New-York tribune., 1909-03-26
GAS FUMES KILL MRS.
PIERRE LORILLARD, JR.
CORONER GIVES PERDICT
OF SUICIDE.
Family attributes Death to Heart
FaiIure-Had attended Social
affair Prerious EUeRiHg.

tr-. fOrty-nine years old. vile OF the tOOaSNN
man, was found dead from gas asphyxiation az
her home near the fashionable Dupont Circle
in this city. to-day. Her tragic death has
shocked the first social circles Of the capital as
nothing else has in years Tonight the mem
bers Of the we'll known and wealthy Lorillaro'
family are gathered here TO mourn over the uh-
expected blow. In spite Of the coroners certlu-
cate Of death by suicide. members OF the family
declare that Mrs Lorillard died from heart fall
ure She is said to have expressed apprehen-
sion Of years Of suffering from this trouble
The death was made more dramatic ey oc-
curing only a few hours after Mr. and Mrs
Ilorillard had been the guests OF Mrs. Richard
H Townsend, in Massachusetts avenue, at 3
dinner given in honor Of Lady Paget Ad-
herents Of the suicide theory believe that as soon
as Mrs. Lorillard arrived at her home, at No.
2O3O Hilyer Place. Just after midnight this
morning. she began to prepare for her death
About $50 o'clock this morning the butler in
the Lorilard home detected the odor Of gas
With little difficulty the origin of the fumes was
traced to Mrs. LoriIlard's apartments Opening
the door Of the bathroom Of her suite. the butler
was Mortified to behold the body Of the mistress
of the house stretched HfeIess, face downward,
on the floor.
The alarm given by the butler brought Mr..
IoriIIard from his apartments across the hail.
Together they carried the limp body TO Mrs
LorflIards bedroom. The servant was DIS
patched for physicians while Mr.. LoriIard at
tempted to revive his wife by means Of arr-
fetal respiration DR.. NJ F. Cuthbert the fam
iIv physician. was summoned and arrived about
the same time that Dr. H. B. Deale reached the
house Both resorted to every method within
their power to restore life. but after an hours
effort gave up in despair
GAS JETS TURNED on.
Immediately afterward Dr. J. Ramsay hewitt.
the coroner was informed He visited the
LorilIard home. and after investigation or
dered Deputy Coroner Glazebrook TO perform an
AUTOPSY upon the completion OF which Dr.
hewitt issued certificate Of death through sui
eide by gas poisoning He said later that gas
was escaping from one jet or more in the bath
room when the body was discovered, and the
condition Of the lungs indicated death by gas
/ poisoning.
Extreme reticence is being maintained by the
I-orillard family anG all others who possess in
! formation concerning the sudden death Only a
few of the most intimate friends have been ad-
nitted to the home since the news spread oc
Mrs. Lorillard's death.
Inquiry ct the house met with the declaration
that Mrs LoriIlard had not committed suicide
. she died Of heart failure the servants said
When Coroner Nevitt informed the police OF
Mrs. IorilIard's death an officer was sent to the
house to investigate. but admission was denied.
[ the policeman being referred to the coroner for
such information as the Police Department.
might desire.
! Mrs LoriIIard, it is said, left note in her
/ bedroom which the coroner has seen. but which
Mr.. LoriIlard has declined to have made public.
While addressed to no one. it is said. it is per-
sonaI in it's nature. It is understood that il con-
tains no declaration Of an intention on the part
of Mrs Lorilard to take her life.
Mrs LoriIlard was subject TO frequent attacks
Of dependency. It is said Tonight Mr.. Loril-
lard said that in his opinion his wife had not
committed suicide but that her death was the
result Of an accident. He is quoted denying
that his wife left note
The last person to see Mrs LOrillard alive
was Mr. Lorillard. He bade her good night as
they serarated to go to their apartments. after
returning home about midnight from the Town.
send house Mrs Iorillard was seemingly IN
the best Of spirits. She had joined freely in ths
festivities of the evening at the Townsend
home. where had gathered the Brazilian AM
bassador and Nine Nabuco. the Danish Minister
and Countess AIoltke. the Secretary OF the Navy
and Mrs. Meyer. Senator and Mrs Lodge. Sena-
tor and Mrs AIdrich. Senator Root. Mr.. and
Mrs. Robert Bacon. Mr.. and Mrs ". c. Endi-
cott OF Boston: Lady Clifford. Of England; Colo
mel and Mrs. Colin Campbell, Colonel and Mrs
McCawIey. Mr.. and Mrs Clarence Moore. the
I PaulCeLOLes
Rear Admiral Cowles and Captain Archibald
Butt. military aid of the President
HAD NOT RETIRED.
Mrs IorfIlard's bed had apparently not been
occupied Mrs LoriIlard had disrobed after ar
rivipg home and when found her body was
clad in a dressing gown. The dog collar OF dia-
monds she wore at the dinner had Nbeen re-
moved before she went to the bathroom. bur
the circle of diamonds that adorned her hair
had not been displaced
/ The Lorillards have lived at Hillyer Place.
which Is only a stones throw from Dupont Cir
Gle and in the heart of the fashionable COM
runftv between Dupont and Sheridan circles.
since January. Immediately preceding that time
Mrs LoriIIard was in Europe. and while in
( France consulted an eminent physician in re-
/ gard 10 her ailment. The family has been
I prouinent each summer for several years past
( al Tuxedo Park and they have spent their win
tars in Washington. About year ago they
/ leased a house in Connecticut avenue for the
season. and the winter before entertained in
house in Massachusetts avenue,
Mrs IoriIIard was married to Mr.. LOrillard
in 1881. She leaves two sons. one of whom IS
now travelling in the orient The other is in
/ college in New York He is expected TO arrive
in washington tonight
Since the LoriIlards began spending the win
ter social season in Washington they have en-
tertained and been entertained largely Invita-
tions were out for a luncheon to-day at the
IoriIlard home, hut were recalled Immediately.
Sunday evening Mr. and Mrs. LOrillard enter
tanned at one of their usual Sunday night din
nars They have been leaders in the social life
of the capital numbering among their par
+ic,,lar friends in the diplomatic set the Italian
Ambassador and Baroness Mayor des Planches