The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-29
DIED IN HOME OF
WOMAN FRIEND
CONTINUES from page one,


Hand moved last week. The revolver
lay on the bed near by. She was the
only other occupant of the dwelling
at the time, few minutes after u
o'clock today
His brown coat was powder burned
though the muZzle of the gun mad
been close against it. She told Po-
lice Sergeant Ed Walker that she was
in the kitchen when the shots were
fired, that she had no warning of Stor-
rier's intent to kill himself and that
he had just entered the house asking
if she had room to rent. They were
old friends.
He Was Quiet Man.
Storrier was a lineman in the en-
ploy of the Bell company and had
worked in Valley Falls until Satur-
day. This morning he reported at the
office and resigned. His death was
phone company, for which he had
worked irregularly during three years
past. Storrier was 81 years of age,
single man, and of a quiet. rather
from his pocket by the police showed
a more than casual intimacy with Mrs.
Hand. Mrs. Hand has also been known
as Mrs. Brown, having announced her
weeks ago. Both Mrs. Hand and
Bown have come in contact with the
police in connection with charges of
liquor selling and disorder1y conduct,
been married and divorced. Her re-
cent announcement of her renarriage
came after several months of separa-
ton from him.
Brown was at the house at 131
Jackson street at noon today and APP
peared to be at home there. He had
come in, he said, just after Storrier
had killed himself and gave a very
simple explanation of the affair. Mrs.
Hand-Brown remained in the rear of
the house and answered a few ques-
tons in a fearful voice but did not
appear to talk to the reporter.
Police Think 1t Suicide.
That David Storrier shot himself be-
accy with the woman and because he
was Respondent over her refusal to go
with him to Wichita, is the belief of
the police Letters now in possession
of Chief Ross tell of the abandoned
plan to go to Wichita, show Mrs.
Hands request for money to make the
move and Storrier's apologize declara-
ton that he did not have it to spare.
The police have letters written by each,
indicating other incidents.
Il think Storrier killed himself aft
err having had a last talk with her
and finding out that their friendship
was off, " declared Chief Ross. LAS
I understand she has made it up with
Brown and I suppose they are living
together again. We notified the land
lord at her old place at 213 East Sec
ond street that she would have to
move and he put her out of there on
or just before the 25th of this month.
She has been at 131 Jackson street
only a few days. We have had COM
plants against her for conducting
disorderly house and have kept her
under a close watch, as she says in one
of her letters
Frank Browns Statement.
81 can only account for Storrier's
suicide by saying that he was of
respondent turn of mind, declared
Frank Brown at noon today. He had
DIS att different times in
the past but mas been working out of
town lately, and came in from Valley
Falls Saturday night. He went out
after noon today looking for a room.
He said he had been transferred back
here. He was a quiet sort of fellow,
never had much to say and was blue
lots of times. He often said he was
lonesome and didn't have anyone to
month ago and 1 suppose that de-
pressed him.
Planned to Die?
The fact that David Storrier resign
ed his position a few hours before his
death would indicate that he planned
to take his own life. That his deter
mination was fixed might be inferred
from the fact that after firing once
and grazing his left side at the level
of the heart he grimly snapped the
trigger three more times until it sent
a bullet squarely through the top of
his heart.
Storrier's people live at Madison
Kan, and one of the letters evidently
written by a sister in January, men
toned the serious illness of their
father whose death he had mentioned
to Brown.