New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-09
PIANIST DEAD IN ROOM
WITH INSANE WOMAN
Louis G. Parma, Founder OF N. 7.
Conservatory Of Music, Found
in SquaIid Place.
MYSTERY FOR EIGHT YEARS
Police Hear Musicians Compan-
ion Was His Own Daughter
His Death Due to Cere-
bral Hemorrhage.

Louis G. Parma. once prominent
concert pianist a pupil Of Franz List
and the founder and director of the New
York Conservatory Of Music, was found
dead in a room on the second floor of
the house at 40 Isl Lenox avenue. yes
terday morning
In response 10 the entreaties of
Parma's housekeeper Coroner HELEN
stein and police from the l25th street
station broke into the room, where they
found the musician sitting Oh the foot
Of his bed. his head in his hands. ana d
small pool of blood on the floor in front
OF him Lying in the bed, partly dressed,
was woman who was plainly insane
She was removed TO Bellevue Hospital,
and Parma's body was taken to the
morgue.
About o'clock yesterday afternoon
Coroner Hellenstein received a mysteri-
out telephone message saying that man
was lying dead in the house in Lenox
avenue. The number Of the house, that
of Parma. was given and also the addi-
tional information that the room was on
;he second floor. Before further in
ouiries could he made this person rang
off without giving any name. Coroner
Hellenstein took his physician. DR.. Nes-
ton. and with Patrolmen Merrill and Bir-
mingham. of the West l25th street sta
tion. hurried down to this house
Police Break in Door.
The Coroner and the police went up
stairs. broke in the door of Parma's
room and entered. The body, dressed
only in socks and underclothes. was on
the foot of the bed In the bed lay
woman scantlly clad, who remained OBJ
livious to the entrance of the officers
until they approached the bedside and
stood over Ler She raised herself on
one elbow. stared up at them in va
cant fashion. and began 10 murmur:
"Oh. my. what do you want? What do
you want?
The sheets on which the woman Law
were black with dirt, and the entire
room was in an almost unbelievable con-
dition of filth. Coroner Hellenstein
made an examination of the body IF
Parma and gave 1t as his opinion that
the man had been dead for at least two
davs. The body was removed to the
noreue and the woman was sent TO
Bellevue.
The mysterious death of the musician,
the finding of the unidentified woman
and the discovery of the fearful condi-
tions in which Parma and his companion
had been living make a consistent end
ing of an existence which for the last
eight years has been the personitication
of mystery. Eight years ago Parma
leased the house at No. Isl, set up his
on the first floor and re-
sorved one room for himself on the sec
ond. He retained Mrs. Mary Clinton as
The woman was instructed never to
come 10 this private room unless so or
dered. and never to enter it under any
conditions. For fear she would lose her
Job she obeyed
Tells of Mysterious Woman.
The police had an interview late last
,,oht with a former secretary of the
n,ueicron Miss Valerie Holiday of No.
l237 Eighth avenue, who told them
Glory which. although amazing, may
nrove the solution of the case.
Miss Holiday said that shortly before
.bo left Parma to take new place she
roooivad letter for Mrs. b. Langdon,
~ ,Ro West 10Th street. She delivered
,hio letter in person. and while there fell
- discussion of Parma's private af-
.airs which led to the mention OF the
...,,orious woman. Thereupon, Miss
said. Mrs Langdon told her
49,. this woman was Professor Parina's
.,.n daughter, Lillian. She explained
.,,o. after the death of Parma's wife,
,a,,o ~ Years ago the musician, who was
.i,,,,o over the mental disability Of
49,. cir, began TO keep her with him on
IN occasions and to refuse to allow her
20 he seen by any one.
parma was about seventy years old,
.,v feet tall and man of unusual ap-
rorce DR.. Weston gave the prob
49, cause cf his death as cerebral