The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-03-30
STRANGE SU|CIDESOF WOMEN
Mrs. Pierre LoriIIard, it, Asphyx-
lated at Washington, D. c.
Mystery of the Death Of the Brilliant
Woman of Society Will Not Be
Solved For the Public.

Washington, d. G. 49, Mrs. Pierre
Lorillard, Jr., one of the most promin
emit figures in society in this city, New
York, London and Paris, killed her.
self in the bathroom of her home by
inhaling Illuminating gas She died
in the frock she had worn to one of
the smartest dinner parties of the sea-
son, in the home of Mrs. Richard
Townsend. At the dinner Mrs. Lor-
lizard seemed in high spirits, laugh
ing and carrying on an animated con-
versation, yet she rode away from thu
place with her husband to prepare
for death as soon as she was alone in
her room. The body was found face
down on the floor, with spray of
diamonds glistening in the hair. The
fingers were covered with rings, and
seed pearls lent lustre to the woman s
gown.
A brief note was left by Mrs. LORI
Hard, but it was withheld from the
public. 1t was said, however, the
note gave no explanation Of her act.
It is mystery.
The news of the suicide came as a
shock to society Mrs. Lorillard had
sent out invitations to luncheon.
These were received by telegraph.
The Townsend dinner was given in
honor of Lady Paget, and among the
other guests were Secretary of the
Navy Meyer and his wife, Senator
and Mrs. Aldrich, Senator and Mrs.
Lodge, Senator Elihul Root, Mr.. and
Mrs. Robert Bacon, Lady Clifford,
Colonel and Mrs. Colin Campbell,
Rear-Admiral Cowles, Captain Archi-
bald Butt, military aid to President
Taft, and Count Moltke, the Danish
Minister, and the Countess. Mrs.
Lorillard was one of the most popu-
lar women in Washington. She was
forty-nine years old and had spent
the winters here for many years.
Mrs. Culbertson Committed Suicide.
Vincennes, Ind.-Mrs. Jessie Lee
Overton CuIbertson, the bride OF
three months, was not murdered. She
killed herself after arranging a hys-
.erically dramatic situation to throw
The murder on another woman.
The police discovered letter which
proved beyond doubt that Mrs. Gull
bertson, the victim of acid, wrote
the threatening letters which she had
asserted were left in the windows of
her home. This letter was written
to Mr. Culbertson short time before
their marriage and was dated Bridge
port, III.
When the writing was compared
with that of the threatening letters
It matched to dot. Upon closer ex-
animation it was found that the water
mark in the paper upon which all
the letters were written was the same
and that the envelopes were of the
SAME make.
# A search of Mrs. Culbertson's room
revealed the cause of mysterious
light flash that had been seen by Mr..
and Mrs. Joshua Brazelton, parents
of the dead woman's husband.
The cause was small electric flash
light, and it had been hidden in the
room In the past week this light
had often been seen in the house and
had gone long way toward causing
Mr.. and Mrs Brazelton to believe
that efforts were being made to scare
the young woman to death. Mrs
Culbertson would often report to
them in the evening that she would
see the strange light and said she
knew those persons who were trying
to kill her we're responsible for it.