Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-09
DOUBLING SUICIDE,
HUSBAND TO PROBE
POISONING OF WIFE
Autopsy on Body of Mrs. Hill
ton A. Russell DiscIoses
Cause of Death.
G. w. U. INSTRUCTORS
CASE HAD PUZZLED
Young Woman Denied She Took
Dose When Questioned
by Physicians.

UnWlIlng 10 DeI1eVe That his young
wife killed herself by poison, Hilton A.
Russell, husband of Mrs. Virginia Hop
kins Russell, 25-year-old assistant pro-
fessor of physical education at George
Washington University, announced last
night that he had retained a lawyer
and would personally conduct an inves-
tigation into all the circumstances sur
rounding the case.
Mrs Russell died at George Washing
ton University Hospital Friday night.
week after she had been admitted there
for treatment. Physicians declared that
they were unable to diagnose the case
which at first was believed to have been
appendicitis. The immediate cause of
death was given as acute uremic poison
ing but an autopsy performed yesterday
at the instance of the hospital authori-
ties disclosed the presence of poison
and Coroner hewitt issued certificate
of death by suicide.
Friends of the couple said they had
been living apart under an amicable
arrangement so that Mrs. Russell could
Conference With Coroner.
Russell held a conference with Cor
oner Nevitt last night. Afterward The
coroner declared that he had obtained
some information from Russell which
supported the suicide theory, but that
he had promised the young husband to
hold an inquest If he desired. He said
that Russell would consult with the hos
pital authorities before deciding.
Russell, after leaving the coroner.
said that he still was unwilling to be-
lieve that mis- wife took her own life.
THAT my wife killed herself Is abb
solutely impossible he declared before
calling on the coroner. "Of this I am
certain and will leave no stone I'M
turned to prove that she did not die by
her own hand. Had I been informed
that the coroner was considering issuing
certificate ! would have asked him
to withhold 1t until more thorough
investigation of the case could have
been made"
Coroner hewitt said that he informed
DR.. John Paul Earnest, Mrs. Russells
physician, after the autopsy that he be-
lieved the death Of Mrs. Russell due to
suicide, but offered to withhold GER
tificate until members of her family
could be communicated with and their
wishes in regard to an inquest ascer-
tanned. When no word had been re-
ceived at 4 o'clock, he said, the GER
tificate was issued.
Denied Taking Poison.
1t was learned last night that Mrs.
Russell denied having taken poison
when physicians questioned her in the
hospital Earlier it was reported Mrs.
Russell steadfastly refused to make any
statement while in the hospital.
Mrs. Russell was never in better
spirits than on the night before she
consulted a physician about pain in
her right side" Miss Virginia Griffith,
a close friend of Mrs. Russell, said.
She had had very successful year at
George Washington University, where
she was director of physical education
for women, and all of her plans for
her Summer vacation were made. She
talked enthusiastically about her in
tended visit to her parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. Howard Hopkins of New Haven,
Conn, which she was to have made
this past Wednesday. She already had
written them that she was coming and
had made all arrangements. I feel
quite sure that she had no cause 20
consider anything like taking her own
life"
Another friend. Miss Dorothy Greene,
declared that Mrs. Russell had tele-
phoned her just before she was taken
i'll little more than a week ago to
make arrangements for a rummage sale
to be given for the benefit of the Wash
ington Field Hockey Club, of which Mrs.
Russell was a member. Certainly,
when I talked to her. she was in the
best of spirits" Miss Greene said. "She
was so much delighted with her success
at the university that her spirits were
unusually high"
Physician Silent.
The autopsy was performed yester-
day at Hysong's undertaking establish
ment by DR.. oscar B. Hunter Of the
George Washington Hospital medical
staff. with DR.. Earnest in attendance.
None Of the physicians involved in the
case would discuss 1t.
Mrs. Russell. who was exceptionally
popular with the students at the uni
versity, lived at 1916 G street.
She complained of feeling i'll while
visiting friends last Friday.
Until Thursday hope, was held for
her recovery. but uremic poisoning set
in and she died just one week after she
had first complained of feeling pain.
For the past four years she had
directed coed athletics at George
Washington, coming to the university
2iOil SpAAC6Cs ~ ", WLlSlC
she handled the same kind of work. 1t
is thought her resistance was lowered
by recent operation on her kneecap
necessitated by the condition of the
cartilage, which had been torn repeat
edly In athletic competition during i1er
own college days. 1t was less than three
months ago that she recovered from
this operation.
Russell is an engineer employed by
the Chesapeake g. Potomac Telephone
Co.