The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-03-26
Family Cannot Explain
Act Of Tobacco
Maenate'S Wife.
WASHINGTON SOCIETY
STUNNED BY TRAGEDY
Left Note With Request that II
Be Buried With Her
Unopened.
KILLED SELF AFTER
RETURN FROM PARTY
Husband and Relatives Mada
Every Effort to Suppress
News of Self-Destruction.

WASHINGTON, March 26:--Nothiilg
so sensational as tho suicide here yes
terday by asphyxiation of Mrs. Pierre
Lorillard, jr.. the wife of the tobacco
magnate, has occurred In the national
capital for years. The prominence of
the family and the air of mystery sur
rounding the tragic affair lends pecu-
liar interest to the case. Washington
was almost dumbfounded when the
news concerning the affair t,can1e gem
orally known. Intimate friends of the
family here heard of the woraarl's
tragic death late yesterday, but it was
not until today that the news became
general.
Coroner Nevitt said today that he
had In his possession the scaled en-
vclope which Mrs. IoriIlnrd left piuned
to her clothing, and which read AsTo
he buried with me unopencd,v rs we'll
ss another envelope which WINS left IN
the raom, containing note. hut he
says he will not mike public the cuu-
tents of either Of these. bccsuse he had
heep requested not to SO do.
suicide by Gas.
| Mrs. Lorilard ended her life In the
bathroom of her home after returning
from the home of Mrs. Richard Martin,
where she had attended u dinner in
honor of Lady Paget II Id believed
that Mrs. Lorllard began preparations
for suicide Immediately after getting
home.
The Lorilard butler detected gas III
the house yesterday morning and
traced it to Mrs. Lorillard's suite cln
the floor of the bathroom lay the buoy
Of his mistress. One story Is that
1 only one gas jet was turned on. while
two other Jets in the room were burn
ing Mrs. Lorilard's face was buried
in the mat on the floor.
Coroner hewitt began an investi ga
tion which lasted two hours, and he
Ithen announced that Mrs. Lorillard had
taken her life. He further expressed
the opinion that she had killed herself
while suffering temporary mental ab-
erration. While declining to go into
details, the coroner said he had dis
covered enough to declare Mrs. Luril
lard suicide.
Mr. Lorillard told the coroner that
me ana MS WIG returned 10 tneil uon1c
from the Townsends about midnight;
Each has a bedroom with a private
bath The rooms are not connecting
Mr. Lorillard says that he went to his
own room prepared for sleep, but read
for two hours. He did not hear any
disturbance that would give him an
idea of the trouble.
Depressed in Mind.
Mrs. Lorllard had removed her evan
ing gown and had donned a kinlono,
but otherwise was dressed as she came
from the dinner including white silk
stockings and white slippers.
When DIR, Nevitt arrived he was told
4 by the husband that his wife had been
victim of heart trouble and that he
was sure she had died of it.
Mr.. Lorillard later explained to the
coroner that his wife had been in a
depressed state of mind because of
Iover- exertion In entertaining and bel.
entertained. He said that when sfe
was not under the stiinnlaut of excite
ment she was so depressed as to be NOR
bid, and that she was in that condition
Wednesday afternoon.