HAND OF MYSTERY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 63, 5 November 1931, Page 4

HAND OF MYSTERY

YOUNG BRIDE'S DRAMATIC * ELDNGE TO HER DEATH AN HOTEL TRAGEDY. SAN FRANCISCO Some dark mystery surrounds the plunge to death from the fourth floor of an hotel at San Francisco of Mrs. Daisy Priee, the young bride of LieutComdr, George 'Price, of the U.S. Aircraft Carrier Lexington. A guest at the hotel, Mr. Burton Templeton, was looking out of his window when he saw the pyjama-clad form of Mrs. Price hurtling from the wiridow of her room to the courtyard below. As she fell a mysterious hand protruded that flung what appeared to be a bottle after her. Rushing to the courtyard Mr. Templeton found Mrs. Price still conscious, and when he asked her whether she had jumped, she whispered, "No, I was thrown out." "Who threw you ? " asked Mr. Templeton. "I would rather not say," replied the woman. She died a few hours later without revealing the name of her assailant, but with her last breqth she told the District Attorney, "It was my fault." The tragedy became still more mysterious when the doctor gave it as his verdict, that Mrs. Price had died not from the effects. of the fall but of poison. Recently Married. Married six weeks ago to LieutComdr. Price, she went to San Francisco, recently when the American Navy put in there. Lieut-Comdr. Price, who was on duty with his ship at the time of his wife's death, last saw her on the afternoon before the tragedy. She said she would like to give a small party in her hotel rooms that evening, and he expressed his approval and asked a young airman in his command to look after her. The party ended some time after midnight, the airman being among the last of the guests to go. It was half an hour after his departure that Mr. Templeton saw Mrs. Price fall. The eommander's theory is that his wife was probably murdered by a stranger, who hid himself in her room and waited till the guests had left. It was apparent from what she told Mr. Templeton, however , that Mrs. Price had some motive for concealing the identity of her assailant.