The New York herald., 1921-01-22
HE LEAVES 3 CHILDREN
Wife Recently Had Sent
Tunney to Hospital for
Mental Observation.
BOTH SHOT THROUGHHEAD
Friend Says Slayer Tried Love
making Soon After Wedding
Her Sister.

Thomas Tunney, a chauffeur. of 1873
East Seventy-sixth street, hailed
taxicab driven by Andre Lebasseur
OF Bayside at Park avenue and
seventy-ninth street yesterday after
noon about 5 o'clock, and ordered Le-
oasseur to drive him to Eighty
seventh street, between Park and
1aadison avenues.
my sister has been going out with
married man. he said, "and I'm
going to get her.
Lebasseur drove his machine to the
place, with one stop at stationery
store at Park avenue and Eighty
second street, where Tunney bought
a scratch pad and a pencil. In Eighty
seventh street the chauffeur stopped
his car in front Of No. so, with the
machine facing east. Lebasseur turned
10 glance at his fare, and saw that
Tunney was on his knees on the seat
looking through the back window OF
the cab.
The machine waited there for fifteen
minutes. and Tunney never stirred from
III. nosition until Miss Gabrielle Maridel
OF 53 East Eighty-seventh street Tun-
ney's sister-in-law, came into the street
from Park avenue. When she got op-
posite the taxicab Tunney jumped from
the machine and seized her arm. The
girl struggled TO get away from him
and moved towards her own home she
started up the steps, but Tunney pulled
her back and jostled her toward the
taxicab. When they got there the girl
cried to Lebasseur;
Are you going TO let him harm me p
He won't hurt you. the chauffeur
said, hes your brother"
Lebasseur told the police later that
Tunney then grabbed the girls arm with
his left hand and reached into his pocket
with his right. drawing revolver. Be-
fore he could interfere Tunney fired a
bullet into the girls head. She fell tc
the pavement, dead, and Lebasseul
jumped 10 the ground and started fol
runney. Before he could stop him Tun
ney turned the gun on himself and firet
bullet into his brain.
Physicians who reached the scene 9
few moments later said he had died al
most instantly. Lebasseur told the po
lice he saw Tunney fire three shots, but
he could not be sure whether the third
was at himself or at the girl. Their,
we're three empty chambers I'm the cyl
inder when the gun was found.
Miss Marcelle Brochet. a niece of Mis-,
Maridel. told the detectives later thai
she lived with Miss Maridel and Mis-.
Sfariders father and mother at the East
Eighty-seventh street address and tha
Miss Maridel, who was confidential sec
retary TO III. A. Teaser OF 334 Fourtf
avenue. American representative Of tn.
French silk importing house OF Lavge
nieux & Soft. was the principal support
. the family. She said also that Tun.
Ley married Miss Marlders sister sis
years ago. and that they had three chill
dren.
According TO the story told by Mis-,
Brochet. Tunney became enamored o.
Miss Maridel shortly after his marriag,
10 the sister. and ever since that time
mas annoyed her. His wife and Miss
Maridel had him sent 10 Bellevue Hos
pital for observation some months ago
and for time after he was released hs
behaved. but not long ago he again begar
following the girl about and threatening
her II she did not run away with him
Miss Brochet said that Miss Maride hac
repulsed Tunney and would have nothlnl
10 do with him and had not visited hel
s.ster for long time because she wal
afraid of him