Republican farmer., 1909-04-02
MOTIVE FOR MRS.
 LORILLARD'S ACT
 NOT YET APPARENT
Coroner Says Suic de But Husband Says
 Heart Disease.
All Washington Shocked at Death of We'll Known Society Woman- Dead wGman Left Letter which is Not Made Public.


 Made Public.
 Washington. March 26.-Mrs. Caro-. line Hamilton Lorillard. wife of Pierre Lortllard, of New York, was found dead yesterday in the bathroom ot her Washington residence, 2o3o Hilyer Place. N. w. It was not until yester- day afternoon that the fact of Mrs Lorillard's death became known. Af- ter an autopsy by deputy Coroner Glazebrook and an investigation by Coroner Nevitt the latter gave a cer- tihcate of death by suicide.
 Mrs. Lorillard killed herself by i'm haling illuminating gas. One gas jet in the bathroom was turned on and there are other circumstances. which Coroner Nevitt declined to -oake known, tending to show that Mrs. LOT illard had taken her own life. The theory advanced by Dr. N. F. Cuth- bert. family physician of the Lorillards was that Mrs. Lorillard had commit ted suicide in a fit of temporary ab- erration of mind.
 The news of Mrs. LorilIard's suicide created a sensation in Washington so- ciety.
 Wednesday night MT. and Mrs. LOT illard were guests at a winner given by Mrs. Mary Scott Townsend in her handsome residence at Massachusettes avenue and Twenty-second street in honor of Lady Faget of England.
 Mrs. Lorillard was found in the bathroom at about 8:30 o'clock yester- day morning. She was lying face downward on a rug beside the bath tub. No report was made to Police Headquarters until about half-past 2 o'clock. when Coroner Nevitt- sent no- tice that Mrs. Lorillard had commit ted suicide.
 Washington, March 26-Deep mys- tery to-day surrounds the death of Mrs. Caroline Hamilton Lorillard, wife of Pierre Lorillard, Jr.. and a promin- ent society woman of this city and New York. The house is closed to re- porters and police alike so that the in- vestigation is slow proceeding to-day. Coroner Nevitt found a note in the woman's room evidently written just before she retired. The contents of this note he used as a basis for the suicide theory although he stoutly maintains that there Is nothing in the note that would indicate the motive for her act.
 Mr. LoriIlard declares that his wife died from asphyxiation due to a col lapse from heart failure after she had turned on the gas in the bathroom be- fore she could strike a match. The band. The butler noticed the odor of gas and notified his employer. The body was found in the bathroom off Mrs. Lorillard's room, face downward and the gas jet wide open.
 MT. Lorillard declared he believed his wife was still alive and he removed her body to her bed. The family phy- sician was summoned and then the held by that ofncial followed by an au- topsy and late in the afternoon he in- formed the police department that he had issued a certificate of death by suicide. What transpired during the hours intervening between the time Dr. Hewitt was called and the time he issued his certificate of suicide. no one will tell. The greatest secrecy is maintained by all who were in the house at the time.
 Society in the Nations capitol is an- xiously awaiting for further develop ments < Mrs. Lorillard had been at a dinner given in honor of the Lady Pa get of England at the palat;:l man. chsetts avenue at which Senator and Mrs. Root, Senator and Mrs. Lodge. Secretary of the Navy and Mrs. Won L. Meyer and a number of prominent physicians were present. The guests at the dinner say that she seemed in good spirits. Mrs. Lorillard left her husband, locked her room and then ey- idently wrote the mysterious note and turned on the gas The bed had not tially dressed. She had taken off her party gown and slipped on wrapper. The note left by her was sealed in an unaddressed envelope.
 The body will probably be buried in Irvington Cemetery. The husband of the dead woman Is president of the Automatic Weighing Machine Co.. and a director in the Pierre Lorillard O., American Tobacco Co.,, and Empire Trust Go. He is member of many prominent clubs.
 Coroner Nevitt to-day filed at the district attorneys ofhce,' his certificate in the case, assigning as the cause of Mrs. Lorillard's death, suicide by as- phyxiation."
 When questioned again to-day the Coroner said; There Is absolutely no doubt in my mind that it was case of suicide" He explained that his reason for not reporting the death to the police earlier in the day was that he wished first to ascertain positively the cause. This was established by the autopsy, taking also into consid- eration the contents of the letter left by Mrs. Lorillard.
 Bury this with me unopened.'' This the outside of an envelope, secreted In the clothing on the dead body of Mrs. Pierre Lori,lard. wife of Pierre Loril- lard, tobacco magnate of Washington and New York. which was found in the bathroom Of her fashionable home in Hillyer Place yesterday.
 Inside the envelope was found two notes-one in her handwriting signed "C F. L." the second in the handwrit- ing of another. There were al-o a few trirkets This afternoon the body of Mrs. Lorillard will he placed in a dramatically sealed casket. The little envelope will be re-sealed and D aced therein and the last wish of the suicide will be granted
 Save to the husband and the coroner. the contents of the notes are unknown.