New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-26
Third Attempt at Suicide, in
Day, by Drug Mans
Widow Succeeds.
SHE HAD NOT SLEPT
SINCE HIS DEATH
Grief Causes Deed-WatChers
Sent from Room by RuSe-
Falls Into Crowd.

Mrs Josephine Branser Amend.
widow Of Robert f. Amend. Of the
wholesale drug firm Of Elmer & Amend
who died January s. committed sui
eide at . o'clock last night by jumping
from her bedroom window on the
twelfth floor Of tho 81. Urban Apart
monts. seth street and Central Park
West
Previously during the day she had
made two attempts To end her life by
the same method. She had not been
able to sleep since her husband died.
At $40 o'clock last night she told
her maid F'rieds Kuehner. who had
visitor. a Mrs Sturgis. that she was
going 10 retire. and she asked the mald
IN turn out all the lights except on'
in an anteroom. Since the night 0i
Mr.. Amends death every light in the
apartment had been kept going.
And get me a cup Of hot coffee sne
said. Make it as hot as YOU cam
AS she talked she dsrobed and
donned her nightgoWn.
Miss Gertrude NJ. Amend. seventeen
years old. was with her mother in the
bedroom. and she followed the maid
and Mrs. Sturgis toward the kitchen
to assist in carrying out the order.
They we're boiling the water, wnen
Frieda told Mrs Sturgis TO go back TO
the bedroom and watch Mrs. Amend.
lust then the maid heard the sound or
the bedroom sash being raised, and she
brushed by Mrs. Sturgis and Miss
Amend and rushed into Mrs. Amend s
room As she got there she saw Mrs.
Amend standing in her nightgoWn on
the window ledge.
Fricda screamed and Miss Amend
and Mrs. Sturgis ran into the room.
The maid was try ing to grasp the edge
Of Mrs. Amends nightdress. but TINS
move was frustrated, Mrs. Amend dc
liberately posing herself for A dive
She plunged TO the sidewalk before any
hands could restrain her.
4 number Of persons were passing
the house when Mrs. Amend plunged
down among them. Several women
screamed and Patrolman Pope at Cen
tral Park West and S9th street, ran up.
Mrs. Amend had been instantly killed.
After an ambulance surgeon he'd
gone through a formality Coroner
Reardon was notified by telephone.
During the hour that elapsed before he
appeared the body lay on the sidewalk,
the policeman being so excited he did
not think of bringing the body into the
apartment house.
Following Mr.. Amends death. Dr..
August Siebert, of No. Ia East 9th
street. the family physician and long
time friend, had been in attendance
several times day at the Amend
apartment. He was much worried over
the fact that he could do nothing to
soothe his patient, who remarked con-
stantly that she had lost everything
when her husband died.
Her condition became such that Or.
Sicbert. unable to watch her all the
time because of his other duties, and
realizing that the young daughter had
worn herself out in her attentions 10
her mother, deputized his son, Charles,
10 assist in this work. He was at the
house carly Yesterday and during that
time Mrs. Amend tried twice TO get to
the window. Siebert. Miss Amend and
the maid held her back.
In the afternoon j. +. Polch, execu-
tor of Mr. Amends estate, was visi-
tor. and suggested that Siebert take her
for a walk. Mrs. Amend was agreeable
and they went into Central Park. They
returned late in the evening and Polcf
came back. He left about $50 with
| Siebert
Coroner Reardon said he learned that
70 induce sleep Mrs. Amend had been
given what he termed hypnotic
drugs" but these had not been ef-
| fectiye.
Mr.. Amends death was very sudden
In 1909 he was stricken with paralysis
and he had TO give up his personal at
tention 10 business. In caring for hin
| Mrs. Amends health was affected.
Mr.. Amend was fifty-one, his wife
few years younger. He was treasurer
and director Of Elmer & Amend. the
big drug firm, whose establishment /:
Al Third avenue and 18th street. Mr.
Amend also was second vice president
OF the German Exchange Bank.