New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-08
GODOWSKY SENDS
REPENTANT NOTE
Letter to Wife Says lie
Could Not Work at
Home.
POLICE BEGIN WORK
ON HACKENSACK CLEW
Deputy Commissioner o'ul'
Takes Up Trail from Pian'
ISIS Summer Home.

Leopold Godowsky, the Jewish plan
ist. who was reported missing BIZ MS
wife last Thursday night, has sent
letter 70 his home, at Avon, y. j.. stat
ing that he is well and regrets the an
noyance and apprehension he mas
caused by his absence from home. The
letter is postmarkcd Hackensack, Nd"
and states that he had written a letter
before he went away rom home last
Wednesday morning explaining what
his intentions were. He planned 20
locate himself in some out Of the way
place where he hoped he you'd be able
to catch up in his WORK of musical
composition. In this. it was said by
his family. he was far behind. and be-
fore leaving home had frequently com
blamed that he could never finish II
in the contracted time. September 10,
because of the frequent breaks caused
by the many visits of relatives ana
friends TO his summer home.
The letter was received yesterday
and was dated September s. 81 am all
right, and just found out that have
been reported missing. | left letter
in the bedroom, explaining what | mad
intended doing, and am much surprised
that you have not found IL"
The letter is said to have been writ
ten IN a hurry, but it is without doubt
in Mr. Godowsky's handwriting.
The family have searched the house
thoroughly, but say they have been
unable to find the letter left by the
distinguished pianist to explain his abb
sence.
As soon as Commissioner Guy II.
Skull received the information from
Vanita Godowsky, daughter Of the
pianist, he ordered Detective Walter
Kenny, of the Bureau of Missing and
Identification to leave on the midnight
train for Avon, y. j.. and to find the
stopping place in Hackensack of Mr..
Godowsky.
When the musician left his home
last Wednesday morning, II was
thought by his wife and family that
he would return home on an evening
train. He carried with him a dress
suit case, containing books and musical
papers which, it was said, were to be
left at Schirmer's musical publication
house, 3 East FOrty-third Street. Il
is known he called there. but did not
leave the books and papers. Instead,
he took with him several compositions
TO work on. This was some time before
o'clock. Then he went TO a hair
dressing establishment in Thirty
fourth Street, leaving in time to get a
o'clock train for Avon This seemed
to have been his intention when he
left the shop in Thirty-fourth Street.
The letter. pOStmarked Hackensack,
y. j., September 7. a. m, read:
Mrs. l.. VI. Godowsky, Avon, y. J.
Dearest: have just found out,
after reading the newspapers, of my
disappearance.
81 am consternated more than | can
express that / should have given you,
the children and my friends so much
trouble and unwarranted worry. It
makes me sick to think of the nOtoriety
my actions have gained.
"Since Wednesday | have not been
out of my room. | was working unin-
terruptedly on the educational adapta-
ton.
To-day for the first time | went out
and also for the first time since my
seclusion read newspaper. You can
well imagine my surprise and fright
when | saw how my action was mlsin-
terpreted.
What don't understand is the fact
that | left a letter addressed TO you
in the bedroom explaining my sudden
departure and my intended absence
from home until my work was done.
where is it? You evidently did not
read it. | simply can't understand it.
at was utterly impossible for me to
do the work which had to be done by
September 10, with all the Interrupt
tion | had to suffer at our home, with
the many callers, and with the thou
sand exasperating distractions.
81 have accomplished a great deal in
my voluntary exile, but must remain a
few more days in hiding to complete
the work for the Art Publication So
ciety. | expect to be finished IN a few
days.
81 am in perfect health and will
phone you before return. don't
tell you my whereabouts as | must be
left alone until the work is ready for
st. Louis
"All my love to you and the chill
dren. Your devoted husband.
LEOPOLD.
"P. Give my best wishes to
Whithcrne. | appreciate his efforts to
locate ne"