The New York herald., 1922-09-19
Green Scorns Suicide Theory
of Boy Found Shot at Fair
field, Conn.
SAYS NOTE WAS PLANTED
Son Had Been Sent Off to Col
lege, but Stopped to Visit
Girl at Norwalk.

The police Of Fairfield and Norwalk.
Conn, are making an investigation to
determine whether John II. Green, 20.
student, of New Rochelle, was mur-
dered or committed suicide. When his
body was found at Benson road, Fair
field, Sunday night, with bullet
wound in the right temple, encircled
by powder marks, and a pistol and
his motorcycle lying near by. it was
thought that the young man Lad killed
himself.
The police found in one of his
pockets note in which it was stated
that he had planned suicide for two
years, and this left no doubt in their
minds concerning his fate, But yes
terday John j. Green, father of the
young man. who is employed in a New
York brokers' office, expressed the
opinion that his son might have been
murdered and the note planted" in
his pocket to mislead the authorities,
and he asked that this theory be made
the basis Of an investigation.
Young Green was graduated from
Harstrow Preparatory School in Nor
walk, Conn. last June. and his parents
had arranged to send him to Rensselaer,
Polytechnic Institute. Troy. to study
mechanical engineering.
Police Traced Him.
They accompanied him to the Grand
Central Terminal Thursday and saw
him board. train for Troy. and that
was the last time he was seen by them
alive 1t had been Planned for him TO
go on Wednesday. but ne took his
fathers automobile and drove TO Nor
walk. The police found him there at
the fathers request and sent him back
to New Rochelle. 1t was stated In the
suicide note that the young man was
trying 10 get a friend out of trouble in
Norwalk.
When his parents failed to receive
telegram from young Green on Friday
advising them OF his safe arrival In
Troy they communicated with the In
stitute and learned that he was not
there. In view OF his trip to Norwalk
on Wednesday they suspected that he
had got off the train before it left the
terminal and made a second trip TO the
Connecticut city, and Mr.. Green went
there himself. but was not able to find
him.
Knowing that his son had frequently
visited Miss Lillian Ericsson OF Norwalk.
Mr.. Green telephoncd to the Ericsson
home Sunday afternoon and asked Miss
Gertrude Ericsson. sister Of Lillian, IL
she had seen him. She said she had not.
not knowing at the time that Lillian had
met him earlier in the afternoon. He
had just come up from New Rochelle on
his motorcycle. he told her. although II
was learned after mis- death that he had
been staying at the Royaf James Hotel
in Norwalls since Thursday.
Girl Told Him TO Leave.
He went ON his way after n brief talk,
saying that he was going to call her
on the telephone that evening When
he called at 6:30, Miss Ericsson said. and
invited her to walk with him. she adj
vised that he leave town at once. as his
father was looking Tor him. He told
her that he would and the conversation
was terminated. At o'clock his body
was found alongside the road.
In the note. written on the back Of his
college entrance examination certificate
and unsigneds IL was stated that the an
parent reason for the young man going
10 Norwalk was not the real one: that
he merely passed the time OF day with
"a certain person. meaning. perhaps.
Miss Ericsson. and that his mission
there was to get friend out OF trouble.
Circumstances alone were RESPONSIBLE
for his suicide. the note concluded
Miss Ericsson said Green often car
ried pistol like the one that wns found
beside his body. but his father declared
that the boy had never carried
weapon OF any kind. 4 check Tor his
tuition mt the institute and small
amount OF money were found IN his
pockets Two Of the pistols cartridges
had been discharged. but Green had only
one wound Miss Ericsson said she
recognized some phrases Of the note
as having been used by Green when
talking 10 her.
fu L-NuI-NCEtur SAILS Nnx n