The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-03-30
SUICIDE SHOCKS WASHINGTON
Wife of Tobacco Magnate Found
Death in Gas Filled Bath Room
Attended Fashionable
Dinner Night Be-
fore.

Washington, March 2o.-N cary VI
the gay whirl Of society and face to
face. as she believed, with years OF
physical suffering, Mrs. Pierre Loril-
lard. Jr., aged 49, wife Of the tooae-
co magnate, committed suicide by as
phvxiations at her home, near the
Fashionable Dupont Circle, in this city
today. Her tragic death has shock
ed the first social circles Of the capi-
tai as has nothing else in years.
In Spite of the coroner's certificate
Of death by suicide, members OF the
family declared that Mrs. Lorlllard
died of heart failure. The death was
made more dramatic by the fact OF
its occurrence only few hours after
Mr.. and Mrs. Lorillard had been the
guests of Mrs. Richard Townsend at
a dinner given in honor of Lady Pag-
ct. In fact. it is believed that as sooa
as Mrs. Lorillard arrived at her home,
shortly after midnight this morning,
she began to prepare for her death.
About $50 o'clock this morning .,'le
butler in the Lor;llard residence oe.
tected an odor of gas. The origin OF
the fumes was traced to Mrs. Lori
lard's apartments. Opening the door
to the bath room, just off her suite,
the butler was Mortified to behold the
BODY Of the mistress Of the house
stretched hfeless. Her face was
turned to the mat on the floor.
Efforts to Resuscitate Futile.
The alarm brought Mr.. Lorillard
from his apartments across the hall.
He and the butler carried the body
to Mrs. Lorillard's room. Mr.. Lorlt77
Lard attempted to revive his wife by
means Of artificial respiration. The
two doctors summoned resorted to ev-
erv scientific method to restore lie,
but after an hours efforts gave UP
in despair.
Shortly afterward DR.. J. Ramsey
hewitt. the coroner, visited the Lori
lard home and ordered Deputy Cor
oner Glazebrook to perform an au-
topsv. upon the completion OF which
DIR. Nevitt issued a certificate OIL
death by suicide by gas poisoning. lie
said later that gas was escaping IRON
one or more jets in the bath room
when the body was discovered, and
that the condition Of the lungs lndl-
Gated death by gas poisoning.
Extreme reticence is being MAIN
tained by the Lorillard family and all
others vino possess i'm formation con-
cerning the sudden death. Only a few
Of the most intimate friends have
been admitted to the home since the
news was spread of Mrs. Lorlllard S
death.
INQUIRY at the residence met with
the declaration that Mrs. Lorillard
had not committed suicide. "She
died of heart failure" retorted the
servant.
Dead Woman Left Note.
Mrs. Lorillard left note, which
the coroner's jury has see l, but which
Mr.. Lorillard has declined to have
made public.
Mrs. Lorillard was subject to fire.
ouent attacks of despondency, 1t l.
said.
The last person to see Mrs. Lorll-
lard alive was Mr.. Lorillard. He
bade her goodnight as they separated
to 90 to their apartments, after 1e-
turning home about midnight from
the Townsend residence. Mrs. Lorl!'
lard was seemingly in the best Of sp:i-
its. She had joined freely in the so
cial festivities Of the evening at tie
Townsend home, where had gathered
the Brazilian ambassador and Mms
Nabuco: tho Danish minister and
Countess Moltke: the secretary OF the
navy and Mrs. Meyer; Senator and
Mrs. Lodge: Senator and Mrs. AID
rich: Senator Root, Mr.. and Mrs.
Robert Bacon. Mr.. and Mrs. W. {.
Endicott, of Boston; Lady Cilttord'
of ENGLAND: Col. and Mrs. Colin
Campbell, Col. and Mrs. McCawley'
Mr.. and Ms. Clarence Moore. the
Hon. Maude Pauncefote, Commodore
Rodgers. Rear Admiral CowleS ami
Can't, Archibald Butt. military aide
of the president.
Had Disrobed for Night.
Mrs. Lorillard had dlsrobed. after
arriving home. and when found her
BODY was clothed in dressing gown
The doc collar of diamonds she wore
at tie dinner had been removed oe-
fora slo wont TO the bath room. but