New-York tribune., 1921-03-09
Kills His Girl
Secretary and
Hi1nselfinPar ark
". E. McCurdy, Surety Co.
Personnel Manager and
Married, Shoots Assist
ant. Fiancee of Another
Suicide Pact Suspected
1 Can't Wait Until l See
You Tonight. Reads Note
Over Victim Signature

Willis E. McCurly, thirH-tw years
old, personnel manager for the Amer
can Surety Company, 100 Broadway,
married and the father of daughter
eight years old, shot and killed MS as
siztant ard secretary Miss Alice K
Snowden, winsome and attractive
young woman OF twenty-five, late Mon
day night, and then sent bullet into
his own brain.
The tragedy WAS enacted in Central
Park or strip Of land extending into
the lake at Z point opposite Seventy
second Street. The bodies were found
yesterday morning by Patrolnan
Clinchy, lying foot or so apart with
.32-caliher revolver between them.
Both I'd been shot in the head in al
most identically the same place-on the
right eide, . little above and behind the
right ear.
The police and medical examiner
agreed that the shooting was done By
McCurdy. They were inclined to think
his motive was jealousy, because his
secretary was engaged to be married
shortly to Charles II. Mills, Of s9S JET
terson Avenue, Brooklyn, but the pos
sibility Of it having been the result
Of suicide agreement was also seen
by the police. This latter theory is
borne out by notes found IN McCurdy's
clothes. The notes, written on slips OF
paper, we're OF n endearing nature
and were signed alice" One Of them
read. 4 cant wait until I see you TO-
night.
Jealousy, Sister Insists
Despite the finding Of these notes
Mrs. Louise Whitney, sister, with
whom Miss Snowden lived at l45 West
Twelfth Street. said she believed her
sister was shot in cold blood through
was waylaid by McCurdy when she left
the house Monday night and then went
TO the park with him TO pacify him
because he had threatened some sort
of violent action unless she did. Mrs.
Whitney said her sisters Aance had
seen McCurdy following them on the
previous day, On Monday, Mrs. Wit
ney said, her sister had told McCurdy
that she intended TO quit her job.
The two bodies were removed from
the lake side TO the Arsenal police
station in the park. A card found in
McCurdy's pocket indicated his iden-
tity. and the Identification Of both
was made by Mills. He said he gave
her the diamond ring she was wearing
and that she had promised to marry
him soon.
Mrs. Whitney, whose husband, " IL
Liam Whitney, is an assistant trust Of
fcer Of the Empire Trust Company
went to the Arsenal station. but re-
fused to view her sisters body until
McCurdy's had been covered. She Sc id
she woulG be unable TO bear the sight
OF him. By the time a sheet had been
spread over his body Mrs Whitney 4
emotion was SO great that she was un-
able Co enter the room where her
sister was lying.
Denies Fondness for McCurdv
She said her sister had lived al ex-
trcrnely sheltered life ard had never
been out alone with McCurdy, so FAR
a. she knew. Her sister confdei to
her, she said, that McCurdy was deeply
infatuated with her, and had inform d
her fiance of this.
Mrs. Whitney asserted her sister had
never displayed any fondness for
MeCurdy, ard on the contrary had
been heard to say. ~ hate him"
1t was said that among the notes
found in McCurdy's pockets was q
lCsntinusd on pass eishD