Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-05-16
CAUSE FOR GIRLS SUICIDE
MAY NEVER Be KNOWN
Officials viii Not Open Per-
SonaI Letters Left by Miss
Van VaIkenburgh

Only two persons may ever know what
prompted Miss Eleanor Van Valken-
burgh, thirty years old, of a prominent
Huntsville. Ala, FAMILY to end her life
at midnight Sunday in her room at the
Ansley hotel by firing a 32-caliber steel
bullet from an automatic pistol through
her brain.
One is her mother, Mrs. E. B. Van
Valkenburgh, of Huntsville; the other
is D. NJ. Treminger. an Atlanta travel
ing salesman, for an automobile con-
Germ. An inquest will be held Monday
afternoon at o'clock at the Poole I'M
dertaking parlors.
Letters in sealed envelopes addressed
to these two persons, and found a
table in her room were marked per
sonal."
For this reason, Coroner Paul Donehoo
and Police Captain Poole have seen fit
not to open them. Their contents are
secrets and the letters will be deliver
ed only to those to whom they were ad-
dressed.
In connection with the letters, were
found two kilograms, gripped in the dead
woman's left hand and pressed against
her heart when the house detective Of
the hotel and the house physician enter
ed the woman's room.
Both of these kilograms were sent
from Cincinnati and both were sent to
Miss Van Valkenburgh. Both were
signed DAN" a name corresponding tc
the first initial of the man to whom the
letter was addressed.
One telegram stated:
"Will be in Louisville Monday; Nash
vile. Tuesday; am seeing mother to-
day."
The other stated:
mo letter; are you all rfght?"
There was no doubt in the minds of
authorities of the hotel and the house
physician that the suicide of Miss Van
Valkenburgh had been carefully pre-
arranged.
The house detective, attracted to the
room by groans, obtained a pass key
and opened the door.
With a pillow neatly arranged for her
head, the form of Miss Van Valken-
burgh, almost completely dressed, lay
as it would if she had prepared for a
nights sleep. In the right hand, par
TALLY gripped, was the revolver. Miss
Van Valkenburgh had never removed
her shoes. which were of the latest
style, a champagne color, with hose to
match. Her hair, light and fluffy, ap-
peared to have been washed only a short
time before.
On a chair near by was a most stylish
black silk dress of the most elaborate
tailoring, which the young woman had
taken off. She was clothed in a silk
underskirt.
The woman was unconscious when the
house officer entered the room. BY the
time the house physician arrived, her
groans grew more feeble and death re-
slted in few minutes.
The bullet ranged through the tenn
pie from the right side and came out at
the left ear. The bullet was embedded
in the pillow.
Miss Van Valkenburgh was a most
beautiful woman, one who would cause
any one to give a second glance of adj
miration. Her hair was of a beautiful
brown and she was tall. Her dignified
manner of carrying herself enhanced her
attractiveness.
Miss V\l Valkenburgh registered at
the hotel last Thursday. She was sell
dom seen about the Hobbies or the mez-
canine. She was noticed Sunday night
returning to the hotel with a party of
friends. Less than two hours later she
had ended her life.