The Washington herald., 1909-03-26

Washington society and the people in
general were shocked yesterday afternoon
blythe announcement that Mrs. Caroline
Hamilton Lorillard. wife Of Pierre Lor-
iIiard. jr. had been found dead in the
bathroom of her home at 2osO Hillyer place
northwest
Mrs. Lorillard, who was a prominent
society woman Of washington and New
York City. died Of asphyxiation from gas
The body was found about $50 o'clock
yesterday morning and Coroner hewitt
notlhed. as is customary in such cases.
There is nothing strange in this fact.
The people Of washington. however,
did not learn Of Mrs Lorillard's death un-
I'll 2.l9 O'Clock in the afternoon. and from
$50 O'Clock in the morning until six hours
later the police OF Washington had no
knowledge Of the woman's death
All sorts of RumOrs.
Owing TO the prominence Of the woman
and the family OF her husband. Washing
ton was agog last night with all sorts OF
rumOrs IS 10 the cause and manner OF
Mrs. LorillarGs death mystery was
early attached to the case. partly due 10
the fact that the coroner did not announce
the death until hours after he learned CT
Fl. and because Of the additional and i'm
portant fact that Coroner hewitt refused
10 make public a note left By the woman.
This note. it's c Intended by some per-
sons. is most impo 'tant. in that It has to
do with the cause OF the womans deter
mination TO end her life
On Wednesday night Mrs Lorillard at
tended a prominent social function, ac-
companied by her husband. When the
body was found it was partly dressed
Mr. LOrillard. II is said. carried the body
10 a bed, thinking, the coroner says, that
life was not extinct. Coroner hewitt as
Berts that for the reason that he believed
his wife was still alive Mr.. Lorinard is
RbsOlved from violation OF the law cover
ing the removal Of bodies os persons
found dead.
Correspondents Of the New York papers
and OF papers in other cities were thrown
into a state Of excitement by the news of
the death of the woman, and every rumor
and uncertain detail were followed 20
the end
And throughout all the excitement and
demands made upon him. Coroner hewitt
seemed unwilling to explain all OF the
scenes with which he had undoubtedly
been made acquainted during his long
stay with the body in the IOrIIlard
household. After his hours of investiga-
tion into the case, the coroner gave out
a verdict that death nad been the result
OF suicide by gas asphyxiation.
He declared late last night that he
positively would not make known the
contents Of the note left by Mrs. Loril-
lard Pressed to give a reason for his
action in this particular. he said the
note was entirely Of a private nature,
and had nothing 10 do with the causes
leading UP TO the suicide.
Mr.. Lorillard and relatives refuse TO dis
cuss the case. and an air Of utmost Sc
erecy is maintained by every one inter
ested IN the suicide.
Wen known in Capital.
Mrs. Loriilard was not only well known
in Washington and New York. but also
f. Europe. She went in the most excIu-
Eive social circles and was generally. pop-
uiar. Only few hours before physicians
say death must have occurred she at
tended dinner given by Mrs. Richard
Townsend az her Massachusetts avenue
home. She was then in good spirits and
Eslked Of future social plans.
Pierre LOrillard. husband of the dead
woman, is rated as a millionaire. He is
president Of the Automatic Weighing Ma
chine Company. and a director In the
Pierre Lorillard Company American To-
baoco Company, and Empire Trust Com
pany.
According TO the facts made public by
Coroner Nevitt, a butler carrying a break
fast tray to the room Of Mr. Lorillard
shortly before $50 o'clock yesterday morn
ing detected the odor Of gas on the sec
bnd floor. He notified Mr. LorllIard. who
Flent with him to investigate.
The leakage was traced TO the hath
room connected with Mrs. Lorillard's
sleeping room The door was not locked
and It was pushed open Lying face
downward on the floor beside the bath
tub was Mrs. Lorillard- She was partially
dlsrobed, having removed the dinner gown
che wore the night before and put on a
light kimona
The butler assisted Mr. LoriIlard in
carrying Mrs. Lorillard into her bedroorn
where she was laid on a bed. DR.. n. +
Cutnbert, family physician. was sum-
moned- He made an examination. and no.
titled Coroner Nevitt Of the woman's
death.
Artificial Respiration.
When DT. Nevitt reached the house
about s:2e O'Clock. DR.. Cuthbert was nnsx-
ing a last effort to induce artificial respi-
ration. A close examination showed the
coroner that Mrs. Lorinard was dead. He
then started his investigation, question
ing the servants and Mr.. Lorinard. Ex-
actly what this investigation consisted