Evening star., 1932-09-24
HOUSEBOAT SUICIDE
THEORY STRONGER
Inquest in Death Of Sylvia
Rochkin Is Set for
Monday.
Continued From First Page. J

tCOntlnueO from First Pdge.)
when he awakened from a nap in the
adjoining room.
Denying any knowledge of the vom-
ans d5ath, Speidel declared she had
been nervous and respondent for the
past several days, presumably as a re-
suit of recent illegal operation.
Miss Rochkin told him, he said, that
her fiance, known only to him as
Phillips" committed suicide in Green
wich Village, New York City. several
years ago. She asked Speidel. he as
serted. what he would do if she should
kill herself. and he replied that he
would carry on"
A purported suicide note. fragments
OF which were found in the bed room of
the boat, was written Thursday after
neon, Speidel's statement indicated He
said he observed her writing letter.
and, asking her what she was doing, was
told: Il am writing note to my
mother
A moment later. he continued. she
tore the note into pieces and threw it
across the bed. When he lay down on
the bed some time later. he added, he
brushed the pieces onto the floor, where
they were found by Dalglish.
Contents of Note
Pieced together by the detective, the
note read:
Il went and did this thing without
Georges approval. He must be left
alone, no matter what happens to me.
I do not matter any more. I am better
off away from everybody, and no one
must grieve."
Comparison of the note with speci-
mems of the woman's handwriting found
elsewhere on the boat revealed they
were the same, according to Dalglish.
Despite the apparent indications Miss
Rcchkin hanged herself, detectives still
were giving consideration to the posi-
bllity she was strangled while asleep.
An autopsy performed yesterday by
Deputy Coroner c. j. Murphy disclosed
an unbroken rope mark around Miss
Rochkin's neck. In most hangings, DR..
Murphy said, there is a break in the
mark left by the rope at the point
OF suspension. In this case, however,
he added, the dead woman's neck bore
an even deeper indentation where the
cord was knotted. Both he and Acting
Coroner A. Magruder Macdonald term
ed the mark most unusual"
Investigation of Case.
Investigation of the case was begun
after Speidel notified police he had just
discovered Miss Rochkins death. When
detectives reached the boat, they found
the dead woman lying on the bed, with
the cord beneath her head, and knotted
around small nail Speidel explained
that when he lifted Miss Rochkin from
the floor the nail dropped from the
rafter above her head.
Speidel. separated from his wife and
5-year-old son for the past two years.
said he and Miss Rochkin moved aboard
the boat, owned by friend of his, last
Monday. He and the woman previous
ly had been living together in the 100
block of Connecticut avenue. he added
While Speidel was making his state
ment, the dead woman's sister and
brother. Mrs. Laura Kramer and Ben
jamin Rochkin, arrived at headquar-
tiers from their home in Ozone Park.
Long Island. They left for Baltimore
after brief interview with detectives,
promising to return in time for the
inquest.
Sought Teachers Position.
Miss Rochkin. according to dispatches
from New York City, was graduated
by the Jamaica, N. Y, Normal School,
and, for the past three years, was on
the eligibility list for appointment as
teacher in the New York City public
schools. She had been unable to OBJ
tain a position, however.
The dispatches quoted relatives as
saying Miss Rochkin often had been de-
pressed over her failure to obtain
teachers post Miss Rochkin's mother,
who is subject to heart attacks, has not
been informed of the young womans
death, 1t was said.
Hyattsville Seniors Elect.
HYATTSVILLE, Md, September "a
(SpeciaD Edward Koch of Riverdale
yesterday was elected president of the
senior class of Hyattsville High School.
Charles Shirley was chosen vice presi
dent: Robert Bradley. secretary, and
Carol Goodmen treasurer.