The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-06
Found on the Floor of His Room
by His Valet.
CAUSE is UNKNOWN.
Theories of Both Accident and
Suicide Are Entertained.
Had a Fear of Finding Burglars
in the House.

Philadelphia, April 6.-Craige Lip
plncott, head of the ]. B. Lippincott
company, publishers, and one of the
most prominent men in financial and
social circles in this city, died mys-
ter1ously early today at his home, 21S
west Rittenhouse Square, the aristo-
cratic residential section of PhiIadel-
phla. According to the police death
was que to pistol wound
Detectives Tate and Wood. who Uere
imm ediately assigned to the case. after
several hours investigation, reported
to Coroner Ford at 1890 n. m. that
Wlshout doubt Mr.. Lippincott commit
teu suicide. They further reported
his life. Ne 'ooh
a sworn statement by Mr. Lippin-
colts son follows:
My father ALWAYS kent a loadad 70
VoIVer IN his room and at the least bit
OF noise he heard he would go get the
revolver and then investigate. In my
opinion, he heard some noise and went
alo .. GOT the revolver and in some way
1t was dlscharged. 1t must have been
an accident"
MT. and Mrs. Lippincott last night
atLenoeo the Metropolitan opera house,
where they witnessed a performance
OF quo Nadis." given by the Phila-
CAAAOoSO OQ6Id cOnDanY In
thls opera the curtain goes down on a
scene IN which Petronius declares that
he is tired of living and then after a
beautiful love duel with Eunice. the
slave girl, they die in each others
arms.
The following authorized statement
py an off1cer of the J. B. Lippincott
company was given out this after
noon:
During period of temporary aber-
ration, Craige Lippincott. president ].
B Llpplncott company, shot and killed
hlmself at his residence, 21" West Rit-
tenhouSe square, early this morning.
The business of the publishing house
will not be affected by Mr.. Lippincott's
DEATH
The deputy coroner Chas. McKeeveri
INFORMED the newspaper men that Mr..
Llpplncott was shot some time be-
tween and s o'clock this morning.
having been found on the floor of his
bedroom by his valet, Oscar Stewart
who went to the apartment to shave
him.
Mr.. Lippincott, who was 65 years
old, was of highly nervous tempera-
ment and always had fear of finding
burglars in the house. From this fact
his friends deduce that he might have
been alarmed by a noise and accid ent-
/ allv killed himself while in a state of
nervous excitement
The first information the coroner
| had of a death in the Lippincott resi-
dence was at $50 O'Clock, when some
one called on the telephone and said
there had been a suicide at 218 West
R1ttenhouse Square, and asking that a
| deputy be sent to the house at once.
Doctor Was Called First.
McKeever was sent and remained in
the house some time. There he learn
ed that DR.. James c. Wilson had been
called to the house before the coroner
had been notified and it is understood
It was he who notified the coroner-s
| office.
No information could be obtained
from the house and the first report to
| reach the coroner's Office as to the
identity of the dead person was that
! it was a maid servant and the early
editions of the afternoon papers print
ed a story to this effect.
When Deputy McKeever left the
house he said he was not prepared to
make an absolute report ON the case,
but that he felt 1t was one of suicide
McKeever further stated that he had
been given a sworn statement by Jay
B. Lippincott, son, in which he gave
it as his opinion that his father had
| died accidentally.
Oscar Stewart, the valet, McKeever
said. told him he found Mr.. Lippincott
He was lying half dressed on the floor
There was bullet wound in his right
temple and near him lay revolver.
All the members of the Lippincott
family in the city were Immediately
notified of the death of the head OF
the family.
DIR. Stricken Coles, a distant relative
said he understood Mr.. Lippincott was