The sun., 1917-11-09
RICH WIDOW NOT
ASUICIDE,FRESH
CLUES SUGGEST
Mystery in Finding Of Two
Wounds on Mrs. Stiassny
and Only One Shell.
NOBODY HEARD SHOTS
Will Gives S25O.0OO to Boy
Employed by Woman and
Ignores Niece.

N ansrer to a request by the dead
Soran's niece that an Investigation be
made, the District Attorneys Office yes-
Urday unear,hed real mystery in the
case Of Mrs. Sarah NJ. Stiassny.
Ssalthy widow who VAS supposed TO
Asvs Killed herself on Wednesday in her
spertment at 2i5 West Ninety eighth
street The investigation uncovered 40
many peculiari,ies that District Attor-
ronsd and an autopsy performed this
morning by Or. Otto RI. Schultse, his
| medical assistant.
Or. Benson NJ Feloman Of Sis
Cathedral Parkway. who had been at
tending Mrs. Stassny for nervous
trouble, first reported the case to the DO.
rc. Of the West Tooth street station
about 9 80 o'clock last Wednesday morn.
ins. He said Mrs. Stiassny apparently
had sho, herself to death py firing a re-
'ol,er Of small calibre into her right
temple Policemen Robert Tuxson and
Thomas u. storey were scnt to the
apartment rr Shugerman. called from
hRSkerhrcker Hospital, pronounced tho
lass one of suicide.
Suos'sntiation Of the suicide theory
cas- found In a letter in the bedroom
wnch was addressed to Richard Epstein.
cousin Of Mrs. Stiassny. who lived
With her and managed her estate. The
sst'er vas as follows:
"Mr DEAR RrcHARn---I cannot stand
ahis any longer. No sleep. feel as II
we're going insane. Funeral private.
God bless you tor what YOU have done
TO- ne. Don't grieve for me. for ! am
slad to be at rest. Lovingly.
COUSIN SARAH"
Looked Like Plain Suicide.
II was apparently such plain case Of
suicide that the police made only brief
examination and Investigation. and a
permit was given to turn the body over
q an. undertaken. Yesterday morning.
forever, coroner Hellenstein received "A
letter from Mrs. Jessye p. Lubetkin OF
80 Riverside Drive, a niece Of the dead
woman, asking that an investigation he
made and limiting strongly that her aunt
had not died ny her own hand. This
lstter ~as turned over to Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Fitzpatrick. uho, with Dr.
Schultze, paid visit TO the apartment
and examined the body
This examination disclosed the pres.
eHce OF second wound under the heart
Which had been overlooked by the ambu-
Lance surgeon. The puzzlng feature at
tached to this was that the revolver
:Jund N the dead wonan's hand had
tan'a!ned two cartridges, only one OF
l'h had been exploded. while the
iJdy. according to Dr.. Schul,ze. plainly
moved that two shots had been fired.
ie one In the right temple proving
itai
Assistant District Attorney Fi.zpat-
TN then began thorough examina ton
Q EourS Epstein negro maid named
I"ra Watts and others Epstein told a
s~aigh,:orward story, but when he had
he'd he collapsed and is now under "a
!Iysiran's care
u 'n"ned out that while Epstein was
i"ASHd as cousin his relationship 10
- woman was very distant. he being a
t"n If half brother of her father.
Samuel Epstein. He stated that he had
= ''rtually adopted six years ago by
. Nf Epstein who had taught him the
Ial estate business and employed him
10 elect rents and look afte: repairs.
Inherited Her Fathers Estate.
When Epstein died Mrs. Stiassny. he
s|s invited him to live in her apart
.sni. as the bulk Of the estate had been
!i' 10 her This was In 1913 and since
wen Mrs. st'assny being a widow and
- years old. young Epstein has been
looking after her Affairs
On Tuesday night. Epstein's story
e'es he and Mrs. St!assny went for
ralk on Riverside drive The widow.
ne says, was respondent over the posi-
tntH that he. might he called IN the
army draft, and was also worried con
.'rning several mortgages that she
iareJ might be forecloscd She asked
iIr, he declares, to let her change bed
,'ome with him as her room facing on
broadway was too noisy for her to sleep.
rpstetn also says Mrs. Stiassny asked
nm u he was still carrying a revolver,
Ni"h had been his custom when col.
fehnr rents and for which he had
!erInit The youth declares he replied
me negative. He admits that it was
fad
According TO Epstein. Mrs. Stiassny
undressed In her room and he in his,
rhira was an inside room opposite hers
wa across a private hall. After I'M
u'essing, however. Mrs. Stiassny occu-
pea Epsten's bed and he hers. At half
TYas seven o'clock the next morning
S%ta Watts. the maid. served Mrs.
s.aesny with coffee in bed. She then
cent back 10 the kitchen.
Finds Mrs. stiassny Desa.
Ha!f an hour later Epstein eays he
,ds awakened by the telephone ringing
- the apartment. lie answered IL and
fpoHe 70 janitor OF one Of Mrs Sti-
r,shys apartments about some repairs.
re uen went to Mrs Stiassny's room
opened the door. He declares he
saN her lying dead with the bullet
ouhd In her head and the revolver in
"'r right hand
.ahuei Brand. attorney for Mrs Li.
,An' the niece who made the com.
.n"t' frankly stated that the request
VT ah investigation had been made be-
sa'se an examination OF the will Of the
1ead woman showed that practically her
Epstein,
Ihe Will was made on July I OF this
I.ar with Isadore Hershheld Of 90
'assal street named az executor Tho
a's which consists mostly OF Harlem
1850 0oo
AssStant District Attorney Fiizpat.
-a"K declared that the case contained
MahH strange phases Besides the dis
'vpes rance Of the shell. he said. Il
sti"so Improbable that neither Epstein
"o' The maid heard the shots, although
tine