The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-11-04
WOMAN WHOD|ED
IN TUB MAY HAVE
" BEEN POISONED
Coroner Orders Autopsy on
the Body of Anna Van
Auken.
SEEK HER MEN FRIENDS.
Employer Does Not Believe
She Could Have Commit
ted Suicide.
SEEK HER MEN FRIENDS,

An autopsy win be performed to-day
TO determine the cause Of death OF Miss
Anna Van Auken, whose nude body was
found dead In a bathtub in her apart
ment at No. 81 West One Hundred and
Thirty-fourth street last night. As gas
was pouring from a jet in the bathroom
Coroner winterbottom Is inclined to be-
lieve that death was caused by gas. and
that the young woman committed sui
eide. but there Is a possibility that she
had taken or was given poison, and that
death was not caused by gas.
The fact that Miss Van Auken's
seventy-year-old father, with whom she
lived. could not be found inJected some
mystery into the case until 1t was
learned that Mr.. Van Auken left town
on Wednesday last to visit Q married
daughter in Atmont N. Y. where he
is now. The police have been looking
for several men who are said to have
visited the apartment yesterday.
There were no marks of violence on
the young woman's body. which was
only partially immersed in water.
Death could, not have been caused by
drowning Coroner Winterbottom will
insist on performing an autopsy to
make sure that death was not caused
by poison.
The young woman had occupied the
apartment a month. Her rather resided
with her. Miss Helen Freech a friend
of Miss Van Auken. living at No.
627 West One Hundred and Thirty
fourth street, told the police the woman
haA haan nj cd II
Shue jr.. real estate broker. at No. 3iI
b'ifth avenue. as stenographer for
years.
"She and her father came to New
York from HackensacK. ". j. said
silss Freech. II heard that her mother
gecently was sent to the insane asylum
on Wards Island and that, before De-
ing taken there. she tried to kill her
self by inhaling gas. ItAmay be that
Anna was led to kill hervelf by BROOD
ing over her mothers plight"
CAN'T BE A SUICIDE, SAYS HER
EMPLOYER.
Mr. O'Donohue said to-day. at his
home. No. &c: West Seventy-third
street. that the news of Miss Van
Auksns death was q great sIock to
him.
Miss Van Auken." ne said. has
been a competent and faithful employee
for more than ten years. We regarded
her as extremely Intelligent and of a
very high character. she was remark
able for her cheerfulness and when
she left the office Saturday after
noon she appeared her usual sunny
self / would pick her out as the last
person on earth to commit suicide.
Had she any such idea in mind I
feel certain that she would have lett
a note for me or some of her ascot
ates in the office. | have heard of her
mothers plight and also that brother
once attempted suicide. but this did not
seem to prey upon her mind.
The body OF Miss Van Auken was dis
covered by Henry Bowrie. agent OF the
building, who smeled gas as he was
passing through hallway. He entered
the nat occupied by the young woman
and was almost overcome.
When the windows. which were all
locked, were raised the body was dis
covered in the oathtub, which was par
TALLY filed with water gas jet in
the bathroom was open.
CORONER BELIEVES SHE MAY
nAV6 OlED VI FSIoSNiNS.
Coroner Nintehbottom was called by
the police of the Vest One Hundred
and Twenty hfth street station.
II am suspicious" sad the Coroner,
because the skin Is not pink. That Is
the usual evidence Of death by asphyxl-
alton. | intend TO investigate this death
very thoroughly. for | think the young
woman may have died of poison"
The Coroner said his suspicious were
strengthened by the fact that so little
clothing could be found in the nat. lie
said q thorough search had revealed
nothing but torn bathrobe. pair OF
stockings and pair OF corsets.
Miss Van Auken was last seen BY
persons In the building Saturday after
noon. Her father was not observed IN
the building at all yesterday. In the
apartment were several empty bsei
bottles and glasses partially Allied with
drinks-beer and whiskey. Remnants
OF cigars and cigarettes were also found
lying about.
No one in the house knew much about
the young woman and her. father salc
Bowrie to the police. They apparently
did not care to make friends OF the
ne!ghbors Their department was pgope!
and there was nothing IN their conduc
TO cause comment"