Evening star., 1934-12-09
Maryland Couple Found
Dead With Only SO Cents
in Belongings.
FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES
BLAMED FOR TRAGEDY
Pikesville Police Say Husband
Was Wanted in Alleged EN-
bezzlement There.

Police last night were still trying
to find out why kenmore R. Gill,
30-year-old resident of Reistertown
Md, killed his wife, Estelle Gill,
and then shot himself to death yes
terday in the Pennsylvania Hotel, 20
F street.
An unpaid hotel bill of SIG and the
discovery of pawn tickets in their
room lent support to the theory flnan-
cial difficulties were responsible for
the shootings. Police found only 80
cents among the combined belongings
of the couple.
Another possible cause, advanced
by Pikesville, Md, authorities, was
that Gill was wanted there on charges
growing out of the alleged embezzle-
ment of S172.73 from the Coon
Hunters Association of Maryland, of
which he was an official. and the al
legged passage of worthless checks
amounting to Sl76S.
Found Beside Bed.
Gill's body was found kneeling be-
side the bed on which lay the body
of his wife when maid in the hotel
went to clean their room. An in
VeStigation by Coroner A. Magruder
Macdonald, police of the first precinct
and members of the homicide squad
revealed that Gill had placed towel
over his wife's head while she was
apparently asleep and had shot her
through the temple. Apparently he
then kneeled beside the bed and shot
himself, also in the temple.
Mr.. and Mrs. Gill. police were told,
had registered at the hotel on De-
cember and had been there since.
Since no shots were heard and Dr.
Macdonald said rigor mortis, which
was just setting in when he reached
there, could occur at anytime from
Is minutes to four hours from the
time of death, it was impossible to
ascertain the time of the tragedy
The couple had been living until
two weeks ago on the second floor
of a house owned by Gill on the
Westminster Pike, near Reistertown.
Gordon Lockard. who occupies the
first floor of the house, said that
when Mr.. and Mrs. Gill left home
about two weeks ago they appeared
to be happy. They left without lug
gage, he said. but took the pictures
from the walls and also some per-
sonal belongings. First precinct po-
lice here, however. said the couple
had one suitcase, but enough cloth
ing to have filled two suitcases.
Certificates Issued.
The coroner had the bodies re-
moved to the morgue. They were to
be released to relatives tomorrow, GER
tificates of murder and suicide hav-
ing been issued yesterday.
Mrs. Gill; who is survived by her
mother. a brother and three sisters,
was a graduate of the Sandy Spring,
Md, High School and of Earlham
(Md) College.
1t was learned that Gill was the
last member of family nearly all
Of whom died violet deaths. A younger
brother, Mus" Gill, was killed in an
automobile accident between West
minister and Hampstead on Christ
mas eve four years ago and was
buried on the same day as his father,
Harry Gill, who died about the same
time Of natural causes.
About two years ago his mother
committed suicide by drowning herself
in a small lake in Druid Hill Gene
terry. Maryland authorities said.
After his fathers death, it was said,
Kenmore Gill received about $4,000
in insurance on his fathers life, but
has had no employment and apparent
ly no funds since he worked in fill
ing station in the Reistertown vicln-
ity several months ago.
i" Mrs. Gill was native Of Sandy
Spring, the daughter of Mrs. Ella
Janney, who still resides in that Vi
cinity While the mother refused to
be interviewed, it was stated by Mrs.
Gill's cousin, Richard Janney, that
the couple were believed to be in
financial straits despite an agreement
which was found for the purchase Of
q home in Lyonhurst, Va.
Janney stated Gill was native of
the Reistertown section, a suburb Of
Baltimore, and that his family has
been identified with the section for
many years.
The couple was married about three
years ago and was without children.