The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-08
BOY KILLS BEST GIRL
AND SELF IN HOTEL
John Petersen-BlOck. 10, and
Rose Smith Found Dead
in the BclmOrc.
SPENT ALL FOR A PISTOL
Mute Evidence Tells Of Her Re-
fusal to Marry and His
Despair.

JONI DS.a- Petersen Riork. q youth OF
~. killed his sweetheart. Ros" Smith. OF
the same axe and ended his own life,
IN the Hotel Fclmore. at Lexington ave.
,uc aud Twen'y-ffth street. Apparently
the tragedy occurred TUESDAY eve'inc,
although tho bodies were not found until
yesterday.
The motive tor .he inui'or ara suicide
was suggested last nigh; by the girls
father. who told the police that he had
objected 20 young Petersen Blocks atten-
ions to his daughter because the boy had
10 prospects Mr. Smith believed that
Petersen lRlock took Ros" 20 the hotel for
the purpose Of inducing h"r 20 marry him
without the consent 81 hev PARENTS ana
that When ~, refused he shot her and
then hims",
He borrowed 81 last Tuesday ard used
the money to buy n revolver. which he
obtained just before ne took his sweet
hear, to tn" Hotel BeImore
John oscar Petersen Hook vas book
keeper FOR the American Gas Reduction
Company At 1873 Eas; Twenty-third street
He had been employed there for nearly
three years and was favor;e in the
office. George =. Tress!dcr. the manager
of the office. said that the lad Was indus
trious. good hunored and free from bad
habits. His salary was sl5 a week.
He lived with his father and mother
and sister at 55i West lsith street. The
| father John Petersen Block. Is a designer
| for concern in West Fifteenth street.
which manufactures chandeliers and cleo
! trical fixtures, lie knew OF his sons lik-
| ing for Rose Smith and had no objection
to their keeping company.
| Girl Unusually Pretty.
Rose Smith was "A daughter OF John
| G.. smith. carpenter who lives at 1866
| ST. Nicholas avenue. near ls4th street
| Sh. was the third Of four daughters, all
lof whom were unusually pretty.
| The apartment house In which the
Smiths live is only around tho corner from
the home of the Peterson Blocks. Young
Petersen Block met Rose Smith nearly
three years ago ut II party given by young
| friends In the ne,ghborhood. From tn,
evening they met the lad could hardly
think or talk OF anyone save Rose,
Roses father hardly knew tho lad by
sight. but occasionally Mr.. Smith found
them talking In the hallway of tho apart
ment house where he lives, Roses father
objected to what he termed such method
OF lovemaking. He wasn't pensA wher
Rose went to the theatre with Petersen
Block and stayed out late.
Il On Tuesday Rose told her mother ant
TO spend the night with II married sister
she packed IA few Ihings In IA small hal
and left the house about noon. Sns me
her admlrer somewhere downtown an,
! they went together to tho Hotel Bemore
where Petersen Block registered with he
, at 10 $50 =. NJ. on Tuesday ms "Mr nm,
Mrs Jack Petersen. Jr." The lad ha
, dropped Block from his name and USE
: cards Inscribed John Petersen, Jr.
q. A. Sohnabs the manager OF tn
, I hotel. observed nothing about the coupl
: that seemed remarkable or Suspicion
> Since each carried a suitcase or u satcht
y Petersen Block was not asked to pay l
advance As II developed, he could nc
have paid II no had been asked. sine
= the little money that he had borrowed ha
!. gone for q pistol.
The clerks noticed that tho young ma
was extremely yOutnrul ana 80 snsht
i figure that the handsome girl with hi
. looked to he much stronger than hs. The
4 noticed that she was very pretty, Wit
n light brown hair, blue eyes, clear, bloom
l. Ing complexion and rounded figure. ar
that she was dressed neatly and tast'
!, fully In a white silk shirtwaist, Q ski
n of Scotch plaid. tan shoes and black velv'
h hat trimmed with black fur. she carrie
n n chinchilla coat which WAS lined wit
3, yellow silk.
' Went ~ Finish Dny's Work.
It Shortly after they had been shown
=, their room Petersen Block reappeared ar
:, left the hotel. II was learned yesterds
that he had used his lunch hour 10 me