The New York herald., 1921-09-21
CALL FOUR IN DEATH
OF ZELDA CROSBY
broadway Insists She Ended
Her Life Over Leading
Film Producer.
HER LETTERS CONCEALED
Hearing To-day May Upset
Theory Of Accidental Over
dose of TerOnal.

The case of Zelda Crosby, scenario
writer for the Famous Players-Lasky
Company. who died June 10 OF verona
poisoning in Bellevue Hospital, emerged
into the light yesterday. To-day DR..
Charles II. Norris. chief medical ex-
aminer. will investigate the circum-
stances of the girls DEATH with view
to determining whether it was accident
or suicide, and whether letters were
left by the girl and concealed from
the police and medical authorities.
Rumors fitting up and down Broad
way about the manner OF the girls
death have resulted in the resurrection
Of the case. 1t is rare that Broadway
remembers anything longer than nine
days, but for three months among the
screen and stage folk the death of
Zelda Crosby has been topic of con-
versation.
The girls death was originally cred
tied by DIR. Benjamin Schwartz. as
sistant medical examiner, to an acci-
dental overdose of veronal. He knew
of no letters left by her. Once after
the death rumors fared up into print
and recently the Arbuckle case has
aroused more comment.
Information concerning the missing
letters, letters which the rumors say
will establish the fact death was a
suicide, reached Dr. Harris yesterday.
He decided on an investigation to keep
the records OF his department correct.
That is his official concern in the matter.
Whether the letters mention the cause
OF the suicide or that part of the case
in which Broadway folk are interested
the girls alleged interest in certain
prominent moving picture man--is not to
be the subject OF the investigation, but
these facts may be revealed.
Four subpnnas were issued yesterday
by DR.. Norris all returnable this after
noon in his office in the Municipal Build
ing. The examination will be in private
DIR. Norris would not reveal the names
OF the witnesses yesterday but it is un-
derstood the persons to be questioned
will BE- those who had access to the
girls studio apartment in 2S East Fifty
fifth street shortly after her removal In
a state of coma to the hospital.
One of the rumors which has been
persistent in the case is that the girl
committed suicide because the moving
picture producer with whom she was
said to be infatuated had become inter-
ested in another girl
Miss Crosby, who was 81 years old.
was found by maid unconscious In
her apartment, which she occupied
alone, on the morning of June Is. A
strong odor of veronai permeated the
apartment. A cloth. saturated with the
drug. lay near the girl but no bottle
was found. Policeman Patrick Kennev
was called In. He administered an anti
dote while waiting for an ambulance.
His efforts failed to revive the girl and
stomach pump and pulmotor were ap-
piled. Three days later the young
woman died. While In the hospital she
was visited by her mother, Mrs. Anna
Schuster, who lives at 1888 Creston
avenue. The Bronx. but the girl was un-
conscious. Mrs. Schuster knew no rea-
son why her daughter should have tried
to end her life.
Dr. Schwartz. at the hospital, entered
the case as one OF veronal poisoning
with broncho-pneumonia developing.
Zelda Crosby. as the girl was known.
changed her name from Schuster during
the war. She began her career in the
moving picture business as stenog-
rnpher at the age of sixteen. While
working in this capacity she attracted
attention as clever and rapid typist
and later proved her merit as a con-
tinuity and scenario writer.