The Washington herald., 1916-03-26
MYSTERY Wells
WOMAN'S Death
Found Lifeless in Bed at
Hotel, Victim Of
Poison.
MURDER OR SUICIDE ?
Pretty and of Refined Manner. She
Hid Identity Under Name Of
Selma Thomas.

Mystery surrounds the death and
identity Of a young woman found dead
I'm q bed in a room in the New Ebbitt
House yesterday afternoon by Minnie
NIinnoch. a maid. That her death was q
violent one Is the expressed opinion oil
Coroner J. Ramsey hewitt. She regis
tered at the hotel about 10 O'Clock Thurs
day night as Miss Selma Thomas, New
York" but that is not believed to be
her name. a handkerchief with an EN-,
brOidered M having been found among
her effects.
To a Herald reporter Coroner hewitt
said that a superficial examination Of the
dead wOman's stomach showed unmis.
taxable signs Of a congestion, such as
could have been caused by the presence
OF some powerful irritant. The stomach
was taken to the District morgue, and a
chemical analysis will be made today BY
Deputy Coroner William B. Carr to de.
tcrmine exactly what poison caused tht
death.
II was at first thought from the peace.
full repOse Of the body that death wa;
caused by heart disease, but after the
examination Of the stomach revealed the
presence Of a poison, further mystery
was added to the case. and the police
are now working on both the suicide
and murder theories. though 1t is be,
lieved from the careful manner in which
lue uedu woman concealed ner rlQenUty
that the case is one of suicide.
Pretty and of Refined Manner.
The woman, who is described as beIns
about 90 years old, fair complexion, large
dark brown eyes. brown hair, weighing
about ll5 pounds, and about five feet
three inches tall, came into the hOte
unaccompanied Thursday night about II
O'Clock She was dressed in a brown
tailored suit and wore a brown straw
sailor hat, with modest flower trimmings
She is said to have been very good look
ing, with the quiet and dignified manner
Of a woman of refinement and means.
Her quiet and UnassUming manner was
noted by all with whom she came In
contact She paid her bill in advance
and had a considerable sum Of money ir
her purse when found dead yesterday
afternoon She is said to have spen
practically all of Friday in her room
At 10 o'clock yesterday morning Ettlt
Taylor. the morning maid, entered tbs
room and, seeing the woman lying peace
fully in bed, concluded that she wa!
asleep. and left the room. On two othel
occasions she went into the room, which
was darkened, and at noon when she
was relieved by Minnie Nfinnoch, she
told her that the woman was asleep and
not to disturb her.
haiu discovers Death
At ; o'clock, however. the maid re-en,
tered the room and turned on the cleo.
trio light. The strange stiffness of the
body led her to believe the woman wa.
dead. She hurried to the desk and in,
formed those on duty. After a hurried
examination the police and coroner were
notified.
She was dressed in her night clothing
and her arms were folded across hel
breast 1t was evident that she ha6
been dead for several hours.
In searching the room for some cleV
as to her Identity Coroner hewitt founC
a vial which was partially filed with
some fluid. This was also turned owe
to Deputy Coroner Carr for an analysis
This will probably be made today
folding paper drinking cup with Den
yer, Colorado" on it also was found
A description Of the woman has beer
sent to the police in New York City il
an effort to identify her. She wrote
very distinct vertical hand.
Her baggage consisted OF a blacl
leather Gladstone bag of good quality
and contained clothing sufficient for ;
short stay away from home.