New-York tribune., 1918-09-17
Charles E. Chaplin Sought
in Vain All Over City
Following Tragedy
Dependency Given
AS Cause in Note
Death at Cumberland Ho.
tel Revealed by Message
to Don Seitz

10 LON SeltZ
Mrs. Charles E. Chaplin. III. v;.o "A
the city editor of The Evenir,
World" was found dead with buIla.
wound in her right temple yesterd.,
afternoon in the apartment which =.
occupied with her husband in .ss
Cumberland Hotel, Broadway an.
Fifty fourth Street On a tabls :.
the sitting room of the Chapin sr;..
was a note with the following mos.
sage:
She is dead Now am goinv >,
do the same HTSRAVn., ~
a letter written by Mr.. Chapin ana
received by Don c. Seisz. busjns,,
manager of the Evening World -
4:3o O'Clock in the afternoon. led ;,
the hndlng of Mrs. Chapin's sodv 7,
TINS letter, Mr.. Chaplin wrote tha. :.
had been in i'll health for long +i,.
that he was in danger of comple..
nervous breakdown and dreaded ~.
prospects Of spending his last davs :,
sanitarium.
Married Thirty-Nine Years
He said there was but ono sl+orn,.
tive, and that was to take his own rts
lie wrote that he and his wife had
been living together happily fo.
thirty-nine years, and he could M.
bear to think of leaving his cc,nns.' ..1.
ON Of n lifetime to face the trials -,
a lonely old age, and that to save he-
rom such fate she would acomnary
MN on ms last journey.
lie then requested Mr. Seitz to lon.
after his body and that OF his VIII
giving instructions for burial o,d ~
administer his estate. -
Mr. Seltz Immediately called tbs
Cumberland Hotel and attendan,' =
forced door of the Chaplin suite, Vrs
chapln was found lying in her he'd
IN her nightgown. DR.. J. R. InslasS
zoo West Fifty-seventh Street. wb,
was called, said she had been dead for
nours, and 1t is believed that she me-,
ne ner death early in the morning. Mrs.
Shapln was about sixty years old and
her husband five years her senior.
Nothing Seen of Husband
Nothing has been seen a. her bns.
oand since about 9:l5 O'Clock ves+sr.
Gay morning. when he descended in tho
elevator from his apartment The last
person TO speak to him there wa,
FRANK ID. Carruthers, who is in the bus.
ness department of THE World" ami
who lives on the same floor ~ n.
hotel as the Chapins.
MT Carruthers said Mr. Chapin seemed
to be entirely self possessed when Ia
saw him. He greeted Mr.. Carruther,
with CHEEKY Good morning. Franz II
Mr.. Carruthers said he asked Mr.. ChaoaI
now he was feeling. as he knew thsI
editor had not been in good healtlI
lately. and had been or an extendsj
vacation. Mr.. Chaplin told him he wss
improved, and that he would have bee,
back at his desk in The Evenin,
World Office If his wife had not beei
somewhat indisposed.
Mrs. Chaplin and went swimming
yesterday, and think she caught Il
cold, remarked the editor.
The letter written by Mr.. Chapin 81
Mr.. Seitz was postmarked as recevtI
at $3.50 a. m. at Station G., near It'll
Cumberland Hotel, and it is believed
that Mr.. Chaplin was on his way .lt
post the letter when he encounteniI
his colleague.
Whole City Searched
A city-wide search was begun in.
mediately on the discovery of Ma
Chapln's body for her husband, bt;I
up to late hour last night not ID
slightest trace had been found of hr,
The theory of Homicide was practical
accepted by the police. who were r.l
vestigating the case
Mr. Chapln was one Of the best knOTl
newspaper editors in The country an \
Tor about a score of years he mad been &
one of the best known and most wide.
y discussed newspaper characters O.
Park Row. He was known as msa !;
OF hinty temper. an uNbending a.
clplinariaa. and around HIM had cla-
tered picturesque mass of traditions
Little known of Youth 8
Little was known even among hi
most Intimate friends about his ear &
youth. He entered the newspaper re.
OF New York more than thirty yeaA 81
ago as reporter on The World La'F
he went to Chicago. where he remaas h
two years. He was city editor Of -
Herald" from 1887 to 1889. He tsa 4
returned to The World" where
worked in various capacities till l's
when he went to St Louis. where E
was city editor of The Post-Dispalc Il
till 1898 In that year he returned a.
New York to become city editor
; The Evening World" post he ots.
, pied since that date. with the except
Of few months. during which he va
connected with the morning "Wor.
Mrs. Chaplin was a niece OF Russ
Sage, the multi millionaire. and II p'
said that she was left a considers'
legacy on Mr.. Sage's death. 1t was ''M
ported by men who knew Chapln '.,
that this fortune. whatever It's s.@
was wiped out in unlucky investms'