New-York tribune., 1910-12-25
BRIDE, LEFT AT HOME
ALONE, KILLS HERSELF
Objected to Husband Spending
Night Before Christmas
Away from Her.
FIRES SHOT IN HER BODY
Found Lying Half Across Table
Covered with Gifts Left by
Friends Short Time
Before.

Because her husband would not stav
at home on Christmas Eve. after she had
pieaded with him to do SO. Mrs Mar
garet Luersson, a bride Of wear. shot
herself in the heart last night with a
revolver while seated beside table COW
cred with Christmas presents. When
her husband, who was about to enter
an automobile, heard the shot he ran
upstairs to the third floor of the Daw.
son Arms apartment, at No. 90 West
IIoth street, where they lived. to find
his wife's lifeless body lying half on the
table. Blood pouring from a wound in
her left breast stained some of the
Christmas parcels
Mrs Luersson and her husband had
been entertaining Miss Beatrice De
Acosta, of No. 24OO Seventh avenue at
a dinner in their home, last night, and
the little party was a happy one The
talk was mostly of the holiday making
for to-day, and plans had been made to
distribute the Christmas gifts together.
Mrs. Luersson appeared to be in 2
particularly happy frame of mind. and
when Miss De Acosta left the house
about o'clock, it was with the promise
that she would return to help celebrate
Christmas to-day.
just what occurred after Miss De
Acosta had left is not known, but about
. O'Clock Mr.. Luersson, who is in the
automobile business, told his wife that
he had an important business engage
ment to attend He called a taxica b
and went for his overcoat and hat Mrs
Luersson pleaded with her husband to
remain at home, as it was Christmas
Eve and she wanted him with her.
Refused To Be Con,forted.
Mr. Luersson tried to calm her, md
told her he would be back within two
hours. but she refused to be comforted
and grew hystericaL After he thought
he had reasoned her out of her fears
and melancholy state of mind Mr. Luers-
son kissed his wife and stepped out into
the hall
Before leaving him Mrs. Luersson
clung to her husband with her arms
about his neck, and as he went down
the stairs to the street she called after
him. saying: Il hope you will sleep well
tonight She appeared to be resigned
to his going and prepared to wait for.
his return in cheerful spirit.
AS Mr. Luersson was buttoning mis-
coat in the vestibu1e. preparatory to
stepping into the taXicab at the curb, he
was startled by the sound of a revolver
shot. He was anxious concerning his
wife, and at once rang the elevator bell.
Failing to get an answer, Luersson
sprang up the stairs to the third floor.
calling to his wife as he ran.
When he reached the door of his
apartment he found it open. Richard
Lawson. a tenant of the apartment
house, who lives on the same floor, were
i'm the drawing room of Luersson's home
irving to shield something within from
his sight.
Suspecting that something serious
had happened, Luersson pushed the men
aside and saw his wife's body reclining
half on a chair, half on the table in the
centre of the room. A crimson stain ex-
tended halfway down her dress, and a
revolver lying in the folds of her gown
on the floor showed him at a glance
what had happened.
The young husband, on his knees by
his wifes side, tried to arouse an an
swer to his frantic questions, but she
crazed with grief and raved incoherent-
ly. He was finally led away. and Law
son ran to the street and called Patrol
man Murdock, of the West 10th street
station. The officer called DIR. Fulton,
of the Harlem Hospital, who said that
the woman had died instantly.
Coroner Starts Investigation.
When Coroner Feinberg arrived he be-
gan an investigation, and learned that
Stirr,1p had heard the revolver shot and
had tried to enter the Luersson apart
ment knowing that it came from there
lawson who had been waiting for the
elevator, Joined the elevator boy In fore
ing the door. They told the Coroner
that they found Mrs. Luersson beside
the lie and tried to revive her, and
that I,uersson entered while they were
thus engaged.
I,uersson told the Coroner that he and
his wife had been married about year.
He said he first met his wife in Chicago
eighteen months ago. After their mar
riage, he said, they made tour of Eu-
| rome returning to this country only re-
Gently. He added that Mrs. Luersson
| had undergone an operation recently ana
| WAS about to undergo another. Ih1s
| caused her to become melancholy, ne
| thought.
According to the police, Luersson comes
of a wealthy and prominent family in
| Germany. His father was killed two
wears ago in an automobile accident and
| his two sisters We're seriously injured.