New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-10
SOLVE PARMA MYSTERY
Pianist's Companion Identified by
Friend as Clara ConnorS.
HER INSANITY HOPELESS
Musicians Lawyer Declares
Woman Neither Wife Nor
Daughter of Old Man.

The mystery surrounding the woman who
was found Monday afternoon beside the
! body Of Professor Louis g. Parma in his
! New York Conservatory OF Music. at No
IiS1 Lanox avenue. was solved last night
when Mrs VI Gray. Of No. 344 West 18th
street, Identified her as Clara Connors.
Mrs Gray said she came from Indiana
twenty years ago and had been demented
nearly all these years.
Mrs Gray visited the psychopathic ward
OF Bellevue. where Miss Connors is con-
fined. She told DR. Gregory, who is in
charge Of that department OF the hospital.
that Miss Connors became a pupil ar Pro-
fessor Parma's school when she first came
10 New York. She was then twenty-one
years old beautiful and talented, and her
SIKH on the piano made her a favorite Of
the music teacher at once.
Her mind began to fail before she was in
the conservatory a year. Professor Parma
took her To the BEST alenists, but they told
him that nothing could be done, as her
insanity was Of the progressive sort and
ncurable.
The old musician shielded her affection
from every one. and as her mind grew
weaker his devotion to her became
stronger.
Before her mind gave way she told
Parma all her relatives were dead, her
parents dying Just before she came to this
city. What part Of Indiana she came from
Mrs. Gray did not know
DR.. Gregory said that he believed the
woman had been insane for at least if
teen years. He has talked with her at
length. but to all his questions she has had
only one answer: YES"
Mrs. Margaret Clinton. who had been
housekecper for Parma for the last three
years. said that the professor had once
told her the woman was his wife.
when Professor Parma went to Vienna
two years ago he took her with him, and
when he returned he said TO me- I'm
going to send my wife away He sent her
to Tannersville. in the Catskills, and went
up 10 see her every Saturday night. re-
turning Monday morning, during the whole
summer she was there"
Miss Ethel Won Keller. who had been
Parma's secretary for tho last three years
also supposed the woman to be Parma's
Wife Her predecessor. Miss Valera HALT
Parma had told her the woman was his
daughter.
Both stories are secuted by Henry NJ
Heymann. who had been the musician 3
friend and legal adviser for the last twenty
years. When seen at his Office, 80 ZIG
Nassau street. yesterday. Mr. Heymann
said:
Il knew Professor Parma almost since
he arrived I'm this country and never heard
Of this woman until yesterday. He came
from Vienna. where he has a brother
Gustave. and where he has an estate
worth about 500. He left little be
sides a small bank account and few lots
somewhere I'm New Jersey. He made n
good deal Of money when he ran the New
York German Conservatory OF Music on
42d street. opposite Bryant Park. but he
lost about $1,000 since moving uptown. his
students dropping in number from about
three hundred to thirty OF late he had
been behind I'm his rent
Pm sure he was not married. and also
sure hc never had daughter. for II II
were true he would have told me. lie
often said to me. I think I'll go back To
Vienna and establish a conservatory there
and II lind nice girl III marry her.
Mr.. Heymann said the old musician had
been sick for the last nine months from
Brights disease.
The room I'm which the woman lived for
nine years practically a prisoner was
ON the second floor and, 80 far az known
had never tcen visited By any one save
Parma during all those years. lie chanSed
the bed linen and kept the room IN order'
o,d AN rare occasions he would take the
woman out for an airing. he also III
structed those around the conservatory
never 10 enter tho room. And non" dlu
until his death.
William NJ Hoes. the public admins
traitor. has taken charge Of Parma : IS
tate.