New Britain herald., 1928-07-20
DIES IN SUICIDE l PACT WITH AUTHOR
Body Found in North River Identified by Father

New York, July 20 ReThe death of Virginia Drew. s4-year-old stu dent of literature and reincarnation whose body was found floating in the Hudson river, furnished mys- tery today.
 Parents Doubt Report
 The parents were inclined to place little credence in . report to police by Caroline Novotny. who described herself as . friend of Miss Drew. that the student had told her of a suicide pact with novelist, but they asked . full investigation.
 It was established that Miss Drew had called on Maxwell Bodenheim. author of 'Replenishing Jessica," on Sunday night. She was not seen again until her body was found yes- terday. The girls father. a New York Central agent. said he did not believe his daughter had had a sui eide pact with Bodenheim, but he felt that the novelist might have ":something to explain" which would help clear up the mystery. Bodenheim. police found, checked out from the hotel where the girl visited him. on Tuesday and his publishers said they had not been able to reach him since. Both Miss Novotny and Miss Drew's parents said that Bodenneim had been help- ing the girl with her writing and that she had seemed dejected over criticism he had made over her work.
 Miss Novotny said she and Mss Drew attended Cooper Union seven years ago to study commercial art. A week ago Tuesday. she said. Miss Drew telephoned her she had had "a stroke of fortune." prominent novelist was going to aid her with her writing.
 Calls Again
 Two days later, according to Miss Novotny's stosy. the ssei called her again. saying the novelist had severely criticized her wotk. The novelist, she said. disagreed with her opinion that she had her own style of writing. This had ''cut her to the heart"
 "Miss Drew then told me He too is . believer in reincarnation. We have made Q suicide pact." Miss No- votny related.
 Miss Novotny was surprised, when she learned of Miss Drew's death, for she said she had persuaded the girl to beg off on the suicide pact and get the novelist to continue with his teaching.
 Her friend had been a profound student of thcosophy and evolution for years, according to Miss Novot- ny. She recalled that some time ago Miss Drew had said that when her life ended she would carry memories of this world into the next existence and that it would be a new experi- ence to her.
 Miss Drew's mother revealed that Sunday night she had "a strange premonition" and before the daugh- ter left obtained the novelists's name and address. which police are now withholding.
 Her daughter. the mother reveal ed. had begged off from motor ride with the family on the plea that she had to consult the novelist about n book on theosophy she had written but had been unable to sell.
 The family sat up all night Sum- day waiting for her. and Monday night the father. who is agent at the New York Central Cortland street station, with his son went to the novelist's home.
 The father and son were unable to locate the novelist, but from the elevator operator learned that girl answering Miss Drew's descrip- ton had called at 6 p. m., and left the apartment at 1:3O a. m. He re- membcred her because she was not ''flapper."
 When the novelist came home Tuesday at a. m., the elevator man said he told him of the two visitors.
 Asked About Warrant
 "Did they look militant?" the novelist asked. according to the elc- vator man. Did they have a war rant for me?"
 At S:l5 q. m. Tuesday he left the apartment with suitcase and has not been seen since, according to apartment house employees. He had paid a weeks rent in advance the day before, they said.
 Nobody answering the novelist's description had been brought to the mOrgue.