New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-03
Took Poison in Hotel
Was Prominent in Indi-
annapolis Society.
MADE OWN CYANIDE
CAPSULES IN ROOM
Left Note Asking To Be Gre
mated to Save Expense of
Shipping Body Home.

age 10 end her life in the atmosphere
Of her own home. Miss Bessie Byield
packed bag and travelled all the way
from indianapolis TO New York TO com
NIT suicide. Her iifclcss body was
found in her room at the Park Avenue
Hotel yesterday morning She was a
member of prominent family and W !.
known in society.
4 quantity of cyanide Of potassium
crushed to powder and held in gelatine
capsules, caused the young womans
death. She came to the hotel on Sat
urday, registered under her own name
and was assigned TO a room, which she
apparently engaged solely for the pur-
pose Of dying in. Every indication
pointed toward a careful and deliberate
planning of her act.
Two notes were found on the bureau,
one addressed to her mother, Mrs. F.. c.
Byfcld, and the other TO her sister,
Emma. both living at 1929 North Hi
nois Street. Indianapolis. They were
identical. and read:
DO not ccnsurc me for this act. but
fear ! am losing my mind and think
this is the kndest way out. | would
not want 90 be a burden on the family
and you would not want 10 see me suf-
fer.
q hadn't the courage to do this at
home. and | knew New York better than
any other place. | hope this will be
the means of bringing the family closer
together.
81 am not afraid to die. ! have done
nothing that | think God will not for
give. Please do not mourn!"
The letter was signed Bessie
Miss Byfeld. who was evidently
about thirty years old, well dressed
and Of attractive appearance, was. seen
about the hotel several times after
She engaged room, but nothing IN
her manner betrayed the nature Ct her
thoughts. She spent Saturday after
noon shopping, she told a clerk, and
when she retired early in the evening
left word at the Office that she was to
be awakened at 8 o'clock yesterday
morning.
In compliance with her request, the
telephone in her room was rUng, but
the call was unanswered. Later in the
morning a maid entered the room with
pass key and found Miss Byheld
dead in her bed. -Four ounces of cya-
nide Of potassium was in bottle be
side the bed. She had apparently
taken Jumps Of the crystals and
crushed them into powder, which she
placed in capsules, as several that
had not been filled were also found on
the dresser, beside glass half filled
with water.
In a note TO the manager Of the ho-
tel Miss Byfeld declared that she
hoped her act would not cause any
great amount of Inconvenience. As a
favor. she asked that her body be sent
to a crematory and her ashes forward
ed TO her mother at Indianapolis, as
the EXPRESS charges would be less and
her family would be saved the expense
: Of coming to New York to make
funeral arrangements. After deduct
ing what was owed for the room she
had occupied. Miss Byfeld asked the
manager TO use the balance o. tn" S35
she deposited when she registered at
the hotel in defraying the expense of
caring for her body.
IBy Telegraph TO Tic Tribunel
indianapolis. May Miss Bessie By
field. Of 1929 North Illinois street,
daughter of Mrs. Bessie VI. Byileld,
who committed suicide at the Park Ave
+ nue. Hotel. in New York, to-day, comes
I of one of the most prominent families
of indianapolis. She had disappeared
mvsteriously on Friday morning, when
she left home apparently to 20 to the
shopping district. When she did not
return home that evening the family
started q search with the aid OF the
police. but nothing was heard of her
until the announcement Of her death in
New York.
Relatives here have no idea Of the
cause for the deed as the young wom-
an was always of an unusually happy
disposition. They ascribe a possible
mental disarrangement to severe
1 blow on the head from a golf ball at
the Country Club more than week
ago. Since then she had complained
/ of severe headaches and inability 20
sleep. The last that was heard Of her
was through telephone message TO a
J friend after snc had left home OF Fri
dav morning. when she complained OF
a violent hcadacfe and severe pains IN
her head.
She was the Youngest daughter and
/ leaves her mother, sister and three
/ brothers, one OF whom, Charles, IS as
sistant postmaster Of this city.