New-York tribune., 1922-01-31
Wealthy Widow
Dies i'm Plunge
From Window
Mrs. Helen knickerbocker.
81 Years Old, Leaps or
Falls IL Floors: Friends
Believe She tainted
Suicide, Declare Police
Body Crashes Through Iron.
Ribbed Glass Canopy; Is
Seen From Central Park

Mrs. Helen Knickcrbockcr. eiphtv-
four years old. widow of Henry Knjck
erbocker. wealthy paper manufacturer.
OF Saratoga. was killed last night whc
She crashed through the steel ribbed
glass carooy covering the entrance of
the LaneA am Apartments, at 1875 Cen
trai Park West. where she had made
her home for fourteen years.
The certificate Of the medical exam
ner to the county coroner states that
the death was suicide. Friends Of
Mrs. Knickerbocker declare that she
was a victim o frequent dizzy spells
and fell from the dining room Of her
ten-room apartment on The eleventh
floor. They said That she had no reason
to take her life
II. G. Jennes, doorman Of the apart
ment house, was standing lust inside
the door. waiting for a cab which a
tenant had called for. when ne heard
crash of glass. fIe rushed to the
street and saw part Of Mrs kncke~-
bocker's body protrudng through the
shattered canopy. which extends from
the entrance Of the nouse to the curb
line
Passersb, Sec Falling Body
Several pedestrians on the opposite
side of the street and stroiicrs in Cen.
trail Park reported seeing Mrs. knick-
erbockcr as she fell The screams of
Miss II. G. Mines. companion to Mrs.
huickerbocker. as she stood at the din
ing room window attracted a large
crowd.
Jennes notified the police Of the West
SiXty-e ghth Street station. and three
Michaes and William McCreary-werc
sent to the house. An ambulance was
rushed from Knickerbocke Hospital
Considerable difficulty was cncoun.
tered in extricating The body. One Of
tho steel ribs Of the caropy's frame was
bent by tho force Of the fall. Obtain
ing several boards from building in
course Of construction near by, the pa
trolmen erected a crude platform, on
which they stood to free tho body from
the wreckagc. Their work was ham
rered By curious throngs. Twenty
minutes were consumed in he work
Or. Charles Cassassa. Deputy County
Medical Examiner. who was summoned,
pronounced the woman dead His re
port and that of The police declare That
death WAS due to suicide. DR.. Cassassa
made his report after examining the
front Of the Knickcrbocker apartment.
All of the front windows face on Cen
trail Park. IN front Of thcm and run
ming across the cntirc front Of the
building on the level Of the eleventh
Aoor is Il ledge two feet wide. It Was
noirted out that it would have been
almost Impossible Tor q, person to fall
from window on this floor and not be
stopped from further descent b. the
ledge.
The police failed to fnd any note or
other c]sw IN the apartment to sub
stan.iate The suicide theory. Mrs.
kncko rbocker Nas dressed for dinner
at the time. According to Miss Mines.
Mrs. knickerbocker spent the afternoon
motoring. She returned just before g
o'clock in the best of spirits She read
for short time and then dressed for
dinner.
Companion Heard Crash
Miss Mines is said to have told the
police that she left Mrs. kniche rbocl
cr Standing near the open windov
while she went TO give an order to the
butlor. The table was aiu wich a
dinner set for tuo. Miss Mines was
gone but moment, she is ssportcG "a
rave SAN. Wner sac neArN tnt crash
on the canopy and rushed back into
the room.
DR.. S. q. Straus. Mrs. Knckcrboc!-
ar's private physician, and her attor-
ney, Robert Gibson. of Flushing. were
notified Of her death and FASTENED 20
the apartment. They declined. hove
over. to make an; ststement.
Mrs. Krickerbockers son. Henry.
thirty years ago, when he VAS twenty
six years OLD died mysteriously while
he was stopping at the Hotel Wordcn IN
Saratoga. The police report of the
death said that he shot and killed him
self Mrs. Knickerbockers other son,
William, died soon after his brother
Mrs. knickerhoc.:er moved - The
langhaal following the death IF her
ausbard. She had summer HON, at
- Circular Street. Saratoga II was
r:,t thr'v years .ec BY her husi'anI
al cos. o. Sii".oe". materials for is
construct q, having hccn brought from
IS PARTS Il the c,untry.
sirel,urs, \. c. MiA aun-h.re al.
.i"-,.. WNndclfu. golf Intrrcst:ns events.