A DRAMATIC SUICIDE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 454, 29 April 1909, Page 3

A DRAMATIC SUICIDE.

A remarkable story ot how an American with practically' no money secured an expensive Suite of rooms at the Savoy Hotel and nearly got away with close on worth of jewellery, , was told in the Westminster Coroner’s Court recently, when an inquest was held on the body of the man, who, to escape arrest, committed suicide by cutting his throat with a razor.

Mr Harry Penton, assistant manager to Messrs Rood and Co-, jewellers, of Burlington Arcade, told how “ Dr Pullman ” called at the shop one afternoon and asked to see some three-stone diamond rings. He wanted to look at the best, and on being shown a number, selected four which he asked to be sent to the Savoy Hotel for his wife to see. Each of the rings was priced at over ,£IOO. A fifth ring, of the value of ,£4O, was included, and then he asked to see a diamond collar necklace. One priced at was shown him, and he asked how much it would cost without the diamond drops, and was informed that it would be ,£1475. As he left he said: “You might seud the necklace as well, and I will show it to my wife.” Witness subsequently arrived at the hotel with five rings and the necklace, the whole parcel being valued at ,£1,975. He sent up his card and was received by “Dr Pullman,” who was dressed in a brown lounge suit, and shortly afterwards went into an adjoining room, and pretended to carry on a conversation with some one. Presently he came out again and said: “My wife is dressing. Will you let me have a look at the rings ? ” Witness showed him the rings and necklace, and he said: “ 1 will just take the. rings and show them to my wife in the next room.” He returned in about half a minute and asked the price of one particular ring. He was told it was ,£134, and saying: “I will just show my wife the necklace, I won’t keep you a second ; I think she will have that ring,” he again went into the next room, shutting the door. This time, hearing no sounds of conversation, Mr Penton became suspicious, and opened the door leading into the corridor, so that he could watch the door of the other room, which also opened on to the corridor. In a few seconds “Dr Pullman ” emerged from the other room dressed in a soft hat and overcoat, whereupon the jeweller’s manager promptly closed with him and they fell into the room. Then “ Pullman ” seemed to lose his nerve, and exclaimed : “Eet me go ; do let me go.” Witness declined, and shouted for assistance. The man returned to the sitting room, and standing in front of the fireplace deliberately cut his throat with a razor. Presently a porter arrived just as the injured man disappeared into the adjoining room and shut the door. The porter asked if the man had a revolver, and then followed him, but “ Dr Pullman” had got out the widow and gone down a spiral staircase, at the foot of which he died.

The J ury returned a verdict of felo de se.