New-York tribune., 1911-01-03
WOMAN Who THREATENED
Mr.. SCH|FF A SUICIDE
Anna VoIinsky Found Hanging
from Peg in Clothes Room
of Insane Asylum.
COMMITTED AS PARAN0IAC
Apparently Cheerful, Until Law
yer's Visit, She Had Free
dom of the Conval-
escent Ward.

Anna Volnsky. formerly employed as
q solicitor for the Montefore Home for
Chronic Invalids and other Jewish char
table institutions. who was declared in
sane after having written threatening
letters to Jacob H. Schiff. president OF
the home. committed suicide at the Man
haitian state Hospital for the Insane, on
Wards Island, last night.
For a month she has been patient at
the hospital, but. according TO the super
intendent. had been particularly quiet
and tractable. She was apparently OF
cheerful disposition. and consequently
was permitted TO remain in the GONZALES
cent ward. where she had comparative
freedom II was not thought necessary
to subject her TO any exceptional sur
yeilance. a. no tendency toward violence
had been observed.
Sunday afternoon. however, after
visit from her former lawyer, whom she
had dismissed on her commitment
became evident that she was laborlng
under some excitement, the cause ot
which the authorities at the hospital
were unable to determine. The visit OF
the lawyer was for the purpose OF look
ing over some Of her personal belongings.
Hunq Herself from a Peg
Later in the day her excitement ap-
feared to pass off, and nothing more
was thought of it until she was found
at Il o'clock last night. She had hung
herself from a peg in the clothes room.
DIR Garvin, OF the hospital staff, re-
nortcd her death to the Coroner.
Anna Vol!nsky came into public notice
IN October, az the result of threats she
was said 20 have made against the lie
of Mr. Schiff. At the instance Of Mr.
Schiff warrant was sworn out for her
on october g. and two days later she
was arrested and committed to Bellevue
for an examination as to her sanity.
ON october 29 after series of hear
,nps before Charles w. Dayton, jro as
refcroe she was declared to be suffering
from paranoia, manifested in the deIu-
sion Of persecution. and was committed
20 tho Manhattan State Hospital for the
Insane.
The woman was OF Russian birth, and
had bcen. for several years after coming
70 this country, a solicitor for the Monte
Nore Home. receiving a commission OF
so nor cent on the subscriptions for the
maintenance of the home that she OBJ
tanned.
She was said to be an unusually sue
cessfuI solicitor. but about year age
she brought charges against one OF the
directors. The charges were investi-
gated and dismissed, and subsequently,
Miss Volinsky discovered that her con-
nection with the home had ceased.
She then charged that a considerable
aur, of money due her in commissions
had been withheld, and continued tc
iterate that the director she had before
accused had been guilty OF misconduct
In her efforts 10 obtain what she con-
sidered 10 be Justice she went severa
times to see Mr. Schiff, and wrote him g
nurober OF letters. Mr.. Schif had the
case investigated. and wrote TO her that
she was suffering from delusion. and
was her own worst enemy. He advised
her to forget the Montenore Home anc
And some other way TO make living.
Rut Miss Volinsky was unable to take
this advice, and sought the help OF sew.
oral LAWYERS. She had become obsessec
bv this time with the thought that hel
wrongs could be righted only through
Mr. Schiff, and she complained bitterly
that she could find no lawyer who wa,
fearless enough 10 fight the powerful
banker.
Two or three, Of the lawyers went tC