New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-27
BLEEDING AND BURNED,
WOMAN BLAMES PED[ER
Attempt at Suicide. Husband
and Detectives Say. on
Reading Notes.
FLAT TAKES FIRE FROM GAS
Fireman s Wife Tells Her Story
on Way to Hospital, While
Surgeons Say Condi-
ton Is Dangerous.

When Mrs. Sarah Lapine opened the
door Of her fiat. on the second floor OF
the five story tenement house at No. S3S
East 30th street. last evening, she saw
burst Of flame coming from the bath
room at the end Of the hall. AS she
started 10 run for the head of The stairs
leading to the floor below, Mrs. Lapine
was Mortified TO see Mrs. Dorothy Leon
ard wife Of John ]. Leonard. a fireman.
standing by the banniSter, her throat
slashed almost from ear to ear, and her
hair badly snged.
Mrs Tapine rushed 10 the street. calling
for the police. and her cries were heard
by Patrolmen Kalmer and Gliemann. Of
the East 3jth street station. They dashed
into the building when they heard there
was fire on the second floor.
Half way up the second floor stairs
they met Mrs. Leonard. the bosom Of her
dress covered with blood. She was reel
ing. as she half stumbled down the stairs
and was hanging 10 tho bannisters for
support. Kalrner ran to the street. called
An ambulance from Bellevue Hospital,
and sent in an alarm 10 Engine Company
49, GiIemann carried Mrs. Leonard down
stairs 10 the ianitor's rooms In the base
ment
When DR.. Hawkins arrived in the am
bulance he made n hasty examination OF
Mrs Leonards wound and prepared 10
rush her 70 the operating ward OF the
hospital. In the meantime some one had
called Father Dryer. OF the Church OF
no D'yIp bn
rites Of the Church 10 her.
After she had been placed in the am
bulance. according TO Dr. Hawkins. Mrs.
Leonard recovered consciousness and
made a statement nc 10 how she received
her wound. According to hcr story she
was at home shortly before O'Clock.
when the bell rang. SIC pushed the but
ton and an old pedler entered tho hall
way and raped on he door oC hc- nat.
When she opened e he demanded that
she give him cents. When she refused
he pushed past her ana entered the nat
While she was arguing with the pcdlcr.
Mrs. Leonard said. tho man suddenly
grabbed up white handled razor he-
longing 70 her husband. and slashod her
throat with IT, She explained the burn
inG Of her hair by saying that when she
opened the door o. the bathroom and
struck a match. there was an explosion.
Soon after sho had been taken 10 tho
hospital. Mrs. Lnenard's husband arrived
NJ tho house, knowing nothing ~ the nr"
or his wifcs injuries IIc IS attached 10
tho ongiu" company which responded 90
IN" fire IN his home and whom IN asked
y. H., L., L. L., 1. a..
nat
lie rushed UP the stairs 10 hiq rooms
and was then told OF HE wifc being
found with her throat slashod. He went
at once 10 the hospital. whore no waited
ncrvously outside IN" corridor % tho
ward where his wife had been taken.
Detectives Snydockcr and Nelson were
assigned TO investigate the case. aud
went to tho Leonard apartments. They
found TRAN Of blood leading from tho
front room 10 the bathroom. and also
found a bloody razor near TN" piano I'm
the front room. Further investigation led
80 the finding OF a note on the floor.
worded as follows:
He said / should tell YOU goodby It's
IN the piano. He dragged IN" 80 this.
Another note, scribbled in lead pencil.
was found on top OF the piano. This note
read
My own dear boy, goodhy. Sadie. Oh.
how | love you, dear Forgive me. John
mic. Kiss mother and dad.
on a group photograph, IN which Loon
ard was prominent, was written the
single word Love above the hreman's
head. Below was written: Keep the
wedding certificate and always love me
all the time" This photograph had been
torn from its frame.
After being shown these notes. Leonard.
according 10 the police. said he believed
his wife had attempted 10 Kill herself
The detectives also held mis- opinion.
They found that a small pipe attached
TO the gas metre IN the bathroom had
been broken on, permitting the gas to
escape. This led them 10 believe that
Mrs. Leonard had first tried 10 commit
suicide by inhaling gas. Failing in this.
she is believed to have used the razor.
The explosion OF gas liz believed to have
been caused by the fact that some one
entered the bathroom and struck a
match, not knowing the gas was escap-
ing The fire did small damage and was
soon eXtinguished.
rs result OF their Investigation the
detectives placed Mrs. Leonard under
arrest In the hospital Her condition IL
said TO be dangerous.
BOOM IN HAT MAKING