Suicides Following Death of
 Fiance. FOUND DEAD IN PARIS Friends Say Bullet Wound Was Ac- cidental, But Police Declare
 the Tragedy Clearly
 Suicide.
FOUND DEAD IN PARIS

Paris, Aug, 23.-Miss Wlnifred Par sons, the daughter of the late Charles Parsons, president of the Rome. Wa tertown and Ogdensburg railroad, New York. who died in 1901. was found dead with bullet wound in her head, toe day, In her apartment in the Avenue Lena, The police say that the case Is one of suicide while friends of the dead girl declare that the shooting was an accident. Owing to the desire of friends and relatives to give the tragedy as little publicity as possible, difficulty was experienced in the early investl- gatlons in securing details of the af- fair, which at first appeared in mys- tery.
 It was learned, however, that the girl had been suffering from melancholia since the death of her flance. young Frenchman, Emile Maas, who died four months ago from consumption. Miss Parsons was found dead in bed at noon today by a maid who entered the room with her breakfast The girl was lying on her right side and her right | hand half clutched a revolver. a bullet from which had penetrated the brain
 The maid summoned help and the police were notified A doctor who ar- rived soon on the scene stated that the girl probably had been dead for several hours. The police, who declined to give out detailed information, said that lt was a case of suicide.
 | Miss Parsons had occupied an apart ment on the fifth floor in an apartment | house at No. 72 lena avenue, in q fashionable district surrounding the place Etoile, for several months, at tended by maid and cook Several weeks ago the young woman's aunt Mrs Harriet Blodgett of New York arrived here and took up lodgings with her niece.
 About year ago Miss Parsons whc was very vivacous ana possessed of q | wide circle of friends in America and France, met and fell In love with 1 Emile Maas. who was possessed Of q large fortune IL was not long before they were engaged to be married, but Maas, who was suffering from tuber. culosis. died suddenly in Paris. He was prominent clubman. much interested in automobiles and was member oi the French Automobile, Aero ant Yacht clubs. He lived With his broth. CT, Eugene Maas, at No. 95 Rue De mours.
 According to one account, Miss Par sons was alone in her apartment witt her maid at the time of the tragedy According to another account, Mrs Blodgett was asleep In an adjoinlnl bedroom. Eugene Maas. In discussing the case tonight said: we are unable to account for this dreadful accident Seven months ago Miss Parsons bought a revolver. which she usual! kept beside her bed We believe tha she accidentally shot herself Although deeply grleved and at times melanchol! on account of the death of Emile. sh recently appeared to be in better splr Its. She had even arranged to go ou to'a dinner party tonight and had In vted several of her American friend to dinner at her home tomorrow"
 Since the death of Maas the girl Ina been inconsolable. She constantly wis ited the cemetery, and until very re gently had not responded to the effort of her friends to overcome her de spondency.