Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-04-01
TAKES KeR LIFE.
Wife of a Millionaire Kills Her
'.eIf with Gas
,os1 TIRED OF LIFE

wednesday Nfght-Left Note fol
Husband, but Members of He,
Family Claim That Her Death was
Due to Heart Disease.
Washington, March 25.-Weary OF
the gay whirl of society and face to
face, as she believed, with years of
physical suffering, Mrs. Pierre Loril-
lard, Jr., aged 40, wife of the tobacco
magnate. committed suicide by as
phyxiatinon at her home. near the
fashionable Dupont Circle, in this
city, today. Her tragic death has
shocked the first social circle of the
Capital as has nothing else in years.
In spite of the coroner's certificate
OF death by suicide, members of the
family declared that Mrs. Lorillard
died Of heart failure. The death was
made more dramatic by the fact of
Its occurrence only few hours after
Mr.. and Mrs. Lorillard had been the
guests of Mrs. Richard Townsend at
a dinner given in honor of Lady
Paget. In fact, 1t is believed that
as soon as Mrs. Lorillard arrived
at her home, shortly after midnight
this morning, she began to prepare
for her death.
About $3.50 O'clock this morning
the butler in the Lorillard residence
detected nm odor of gas. The origin
OF the fumes was traced to Mrs.
Lorillard's apartments. Opening the
door to the bath room, just off her
suite, the butler was Mortified to
behold the body of the mistress OF
the house stretched lifeless. Her
face was turned to the mat on the
floor.
The alarm brought Mr.. Lorillard
from his apartments across the hall
He aud the butler carried the body
to Mrs. Lorillard's room. Mr.. Loril
lard attempted to revive his wife by
means of artificial respiration. The
two doctors summoned resorted to
every scientific method to restore
life, but after an hours efforts gave
up in despair.
Shortly afterward DR.. ]. Ramsey
lard home and ordered Deputy Cor.
oner Glazebrook to perform an au,
topsy, upon the completion of which
DIR. hewitt issued certificate o
death by suicide by gas poisoning
He said later that gas was escaping
from one or more jets in the bath
room when the body was discovered
and that the condition of the lungs
indicated death by gas poisoning.
Extreme reticence is being main
tanned by the Lorillard family an6
ali others who possess information
concerning the sudden death. Only
q few of the most intimate friends
have been admitted to the home since
the news was spread of Mrs. Loril
lard's death.
Inquiry at the residence met will
the declaration that Mrs. Lorillart
had not committed suicide. "Sht
died OF heart failure" retorted the
servant.
Mrs Lorillard left a note. whicl
the coroner's jury has seen. but
which Mr.. Lorillard has declined
to have made public.
Mrs. Lorillard was subject to FIRE
quent attacks of despondency, it |
said.
The last person to see Mrs. Loril
lard alive was Mr.. Lorillard. FL
Dade her goodnight as they separat
ed to go to their apartments, aftei
returning home about midnight from
the Townsend residence. Mrs
Lorillard was seemingly in the bes
of spirits. She had joined freel,
in the social festivities of the evenin.
at the Townsend home, where har
gathered the Brazilian ambassado
and Nine. Nabuco; the Danish min
lister and Countess Moltke; the Sec
retary of the Navy and Mrs. Meyer
Senator and Mrs. Lodge; Senator anS
Mrs. Aldrich; Senator Root, Mr.. anC
Mrs Robert Bacon, Mr.. and Mrs. w
C. Endicott, of Boston; Lady Cliff
ford, of England; Col. and Mrs. Coli
Campbell, Col. and Mrs. McCawley
Mr.. and Mrs. Clarence Moore. the
Hon Maude Pauncefote, Commodore
Rodgers, Rear Admiral Cowles anC
Capt. Archibald Butt, military aid
of the President.
Mrs. Lorillard had disrobed ,>aftel
arriving home, and when found hel
body was clothed in dressing gown
The dog collar of diamonds she wore
at the dinner had been removed be.
fore she went to the bath room, but
the costly circle of diamonds that
adorned her hair had not been dis
placed.
The Lorillards have lived at the
Hillyer place since January. I'm
mediately preceding that time Mrs
Lorillard was in Europe.
Mrs. Lorillard, before her marriage
in 1881, was Miss Caroline J. Hamil
ton. She is survived by two sons
one of whom is now travelling in the
Orient, and the other Is in colleg,
In New York.
Invitations we're out for luncheon
today at the Lorillard home. but wer'
recalled Immediately.
DIR. NJ. F. Cuthbert. the family ply
sician, when seen tonight. held aloo
from any discussion that might she,