Evening journal., 1913-12-08
CLEARING UP
MYSTERY OF
DEAD WOMAN
Victim Of Gas May Have Been
MiSS Fannie Matthews Late
Of Baltimore
ACQUAINTANCES PROVIDE
A CHRISTIAN BURIAL

Miss Katherine Johnson, who con-
ducts the boarding house at No. 526
West Fourth street, in which the aged
woman who gave her name as Miss
Fannie Morgan committed suicide by
asphyxiation last week, is in receipt of
a letter which throws light upon the
identity of the dead woman. The
letter is from w. l.. Campbell and
Company, a drug firm of Park and
Fourth avenue, Baltimore, and from
it's contents it appears that Miss Nor
gan is in reality a Miss Fannie
Matthews, who lived with a family by
the name of Shipley about one year
ago.
Among the effects of the dead wo-
man was found a pill box, upon the
lid OF which was the address Of the
Baltimore firm Upon the box was
written the name OF Mrs. Shipley
Mrs. Louise Richards, sister of Miss
Johnson, wrote to the drug firm, send
ing the box, and in the letter she re-
ceived In reply the druggists stated
that they had visited the doctor who
has issued the prescription, and
through him had met the Mrs Shipley
whose name was on the box. Mrs.
Shipley had informed them that she
knew no one by the name of Fannie
Morgan, but that the description OF
le dead woman given by Mrs. Rick
rds closely answers the description
~ an old lady who formerly lived with
her. whose name was Fannie
Matthews. Mrs. Shipley informed the
druggists that she knew nothing
about Miss Matthews relatives. Miss
,Matthews, Mrs. Shipley said, was un-
married and about 60 years old, who
had lived with her for a short time
until a year ago Since leaving her
house a year ago. Mrs. Shipley had
heard nothing from Miss Matthews
The druggists assured Mrs. Richards
that If they learned anything further
about the woman they would let her
know.
II has been stated that the dead
woman probably has relatives In Phil
adelphia or Baltimore, but Mrs. Rick
ards does not believe this, inasmucn
as when she came 10 her home five
weeks ago she stated that she did
not have living relative. Since com
ing to the boarding house on Fourth
street the dead woman had mentioned
several places where she lived, and
stated that at one time she had lived
in a house in New York for which shf
Maid 500. wear. This statement
coupled with the fact that the woman
was refined. and very we'll read, leads
10 the belief that at one time she was
in GOOD circumstances On Wednes
dav. the day before her death, sh'
lost a $50 bill, which she was trying
To change I'm a Market street store.
John p. Reardon. a contractor, o
10. South Harrison street author
ized Undertaken James T. Chandle
to take charge O. the body. arrang
for the funeral and give it prope
burial 1t was at first expected tha
the body would be shipped to som
other city but Coroner Spring SAT-
this morning that the intermen
would be made In Silverbrook Gene
terry.
Mr.. Reardon, gave Mr.. Chandler
check to cover all expenses but dil
not impart to him any of the fact
of the case, and did not tell him he
name. The coroner also has not beei
informed OF her name by Mr.. Rear
don, who when spoken to about tn
subject declined to make known an
of the. facts of the case. He stated
however. that he did not know Mis-
Morgan personally, but that he ha
been in communication with som
people outside this city who wante
her buried and who paid him tn
money to be paid to the undertake.
The date for the inquest has nc
been set.
In the letter received by Mrs. Ricl
ards. it was stated that Miss Matthew
had a niece. Mrs. Cline Byrd. wh
lives on Rolling Road. near Edmol
ton avenue. Baltimore.