Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-19
PROBE 3 MOTIVES
IN GIRL $ suicide
Coroner's Inquest Reveals
Traces of Poison-PoIice
Seek Woman Visitors.

Investigations of three possible mo-
tivcs for the suicide of Miss Ruth
Meyers, 81 years old, who was found
dead in the bathroom of her apart
ment at 100 East Capitol street last
night, was started by police today.
A coroner's autopsy, performed this
morning, revealed traces of deadly
poison. This discovery bore out the
evidence furnished by two empty poison
walls found beside the body.
Police investigating the case were de-
voting most of their energy to Identify
ing three women who visited Miss
Meyers at her apartment yesterday
afternoon.
A neighbor heard these women go
to Miss Meyers apartment and, after
a brief conversation, which she could
not distinguish. heard the door OF the
apartment closed. AS the visitors were
leaving one of them remarked on the
possibility that "she might leave by
a rear door"
According to the neighbor, one OF the
other women replied that this would be
impossible, as there was no rear exit.
The third member Of the group, she
said, then expressed the belief that
they Ought to get search warrant
for her." Police have been given the
name of one of the three women, but
at late hour today had not found
her.
Find Fragments Of Letter.
When Coroner j. Ramsay hewitt
reached the apartment he found frag-
ments of letter received yesterday by
Miss Meyers scattered about the room
| The fragments were gathered up and
| taken to the ninth precinct police sta
| ton. Police believe that the letter, II
| it can be pieced together, may reveal
a motive for the suicide.
William II. Spignul. brother-in-law
| told police that Miss Meyers was of a
| highly nervous temperament and SUBJ
| ject to periods of dependency. She had
very little money, he said, and dreaded
the possibility of becoming dependent
on others for support.
| He also said that she had never
| fully recovered from an operation sew
eral years ago. and, since the recent
| death of her father, has been in UNI
usually poor physical condition. Police
records show she had been treated sew
eral times at Gallinger Hospital for a
| nervous condition.
Mr.. Spignul believes that the young
woman worried over her physical and
| financial condition and that for these
| reasons she formed q sudden decision
| to do away with herself yesterday aft
ernoon. He discounts the theory that
| the visit OF the three strangers had
| anything to do with Miss Meyers action.
Physical Breakdown.
During the war she worked long hours
as clerk in the Navy Department
and her physical breakdown resulted.
| Since then she has divided her time be-
tween the Library of Congress and st.
Marks Episcopal Church, which she at
| tended as non-member. She was
treasurer Of the Girls Friendly Society
Of the Episcopal Church, and active IL
other phases Of church work.
The three women visited her apart
ment about 3 o'clock in the afternoon
| When Arthur A. Claget, tenant in the
same apartment. returned from work at
8 o'clock, he found the door to her
room locked. He broke the door down
and. on finding the body, notified police
| A fountain pen was clenched in one
hand and the beginning of farewell
note in the other.
I'm sorry, sorry" she had writ
ten. The last word was barely legible
A wavering pen mark across the page
led eoroner hewitt to believe that she
died before completing this last task.