New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-30
KIN Of PATRICK HENRY
KILLS HERSELF WITH GAS
Great Granddaughter Of Vir-
ginia Patriot Left Torn Will
and Fresh COdiCiI.
VICTIM OF MELANCH0LIA
Mary Fontaine Freeland Dis.
poses of Estate Valued at
$4,000 Before End
ing Her Life.

Melancholy with brooding over IN, past
Mary Fontalne Freoland, nifty years old
great grsnddaughte OF Patrick Henry,
the Virginia patriot. committed suicide
yesterday morning In n boarding house at
No. Sc West 55th street by lnhaling IL
Eliminating gas.
A maid in the house detected the odor
OF gas and traced IT 10 Miss Freeland' =
room on the top floor. Mrs. Miller, who
runs the boarding house, was informed by
the maid, and both went To the room
When they opened the door Miss Free
land was on the bed, with a gas tube
near her mouth. one end Of which was at
tached to a jet Mrs. Miller opened all
, the windows in the room and then sent
across the street for DR.. Robert G. James.
He hurried to the house, hut Miss Free
land was dead when he arrived. Or.
James reported the case TO the police.
Miss Freeland came to this city about
three weeks ago from a sanatorium in
South Norwalk, where she had been
treated for melancholla. She had stopped
in this city on her way South.
In the room beside the body was found a
will which had been torn and then pasted
together again, along with a codicIl re-
Gently made, which had not been torn.
The will disposes OF about 1000 acres or
plantation land in Warren County, Mis-
eiGsippl. and other counties I'm the same
state, as we'll as a quantity Of Jewelry
Miss Freeland was the daughter of Fris-
bic Thomas Freeland, who, upon his
death, left large fortune, the vestigcs
- i,, n gt,I, To- u
will.
Miss Freeland was in her youth a belle
in Washington society, and was until
recent years, well known in this city. II
had been her habit to spend the early
spring in New York and her summers In
Newport. Il. l.
The Rev. Randolph Ray. Curate OF the
Protestant Episcopal Church Of Zion and
ST. Timothy, at No 33i West 18th stree
, is a relative OF Miss Freeland. lie took
charge OF the body, which will be taken
20 Berkeley Chapel in Newport for burial.
Under the will, which was dated at the
.Iarratt Hotel Port Gibson, Miss, on
March y. 1912. two hundred acres OF plan
tation land is bequeathed to Captain
/ Perkins, Miss Frecand's uncle, and two
{ hundred acres to j. W. Mason. provided
/ he remains in her employ and is faithful
/ To her interests one hundred acres is
! bequeathed TO Evelyn Hassell, and there
are other hrncnciarles, among whom are
divided plantation lands totallng about
| two thousand acres. one clause Of the
/ will states that Miss Freeland gives her
| first engagement ring to Alice Miller
! Draper. OF this city. and a diamond cross
/ to Jack" II. r. Ray Tho codicil be-
uueaths nifty acres OF plantation land to
/ Charles Stockton Halstcad a clerk in the
! Seamcn's Bank, OF this city.
| The will which is now in the possession
I Of the police shows that II has been torn,
as with an intention OF being destroyed,
and then pasted together again. The Rev.
! Mr.. Ray said that there would be a ques-
! ton as To its validity. and that he would
not be surprised II another will were
/ found in Miss Freeland's safety deposit
| box in the Lenox Safe Deposit Company =
vaults. The estate is thought to be worth
about $4,000.
The sanatorium in South Norwalk.
| Conn, where Miss Freeland stayed for
four months previous TO coming to ;his
city, is known az Moss Hill villa, con-