Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-11
Woman Suicides Sister Now
Threatens to Kill Man.
DOCTOR SAYS BLACKMAIL
Forced to Give Up $1,000 to Avoid
Exposure.
CONFESSION MADE TO HUSBAND
Coroner Says Dead Woman Probably
Killed Herself, But Murder Is
Not Impossible.

NEW YORK. September lift the
law does not punish the man who drove
my sister to commit suicide I will take
the law into my own hands and l will
shoot him down. He deserves no other
punishment.
This declaration was made yesterday
by Mrs. Lena Geiger in the Office of
Coroner Acritelli. before whom she was
brought as witness to give testimony
in connection with the death of her sister.
bullet wound in the right temple at her
home No. 1O2 West 1O3d street, wednesday
| night
1t was not until early Yesterday that
the police heard of the case, and then
they arrested Albert Zeler. a machinist.
the womans husband. After a hearing
yesterday both Zeller and his sister-in-
law were sent to the house of detention.
Suicide or MurderP
Whether the case is one of suicide or
murder has not been fully determined.
although Coroner Acritelli Is inclined to
believe that the woman shot herself. At
the time her body was searched there
was found a contract signed by herself.
her husband and DR.. Jacob Hickman of
156 East S0th street. wherein the latter
agreed to pay to Mrs. Zeiler $1,000 in
installments Of $3.50 each.
DR.. Hickman told Coroner Acritelli that
he agreed to pay that sum and had paid
more than half of II because he feared the
woman might fn1ure him professionally.
He insisted that the charges she had
made against, him were absolutely false.
Zeller and his wife kept house for DR..
Hickman up to the time Of his marriage
last fall. 1t is charged that Mrs Zeller
was infatuated with the physician; that
she swOre to expose him when she
to escape such exposure DIR. Hickman
permitted himself to be blackmailed.
Such was the information furnished to
Coroner Acriteln.
Coroner's Physician O'Hanlon per-
body Of Mrs Zaller From the direction
In which the bullet was fired, he said
it would indicate suicide.
AT the same time. it might be a case
o. murder" said DR.. O'Hanlon. because
there were no powder marks on the
woman's right hand. which is very UNI
usual in suicide cases.
Confessed to Husband.
According to the sworn statements
made to Coroner Acriteli yesterday by
Miss Geiger and Albert Zeller Mrs. Eel
Ter confessed to her husband last fall
that she had been guilty Of misconduct
with DR.. Hickman. The latter denies
this accusation most emphatically. They
said Mrs. Zei!er went to the doctors
Office after his return from his honey
moon trip to demand that he provide
her with money to pay for treatment.
They said DR. Hickman threw Mrs. Eel
Ter out Of the house, calling her black
mailer. and that thereupon she went
home and confessed all to her husband
When Zeller demanded an explanation
from the physician the latter denied the
charges.
Both Zeller and Miss Geiger said the
woman had been talking of late about
committing suicide.
Il heard you say something about re-
venging yourself" said Coroner Acri-
tell; what did you mean by that?"
Il meant just what 1 said" replied
Miss Geiger. "Dr. Hickman was the
cause Of my sisters Illness. When he
met somebody else he kicked her out
like a dog. He had no more use for
her. He drove her to commit suicide.
Il will take the law in my own hands
unless DR. Hickman Is punished. 1 will
shoot him just as my sister shot her
self"
Coroner AcritelN summoned DIR. Heck
man to appear before him this afternoon,
when the hearing will be continued. DR..
Hickman when seen yesterday denied
the charges made by Zeller and his Sis
ter-in-laW.
Il guess I made mistake when ! sub
mitted to blackmail." said he. Il should
have notified the police and had them
arrested"