The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-04-18
CIergymans Tragic Death Is
Probed by Police for
Murder Clue. 80
HIS RICH CONGREGATION
SCORNS JURY'S VERDICT
Missing Girl, Woodbury. Friends
Fear, Has Ended Her
Troubles in Death.
[speeIal to the Evenlng star.l

tSQeclal TO l1e hNeulnE StdTsi
WOODBURY.. April 1S.--aIystcry SUR
rounds the disappearance of Miss Helen
Moore, the young woman who de-
nOunced the late Rev. George w. Tom
son. who xyas found dead with n bullet
through his brain at the Newton Hotel
here yesterday.
Miss Moore attempted to prevent the
marriage of the brilliant young pastor
to Mrs Fanny Kenworthy, the wealthy
widow of this city, whose engagement
to the dominic was only announced ona
week ago.
When she left her place of employ
ment yesterday morning, after being
informed of the tragic death of the
minister, she broke down completely
and said she was going to Woodbury..
She has not returned here. 1t Is said
she may be in Lansdowne, Pa.
The establishment where Miss Moore
was employed In philadelphia is but
one block from the Delaware River and
Miss Moore's frieRds fear SHE inny have
drowned herself. III nothing IL heard
of her by niEhtfaII the police author
tiles will be asked to drag the river FOR
her body.
At the Newton Hotel where she re-
sided it was said today that nothing
has been heard of her. She has not
called for her mail nor communicated
with the proprietor in any way.
believe Girl Dead.
81 do not believe that Helen Moore
will ever be seen alive again." said Os-
car Moore, a member of the dead
clergyman church, today.
81 feel sure that she has ended her
life. The announcement of Mr.. Tom
sons engagement was a severe blow
to her
"She was always sensitive girl, I
believe that other members of her fam
lily have had mental trouble. One of
her sisters, Fannie Moore, is in an in
sane asylum, having been put there for
suicidal mania"
Violent quarrels between Miss Helen
Moore and the late Rev. George W.
TOmsOn, pastor of the First Presby-
terian Church here, are now declared to
have occurred for three days prior to
the dominie's tragic suicide. These
quarreIs are said to have been caused
by the announcement of the PASTORS
engagement to Mrs. Fanny IxenwOrthy.
Miss Moore was in PhiIaGeIphia, il in
said. when Tomson met his death.
! While the suicide theory is generally
! credited, the police have discovered
enough circumstantial evidence to war
rant belief in the possibility of murder.
/ 1t is now conceded that any person
| familiar with the Hotel Newton, where
the minister's dead body was found in
| his bedroom, combined with the clock
! like regularity of the customs of en-
ployees and guests. could have easily
obtained entrance to the pastors room
and left it without being observed.
| A fact that lends credence to n pos
sible theory of murder is that the min
ister's Easter sermon was laid out on
the table before him. Mills friends
argue that no later than Thursday he
had certainly intended delivering his
| Eastertide pastoral on 81 Am the
Resurrection and the Life"
| There are many clements of mystery
in the minister's death The verdict
OF the coroner's jury indicates suicide.
but the theory that the minister took
his life is supported only by the fact
that he was in trouble with some
women of his congregation.
No Premeditated Plan.
! Nothing indicates a premeditatsd
plan to kill himself. The door of his
] foOlli WdS uillOCkeu. Ills body was
found practically hidden behind a bed.
and the revolver was some distance
from the body. On q table in the room
was the manuscript of his Easter SER
mon.
| The absence of any evidence of pre-
meditation and the fact that the
troubles of the preacher might incite in
others desire for revenge as well as
to lead him to suicide makes the kill
ing of DR.. TOmsOn tangled mystery,
and the authorities here have deter
mined upon a thorough Investigation.
Only few days ago a report WAS
circulated among members of the con
gregation that a brother of a wealthy
widow, who had been the object OF att
ltentions since the death of his first
wife. had demanded that DR.. Tomson
at once publicly announce his engage
ment to this woman. Other womer, IN
turn, including another widow. claimed