New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-14
DEATH OF GIRL
STILL A MYSTERY
Father Insists Miss Gibson
Was Killed by an
Automobile.

Another day Of investigation into the
death of Miss jeanette Bartram Glib
son did little 20 solve the mystery as
to how the nineteen-year- Brooklyn
girl met her death last Friday light.
The police theory that the girl, de
Spondent from illness, jumped from the
roof Of her home, 36l Lafayette Ave
nue., in front of which she was found,
was accepted by Coroner Ernest Wag-
ner. pending the result of an autopsy.
William ". Gibson, the girls father,
is positive that the girl was struck by
an automobile. and he persists that the
advancement Of the suicide theory is a
hoax Of the police to cover their inabil-
ity to apprehend the driver of the car.
Both theories are borne out by disin-
terested witnesses. each telling story
directly contradictory Of the other. and
the police and the girls father advance
strong arguments TO bear out their con-
flicting beliefs.
Yesterday afternoon Coroner Wag-
ner said that he was convinced it was
clear case Of suicide, after holding a
hearing Sunday night in the Ralph Ave
rue station.
81 learned that the girl, respondent,
left the supper table on Friday. in a
huT Dennis Deegan, of 249 Clifton
Place, upon his return Sunday from a
fishing trip told me that he saw the
girl throw herself from the roof He
was the only person who saw II. Emil
krieger, the man who said he saw the
machine dart away on zigzag course.
did not see the accident. he admitted
to me. lie came upon the body and his
story Of the automobile was, in effect.
imaginary"
Deegan's story that he rushed TO tho
home OF Dr. Homer r. Jones. Of 332
Lafayette Avenue. when ne saw the
girl jump was verified by the doctor,
who said that the reason he did not
treat the girl was because he was busy
with his own child, who was ill.
Deegsn's delay in telling hi story was
caused, the coroner is convinced, by
the fact that he thought there was no
question Of how she met her death.
On the other hand. Mr.. Gibson
showed reporters last night that IL
would be almost impossible for his
daughter to have jumped from the
narrow, inclined roof Of the house. He
backed his contention by pointing out
that if she had dove of the roof, ~
she would have 10 in order 80 jump,
why had she not broken the telegraph
wires?
Two ambulance surgeons gave a.
their opinion that the girl did not
jump. They base their opinions on the
fact that the girls ankles and legs
showed a clean break, and not the
crushed and shattered break that would
result from the impact of fall from
the roof
The police. in answer 20 tho doctors,
ask why, If Miss Gibson was struck by
an automobile. did her clothing not
show the effects Of hcr body having
been hurled against the pole or
dragged through the street.
Tho family doctor. Forbes J. Nun
son. told the coroner that Miss Gibson
was a sufferer from epilepsy and wa,
often Respondent. The father corrob F.
grated the doctor. The father also told
the coroner that he thought his dauCh
ter had gone TO her room after she left
the table. lie also admitted finding
the roof door open the next morning.
The funeral services for the young
woman were conducted last night by
the Rev. DR.. +. a. Wright, Of ST. Marks
Protestant Episcopal Church. About
a hundred persons, most Of them girls
about Miss Gibson's age. attended.
Upon leaving the services Miss
Florence Jordin. OF 2S2 Van Slclen
Avenue, a friend Of the dead girl,
tainted