Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1909-12-20

embedded the bands of the woman's
spectacles in the flesh about her tem-
pies. THE investigation of the county
physician showed the hat pin in the
heart of the elder sister and revealed
Intellectual wounds which had been
made with a hat pin the left breast of
the younger sister.
Miss Gertrude Thomas. of 1924 Broad
street. has been the only close friend
in the lonely lives of the two elderly
spinsters. and it is believed that her
illness and the fact that she could not
see them brought about the melan-
choiy condition of mind that led 10
the tragedy.
A number of packages were found in
the room neatly tied up and addressed
to Miss Thomas and 10 Thomas W.
Lockwood, a nephew of Miss Thomas.
There was also a deed TO a lot in Mt.
Pleasant Cemetery.
Were Seen saturday.
The two sisters were seen alive Sat
urday morning. December II, by Cor
don. who met them in the morning as
they were coming from a grocery store.
They seemed we'll and asked about his
child who was i'll in a hospital.
Tuesday he went Il the house to
collect the rent He rang the bell but
there was no response. He rang again
Thursday but there was no answer
AS he is serving OH the grand jury.
Gordon did not have time to investi-
gate further. The following day, he
noticed that the shades of the house
were I'D and that some laundry that
had been hung on the line to dry the
week before had not been taken in.
Procuring a ladder he climbed to the
second story and looked into the sis
ters room, thinking that something
might have happened to the women.
The beds were in order and Gordon
thought that the two were visiting
friends.
There was d ton and a half of coal
in the cellar and $2.50 was found in a
purse in the house.
Yesterday there was still no sign OF
activity at the house, and he detor-
mined to investigate again.
The two sisters were daughters of a
well -to-do hardware merchant. After
his death. thirty years ago. Mrs. Richie
and the W daughters moved to the
Marshall street address. They supported
themselves by sewing. Twelve years
ago Mrs. Richie died, and at that time
Isabel met with an accident which re-
suited in her sight being VIZ kened and
threw the burden of support pom her
sister.
During the long years that the sisters
lived in Marshall street their unfailing
friend was Miss Thomas. who gave
literally to their support. Every day
the two Richie sisters and Miss
Thomas. who was always accompanied
by her pet dogs, would walk down
Broad street.
Threatened Suicide.
So great had the attachment become
that two years ago when Miss Thomas
went to the seashore one of the sisters
wrote her they could not live without
her company. ind had concluded to
commit suicide.
Miss Thomas sent a note to the Rev.
Thomas Upton, now of the Montgom-
cry Chapel. Bloomfield. but who was
then curate Of Trinity Church. where
the sisters attended services. He hast
ened to the home and met the sisters,
who seemed in good health and spirits.
They made no mention of any suicidal
intent.
~ Tic Aliflt L a. ttSstcAoliN leFNOA
of Trinity Church. Mr.. Upton said,
Il called on these women several times
and since then 1 have called at inter
walls They seemed odd to me and never
toob anyone into their confidence with
the exception of Miss Thomas. Their
father has been dead many years.
They did sewing for people in the
parisl and with S. a month from Trim
ity church they managed to get along
somehow. At different times / sent
tnerl small sums of money. A few
years ago, when Miss Thomas was at
the g~eashore. / received a letter from
iier Informing me that she had heard
the sisters were about to commit sui
on account of their poverty. [
called on them at the time. but they
seemed to be in their usual spirits"
1t has been about two months since
Miss Tllomas's falling health resulted
in a doctors order that she could not
he seer by the Misses Richie, and the
police believe that it may rave been
the loss Of her companionship and the
failing eyesight Of the elder sister that
prompted the suicide.
Led Quiet Life.
Little could be learned of the life of
the two sisters. Those who knew them
gay that they led 2 quiet. retired life,
q the Rev. Louis Shreeve Osborne.
rector Of Trinity Church. where they
Were attendants. said that. although
the church had sen them money and
he had called at their home. they We're
reccent and never spoke of their own
affairs.
The Misses Richie were always
somewhat Of a problem to me- said
SIR. Osborne. rector of Trinity Church,
last night. There seemed to be some !