The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-25
CASH AND FRIENDS
GONE, WOMAN
SEEKS DEATH
Mrs. Katherine Goebel, Widow Of
New York Millionaire, Down
and Out" in Detroit, Tries To
End Life With Acid.
"Once Had Wealthy Position, Every
thing, But Now Only the Ghosts,
Dear Ghosts, of the Past"

Trouble combinations that formed
one upon another and broke with
startling suddenness over her gray
head forced Mrs. Katherine Goebel,
woman of culture and refinement, into
desperate attempt to end her life In
her room in the Wayne hotel. Tues
day night.
Troubles domestic and keen finan-
cial disappointments forced the issue.
Humiliation over the exposure of her
poverty to the prying eyes of the
world brought on the tragic denone-
ment.
Mrs. Goebel says she is the widow
of the late Adolph Goebel, New York
millionaire, whose financial reverses
caused him to end his life in Gotham
seven years ago. This was the first
of a series OF life tragedies Mr..
Goebel was first cousin OF the late
Gov. Goebel, OF Kentucky, who was
assassinated in Frankfort
She was seen in the matron's rooms
in police headquarters by Times re-
porter. Wednesday noon. She felt In
more cheerful mood than she did
the night previous. She is matron-'
ly woman about As years of age. Her
entire bearing shows that she Is
worldly wise and well travelled.
"Yes, suppose | had motive in
attempting my life," said she. But
why should | tell. why does the
world need to know? II ! choose to
end my life, Is it the worlds busi-
ness? It's mine, absolutely ! feel
differently now. think / would not
attempt the same thing again. ! am
sorry. though, that did not succeed
last night would be at rest now.
Mrs. Goebel has done much In a
literary way. She has written under
the name OF Jane Gordon for sundry
magazines, her work being along so
Geological lines. She says she has
done much work for the New York
World. That was quite number Of
years ago, in the days Of her afflus
ence.
Its a long story" she said, as she
lay In bed in room In the matron's
quarters. 81 have had wealth, posi-
tion, everything that money could
buy. Now / have nothing but the
ghosts of my past, dear ghosts, all
of them. l have travelled all over the
world and have spent thousands In
satisfying my own pleasures.
do you realize what ii means to
woman OF my years and my tempera-
ment, to have had everything that
money could buy. to come and go at
ones pleasure, to sip all the sweets
from life's cup and then to have 1t all
dashed from ones lipe-that is cruel.
"Mr. Goebel had money, more than
a million, He had extensive mining
interests i'm Colorado and also cattle
interests throughout the west. He
met with reverses Investments on
Wall-st. turned out badly. He lost
everything. Then he committed sui
eide. That was a crushing blow, al
most more than l could stand.
There are other things | could tell
you. ! had financial reverses of my
own. My own family, never very
cordial since my marriage, repudiated
me. A dear friend. very dear friend,
died recently and very suddenly In
New Orleans. No woman has had more
troubles than / have had"
Mrs. Goebel wept at the recital. She
told of her latest disappointment. 4
break with her sister, Mrs. G. v. Nusz,
of Bay City. She and her sister had
not been friendly. Recently she wrote
to the sister. She suggested that as
they were getting Up in years. 1t might
be well for them to make up and live
the remainder CT their lives in peace
my sister did not know of my finan-
cial reverses,' she said. when she
discovered that / had no money left,
Il became boarder and not guest
She asked money for my keep. That
from a sister. And had come there
at her Invitation. So ] left. ] came
to Detroit aud stopped at the Wayne
had expected money, but none came
was sick here, fiat on my back most
of the time. hadn't even nickel for
carfare
There was other trouble I'm Bay
City. My sisters actions did not int
pell me To suicide. There was an.
other blow that has agitated me more
than anything else. OF that | will not
tell you
Was 1t a love aaffir?" was asked.
"A woman of my gray hairs" she
said. You had better not say anything
about love aftairs"
Detectives Stenton and Dowd say
that Mrs. Goebel has much correspon-
dence from men Of affairs in New
York city. She has costly gowns. all
that Is left OF the wreck of her f.
nances. One cape came from Persia
and is a beautiful garment OF Oriental
design and texture.
Mrs. Goebel attempted TO take car
bolic acid while the detectives were IN
her room. Tuesday night. One OF the
officers saw ifer In time and knocked
the bottle from her hand.
She will be kept in the central pc.
lice station uptil she entirely regair5
her composure. II Was necessary 20
cali physician for her Wednesday
morning. The authorities will send
her 10 Chicago. where she has
friends She says she intends to 81
farther west and remain there.