New-York tribune., 1909-11-11
DEAD, WOMAN GONE
HILLS CASE MYSTERY.
Left Wife ia One Hotel, Body
Found IN 4nother.

Edwin Hills, the Connecticut banker and
a former member OF the Legislature, who
had been missing from the Hotel Imperial.
was found dead early yesterday afternoon
I'm the Gilsey House, where he had regis
tered as Charles French and wife. New
Haven, Conn" Although Coroner Shrady
gave heart failure as the cause OF death. the
police are searching for a tall blond wom-
an who went 90 the Gilsey House with
him and was registered as Mrs. French.
Mr. and Mrs Hills arrived here from
Plainvllle. Conn, where he was vice-presi-
dent Of the Plelnvilie National Bank and
the head OF a large hardware concern. on
Tuesday afternoon al O'Clock. They went
TO the Imperial, where Mr.. Hills always
stayed when In New York. Leaving his
wife at the hotel, the banker went out,
saying that he had a business engagement,
but would be back for dinner. That was
the last heard Of him until his body was
discovered yesterday afternoon.
When her husband did not return Mrs.
Hills Informed several OF his friends and
detectives were put at work. As Mr. Hills
had been an an health for some time and
a subject TO attacks OF heart disease.
search Of the hospitals and morgues was
made.
Shortly after u o'clock on Tuesday night
Mr.. Hills, accompanied by handsome
woman, went 20 the Gilsey House, regis
tered and both were assigned 10 a room.
Nothing was heard from the couple until
about O'Clock yesterday morning, when
the woman appeared at the hotel Office.
left the key or the room and departed.
During the morning a maid went 10 the
room, but seeing some one in bed de-
parted
About o'clock yesterday afternoon
the manager OF the hotel went 20 the
room and found Mr.. Hills dead. The po-
lice and the Coroner's Office were in
formed ana Coroner shrady and Detectives
Dixon and Lynch went 20 the hotel. AT
first IL was rumored that there had been
foul play. but there were no marks OF
violence on the body and Mr.. Hills's money
and valuables were undisturbed
John r. Welch. a brother-in-law OF Mr.
Hills. who had come to New York on hear
ing Of his disappearance. went TO the GIL
sey House and identified the body. He
was accompanied by A. NJ A;well a broker
at No. l. Broad street. At the time OF his
disappearance Mr.. Hills, Who was sixty
eight years old. had on his person a dia-
mond ring valued al 500 n pearl scarf
pir valued at &oo. SEQ in cash and a $50
Swiss watch. These were found on a
dresser in the room.
According 90 Coroner Shrady, Mr. Hills
had been dead for several hours when the
body was discovered. but the telephone
operator I'm the hotel said that at l:lO
o'clock yesterday afternoon there were
two telephone calls from his room, one for
Police Headquarters and the other for
Plaza S.l52, which is the Office of Dr. l.
Duncan Bulkley, Of No. 531 Madison ave
nue.. The Headquarters call could not be
traced.
After he had broken the news of .he
death of her husband 20 Mrs Hills Mr..
Welch said: This is a very sad AFFAIR
but the news Of Mr.. HISS death did not
come as a surprise TO me. For some time
he had been in III health ana under the
care OF specialists i'm Hartford and Boston
AT times he had fainting spells and acted
irrationally. losing ali idea OF place or direc-
uoh. lie was man OF methodical and ex-
emplary habits The only reason I can
give for HIS going 20 the Gilsey House with
woman is that he became III and IRA
uonal' and this woman. seeing his ring
ana pin. went 10 the hotel with him 10 OBJ
tam possession Of them"