Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-04-01
Wife of the Tobacco Magnate Be-
came Weary Of the Gay
Whirl Of Society.
FAMILY DENIES THE VERDICT
Declare the Woman Died Of Heart
Failure or Accidcn,nIiy---Shc Left
mote Declaring Intent to End
Her Observation-Disclosures So
ciety Greatly Shocked.

Washn gton, n. C.. March c5-Weary
Of the gay whirl of society and face to
face. as she believed. with years OF ply
steal suffering. Mrs. Pierre Lorllard,
Jr.. aged 70. wife Of the tobacco mag
nate, committed suicide by as1hyXia-
ton at her home near the fashionabl
Dupont circle In this city to-day. Her
tragic death has shocked the first social
circles OF the capital nothing else in
years. Tonight the members Of the
1orllard family famous because OF its
wealth, are gathering here TO mourn over
the unexpected blow. In spite of the cor
oner's certificate OF death by suicide,
members Of the family declare that Mrs.
Lorillard died of heart failure.
The dean was made more dramatic
by occurring only n few hours after Mr.
and Mrs. Lorillard had been the guests
of Mrs Townsend, OF Massa chusetts
avenue. at dinner given IN honor Of
Lady Paget. IN fact. it is believed that
ms soon Mrs. I.or,l'ard arrived at her
home Mt 1920 Hillyer Place, shortly after
midnight this morning, she began to pre-
pare for her death
About $50 o'clock this morning tire
butler in the Lorllard residence detect
ec an odor of gas permeatinE the rooms
With little difficulty. tho origin Of the
fumes was traced to Mrs I.or.lard's
apartments. operng TIE door of the
bathroom i,!st off her suite the hutle-
was horrfed 20 behold tho body of the
mistress of the house stretched ont life
less on the floor. Her face was turned
10 the ma. on the floor Tic alarm
given by the butler hrouch: Mr. I.oril-
lard from his apartments across the
hall Together they carried the linn
body to Mrs. Lorillards room Panir
stricke1. the servant was despatched FOR
doctor Will, NJ. Lor1llarG attempted
~ revive his wife by means of artificial
respiration. DR.. NJ. T.. Cuthbcr. the
famly physician, was summoned and
arrived ab3ut tie same time that Dr.
II. r. Deale was admitted to the resi-
dence. Both resorted to every scientific
method within thei- power to restore
l,fe. but after an hours effort gave up
In despair.
THE CORONER'S VERDICT.
Shortly afterward j. RAMSAY hewitt
the coroner was notified. lie visited the
non ordered Deputy Coroner Glazebrook
TO perform an autopsy, upon the compile
ton of which Or. hewitt issued a certif-
cate OF death of suicide by gas POISON
Ing. He said later that gas was es-
Gaping from one or more lets in tn
hath room whei the body was dlscov-
cred and the condition OF the lungs in
dcated death by gas poisoning
Extr
tained by the Lorillard family and all
others who possess Information con-
corning the sudden death. only few
Of the most intimate friends have been
admitted to the house since the news
spread.
When Coroner hewitt notified the po-
lice of Mrs. Lorillard's death an Off
Ger was sent to the residence to IN
vestigate but he was denied admission,
being referred TO the coroner for SUCH
Information as the police department
might desir-.
Mrs. Lorillard left a note which the
coroner has seen but which Mr.. Lorii-
lard has declined to give his permits
sion for 1t to be made public. While
addressed to no one. it Is said. It is
personal in it's nature. It Is under
OF an intention on the part of Mrs.
LorilIa-d to take her life.
Mrs. Lorillard was subject to fire.
quent attacks OF dependency 1t is
said. Tonight Mr.. Lorillard stated
that in his opinion the death OF his
wife not due to suicidal intent, but
was tho result OF an accident. lie Is
said to have denied that his wife had
left q note.
WAS CHEERFUL WHEN LAST SEEN,
Tho last person to see Mrs. Lorlllard
alive was Mr.. Lorilard. lie babe her
good night as they separated 90 so to
their apartments, after returning nome
about midnight from the Townsend
residence. Mrs. Lorilard was seemingly
in the best OF spirits. She had joined
freely IN the social festivities OF the
evening at the Townsend home, where
had gathered the Brazilian Ambassadc r
and Nine. Nabuco, the Danish minister
and Countess Moltke. the Secretary of
the Navy and Mrs. Meyer Senator and
Mrs. Lodge. Senator and Mrs. Aldrich,
Senator Root, Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Bacon.
Mr. and Mrs. W. c. Endcott OF Boston
Lady Clifford of England; Colonel and
Mrs. Colin Campbell: Col, and Mrs. Nc
Cawley, Mr. and AIRS. Clarence Moore
Hon. Maude Pauncofote, Commodore
Rodgers, Rear Admiral Cowles and Cap
tain Archibald Butt, military aide Of The
President.
DID NOT GO TO BED.
Mrs. Lorilards bed had the appear
snce OF not having been occupied cur
Ing the night. Mrs, Lorillard had dis
robed after arriving home and when
found her body was clothed in a dress
ing gown. The collar of diamonds she
wore at the dinner had been removed,
but the costly circle Of diamonds that
adorned her hair had not been displaced,
The note was found in Mrs. Lorillard' =
room
The Lorillard's have lived at Hillyer
Place, which Is only a stones throw
from Dupont Circle and In tho heart
Of tho fashionable community between
Dupont and Sheridan Circles since
January. Immediately preceding that
time. MIS-. Iorilard was in Europe. and
while in France consulted an eminent
physician in regard to her ailment. The
family has been prominent each sum-
ncr for several years past at Tuxedo
Park and they have spent the winters
in Washington.
Mrs. Iorillard before her marriage to
Mr.. I.orillard in 1881 WIS Miss Caroline
j. Hamilton. She is survived by two
sons. one ~ whom is now travelling in