Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-06-10
SHE LEFT $4,000 To
MAN WHO SUED FOR
BREACH OF PROMISE
Wealthy Woman'S Death, Fol-
lowing Mysterious Killing to
Which Beneficiary Was Wit
ness, MyStifieS Chicago
$4,000 IN MONEY WAS
FOUND IN CLOTHING

CHICAGO, June 9.-While the death Of
Mrs. Fannie Surdam STEELE. here Mon
day. will be officially Investigated. Cor
oner Hoffman and detectives connected
with the case today expressed the be-
lief that the wealthy woman died OF
natural causes.
mo complete examination of the stu
alton is at hand" said Detective John
Costello, last night, but we are of the
opinion that a strange combination of
circumstances had produced a string of
occurrences that are not usually linked
together. We have thoroughly investi-
gated everything surrounding the case
and are convinced that the death of Mrs.
STEELE was from natural causes. This
opinion is concurred in by the physi-
Clans"
Edgar r. Accetta, the young singer and
lawyer of New York, who at one time
was engaged to marry Mrs. STEELE and
who is a beneficiary to the extent Of
So. 900 under the will of the woman, said:
SUED HER FOR $4,000.
Mrs. STEELE was my best friend. I met
her eight years ago. She educated me
in the law, paying all of my expenses. 1
brought suit against her for $4,000 for
breach of promise, but that was settled
out OF court. / will not contest the will,
however.
Mrs. STEELE was in the habit Of carry
ing money sewed in her clothing. Her
father lost thousands of dollars worth
Of property in the Chicago fire and she
considered that it was best 70 keep her
cash where she could take it with her in
case of fire. She possessed about $4,000
worth OF diamonds and other jewelry.
That was one Of her hobbies"
Physicians and house detectives at Mrs.
Stelles found $4,000 in currency sewed
between the Innings Of the clothing she
had on and $4,000 worth OF diamonds Sc
GREETED in the same manner.
The sudden death of Mrs. STEELE, in a
chicago downtown hotel, which occurred
Monday last. became known late yes
terday when Mrs. Stelle's will was filed
IN the probate court here.
WITH HER AT DEATH.
Accetta was in Chicago on Monday and
is said TO have been at Mrs. Stelle's bed
side when the woman died. Death is
reported by hotel physicians to have
been caused by apoplexy. He was the
last person she asked to see when the
motel physicians told her that she was
dying
Shortly after the death of her husband
Is years ago, Mrs. Stelle became engaged
10 marry Accetta. She then broke the
engagement, telling Accetta he would
ruin his life by marrying a woman of her
years. Accetta then sued her for breach
OF promise in the New York courts. The
suit was settled out OF court on an agree
nlent that Accetta should receive an an
nual income and SIS 900 at Mrs. Stelle's
death. The larger part of Mrs. Stelle's
estate is left to Elmer E. Earle, a cousin,
OF West Troy. n. Y.
According, to Attorney Nicholas Mi
chaels' one of the Steele executors Ac-
cetta arrived in Chicago last Saturday
~
upon Mrs. Steele at her hotel. Learning
that she was I'll, he abandoned his trip
and spent much OF the time with her.
HIS FRIEND SHOT DEAD.
Early last Sunday morning Accetta was
walking with PHILIPPE Calalano. a Chicago
acquaintance, when Calalaho was shot
and instantly killed by an unidentified
Italian. ,Accetta was arrested and held by
the police as witness until after the in
quest into Celalano's murder He sent
word Of his predicament to Mrs. Steele
and physicians say that the shock of this
news FASTENED Mrs. Steele's death.
Accetta FASTENED to the hotel after he
was released by the police and found Mrs.
Steele in a semi-consoious condition.
Mrs. Steele was born In Chicago, being
daughter of the late Samuel Surdam
former wholesale hardware dealer She
was first married here 10 years ago to
Alexander Steele, her fathers business
partner. Fifteen years ago she went
to New York, where ten years ago she
married DR.. William Bradley. She was
divorced from DR.. Bradley two years
later and resumed the name of Steele.
Her estate is valued at $525, 900.
DRAWING NEW WILL
Mr.. Aichaels, Mrs. Steele's attorney,
stated upon questioning that Mrs Steele
had come to Chicago for the purpose of
drawing a new will. He said, however
that he had delayed in taking up the
work with her because of pressure of
work in the Lee O'NeiI Browne alleged
bribery trial.
Mr.. Michels also said that Mrs. Steele
drew the $4,000 in cash which was found
in a steel box in her room from a New
York bank before her departure for
Chicago. He also admitted he had heard
that Mrs. Steele's relatives desired her
to put Accetta's name from her will.
Asked If he thought Mrs. Steele had Sc
cured the money to pay Accetta and thus
close her obligation to him, Mr.. Michels
said he was undecided. At a late hour this
theory was taken up by the police who
are still investigating the death of Gala
lano. Accetta's friend.
The police say they believe that Accetta
had an appointment with Mrs. Steele to
secure the $4,000 in cash and that infor-
nation regarding the rumored settlement
got abroad. They state that as a result,
CaIalano was murdered by a man who
believed that Calalano and Accetta were
then in possessjo Jon of the money.