The New York herald., 1921-07-31
WOMAN IN WALDORF
LEAPS TO HER DEATH
Victim Of Plunge Is Mrs.
James Van NOstrand of
Hampstead.
DRIVEN CRAZY BY HEAT
Note Containing Some Inco-
herent Words Is Left Be-
fore Drop Of IL Stories.

A woman whose identity was no,
completely cleared, but who the po-
lice believed was Mrs. James Var
Nostrand, leaped into an airshaft from
room on the twelfth floor of the
Waldorf Astoria at IL o'clock lasi
night and was killed when she struck
the base of the Shaft on the fourth
floor. She was about so years old.
In a note found in the room it was
STATED that the woman had beer
driven crazy" by the heat. The note
addressed to Mrs. R l.. Broome, 22s
Main street, Wakefield, r. l., asked
that Mrs. Van Nostrands baggage bt
given to Mrs H. H. Hough of 81 West
Fifty-third street. Inquiries at thai
address disclosed that Mrs. Hough IL
the wife of Capt. Henry Hughes
Hougk, y. s. NJ, former naval attache
at the United States Embassy al
Paris and one Of the best known wire
less experts of the service.
| Capt Hough said Mrs. Van Nostrand
lived in Hampstead. l.. I. He knew that
she had son. Charles Van Nostrand,
but could not tell his address.
! At the end Of the note left IN the
room--a note that indicated In its writ
ing the nervousness OF the writer-was
this sentence:
"She (Mrs. Hough) has given me
many happy moments"
Capt. Hough could not explain the
meaning of the sentence.
The police took possession OF small
travelling bag carried by the woman.
In addition to a few articles of expensive
clothing there was found in It an en-
velope on which was typewriter &c. B.
Van Nostrand, Racquette and Tennis
Club" Capt. Hough had said Mrs. Van
Nostrand had q son named Charles Van
Nostrand. and the envelope, which con-
tained no note of any kind. was believed
to be addressed to him.
Mrs Van Nostrand went TO the WAL
dorf about o'clock and asked for a
room. She was dressed in black and
appeared extremely nervous. Clerks
who noticed her actions assumed that
there had been a death in her imme-
date family and that she was nervous
from grief and worry.
The woman inquired particularly for
an AIRY room," and when she was told
OF the room on the twelfth floor asked
whether there we're any windows In It,
| A bellboy showed her to the room and
she said 1t would suit her.
| About three hours later, Mrs. Anna
Reilly. clerk on the twelfth floor, looked
across the air shaft from a corridor on
the other side of the building and noticed
Mrs Van Nostrand standing at the win
dow putting on her hat. A moment
later, while Mrs. Reilly's back was turn
ed TO the window. the woman jumped.
On the fifth floor. clerk heard
| scream and then a crash. Looking into
the airshaft he could see dark mass
at it's base. He called Edward French,
night manager of the hotel, and the
investigation that followed disclosed the
body. An ambulance surgeon who was
summoned, said the woman died of a
fractured skull and other injuries.
When the body was identified as that
of the elderly woman who registered at
8 o'clock and the note showing the name
ivan Nostrand" was found by the po-
lice a mystery developed. In signing
the register the woman had used the
name MRS. James Nostrand" and gave
her address as IN. Y" The information
obtained from Capt Hough. however,
indicated that the correct name was
Van Nostrand.
II was learned later by the police
that Mr.. Van Nostrand. the woman's
son. lives at the Biltmore. According
to the police Mr.. Van Nostrand Is an
investment broker with offices at 66
Rroadway