The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-02
Coroner Reconvenes Inquest
in Effort to Solve Mys-
terry of Tragedy
PRETTY TYPIST HAD
CONFIDANTE AT CLUB
Miss Muriel Keith, Who Was
Killed BY Suburban Car, Told
Friend That She Intended
Ending Her Existence.

All doubt as to whether Miss f.
Mnriei Keith took her own life or
not was removed Friday afternoon
when the coronar's jury returned a
verdict 10 the effect that she commit
ted suicide by hsriing herself in from,
OF swiftly moving car on the Ash
land line.
The verdict also fully exonerated
Motorman J. p. Swami, In charge OF
the car.
For some reason best known to
himself Coroner Deas declined to
make the verdict public. and 1t was
only from members OF the Jury that
the press succeeded n-ascertainIag
the result OF their elaboration.
juror Thomas Worsham, when
questioned by the press. stated that
the inquisitors decided that the young
weman-s depressed state of mind, as
Indicated by the note she left, was
responsible for her rash act.
Few Witnesses Examined.
Only few witnesses were exam
tined at the adjourned Inquest, and no
evidence WAS adduced that tended TO
throw any light on the specific mo-
tive for the suicide Motorman Swami
repeated his testimony given at the
inquest Thursday. to the effect that
the young woman deliberately hurled
herself in front of his car.
Mrs. Mary A. Carter. house keeper
for Mr.. c. q. Taylor lii Ginter Park.
and close personal friend of Miss
: Keith. testined that she visited the
latter In her room Wednesday even
Ing after supper, but that nothing
transpired That mad any bearing ON
the impending tragedy.
Acting frrxy1
w. KIRK Mathews went on the stand
and told how he had directed Deputy
Sheri Frank Traylor to make another
search Of Miss keiths room FRIDAY.
morning and to take possession OF
every letter and Other document like
~ to reveal a motive for suicide.
Mr.. Mathews said THAT the deputy
sheriff found several hundred letters
in the room. He read quite a mum
Der or them. he destined, aut discov-
cred nothing OF relevancy Ia the case.
Jurors Are Thanked.
Following the taking on testimony,
the jury retired and In halt an hour
Emerged from the chamber reporting
that the verdict was suicide.
TN learning the verdict. Motorman
Swami thanked the jurors Tor clear
ing him OF all responsibility. He shook
hands with each and then thanked
the coroner.
Il don't like to be short, said
Coroner IDEAS. when approached by
members of the press, but / must
begged TO be excused from letting you
have the verdict"
u believe YOU have already ascer-
tanned IL from members of the jury. -
he added. as he folded his papers,
preparing to leave the building.
More Proof Found.
Additional proof that Miss Keith met
a suicides death Is found In the
fact thai the young woman had init
mated ons4everai occasions to a con-
ndante that she intended taking her
life.
This young woman. IL has been as
certained from reliable source, left
her work In Richmond Thursday
morning and came to the country home
OF the association hurriedly. when
she learned of the tragedy. She was
in tears when she arrived and for a
time was disconsolate that Miss Keith
her very dear friend. had committed
suicide. as every indication pointed
even at that time, before the holding
of the inquest
Authorities Not Advised.
Inasmuch as nothing was known
by the coroner and the other county
officials of these circumstances, the
young woman was not summoned to
the inquest, neither was she sum-
moned to the adjourned session
of the coroners jury. which convened
at noon Friday In the Henrico county
courthouse. Twenty-second and Main
streets.
Miss Keith's confldante paid little
attention to the suicidal references,
although advising her to dtspel such
thoughts from her mind and to look
on the brighter side of life. as she was
wont to do.
So far as can be learned, Miss Keith
gave no special reason for wishing to
end her existence except that she
suffered much from depression at
times. as she also indicated In the brief
note TO Manager Mark r.. Lloyd. OF
the State Fair Association. her en-
ployer. which was found alongside her
mangfed corpse on the car tracks.
According to Miss Sadie Haley.
manager OF the country home of Y. w.
c. A.. the name of the young woman
in whom Miss Keith confided was not
furnished the coroner for the reason
that, in her opinion, the coroner al
ready possessed sufficient evidence and
proof that death resulted from suicide.
Cried Herself 10 Sleep.
IL 10 SAID tnnt Miss Keith cried her
self to. sleep Wednesday night and
seemed much depressed over some cir
cumstance or other.
Friends Of the young woman incline
to the theory that sshe was suffering
from heart loneliness. aggravated per-
haps by the throat affection from
which she suffered at times. 1t Is
known. however, that this affection
was nothing Of serious nature and
that Miss Keith had no reason to re-
gard 1t otherwise. DR.. Joseph A.
White. whom he consulted Wednes-
day morning. says that the throat
trouble was very slight and he so
assured Miss Keith after spraying ii
when Miss Keith left her home in
London last April to come 10 America
Ii company with her brother, Mr..
Royston Keith. Jr.. who was return-
lnk to his farm near Jarrnft,s. Va,
Il II sid that her father expressed
the hope that the climate III thia
country would prove more benaficial
.te her throat than the damp. catarrhal
xxrnosphere Of Lspnden. Further than
tlin, however, there seams to have no
fear On; The paft Ok the father thar
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