New-York tribune., 1910-09-01
VERA FITCH MAY RECOVER
Even Chance for Life, Doctors
Say, if Crisis Is Passed.
SEES MOTHER AND SISTER
Literary Failure, Not Love AT
fair, Cause of Attempt to Die
Sister Makes Statement.

Vera Fitch. the young California wom-
an who is In the Flower Hospital in a
dangerous condition as a result OF her
attempt to take her own life by shooting
herself at the Hotel Astor on MONDAY
night. persistently refused TO admit ner
identity to the hospital authorities untii
her mother, Mrs. Henry 8. Fitch. OF
Oakland Cal. and her sister. Mrs. Roy
". Conger, who Is known on the stage
as Grace Fitch, visited her at the nos
pital late yesterday afternoon
Her mother and sister remained Win
the wounded girl only a few minutes
They were both heavily yelled and ap-
parentlv deeply affected by the meeting
Mrs. Fitch was on the verge Of collapse
and had to be assisted into taAicap
which was waiting for them
The actress sister avoided all inquiries
at the hospital as TO her sisters conoi-
ton. and hurried her mother into the
cab with the assistance Of woman salo
to be Mrs. Blanche Caryl, a friend Oh
the wounded girl, to whom she mad WHY
ten a letter when she intended 10 XIII
herself. It was evident that the hospi-
tai physicians had not been able 10 re-
assure her relatives in regard 10 sne
girls chances for recovery.
Cool to Mother and Sister
The hospital attendants said after
ward the patient had appeared cool III
her manner toward her sister when the
three women were taken to her bedslde'
Tt Was known that the sisters had had
some differences of opinion IN Iahiis
matters. Miss Fitch was particularly
affectionate In her greeting TO her lriellu
Mrs Caryll. 1t was said.
She seemed cheered by the visit. now
ever. and for the first time since she mas
been In the hospital, expressed desire
to live to one of the physicians
The appearance of the three women
cleared any mystery as to the girls lden-
tity and relieved the hospital authorizes
of anxiety in that direction The glri
was previously identified by her BROTH
er-in-law, Roy w. Conger. said 10 De d
nenhew Of the late Edwin H Conger'
formerly Minister to China, but the au-
thorities were somewhat skeptical unui
the mother and sister appeared
The sister positively denied any re-
Iatiouship to the wounded girl until Mr-
coneer had visited the hospital Tues
dav night. She said yesterday that she
felt justified in her denials after her
sister shot herself, as she was young
girl and she wished to protect her.
Not Engaged, Sullivan Said.
William L. Sullivan, of Crawford. n.
j.. who was the first person to inquire
at the hospital for Miss Fitch, called at
the hospital yesterday and saw her for
q few minutes Mr.. Sullivan denied the
reDort that he and Vera Fitch had been
engaged.
DR.. Hughes, house physician at the
hospital, said last night that his patient
had passed a fairly comfortable day
and was resting easily. He said that If
she lived until this evening. when the
crisis would be passed, which comes
th,rtv-six hours after the operation, she
would have an even chance for recov-
cry.
DIR. Hughes said that the wounded
p,rI had talked to him very little about
herself or the motive for her act. She
seemed to feel that the notes she had