HOSTESS COMMITS SUICIDE

Southland Times, Issue 23183, 26 April 1937, Page 5

HOSTESS COMMITS SUICIDE

TRAGEDY AT “MYSTERY” PARTY (Received April 25, 6.30 p.m. NEW YORK, April 25. While 400 prospective guests at a cocktail party assembled in the lobby of an apartment in Park Avenue the hostess, Mrs Helen Mont, aged 25, a former actress and the bride of a wealthy interior decorator, committed suicide by inhaling gas. Mrs Mont sent a chain letter of invitation to a score of friends, instructing them to “make two copies of this letter and mail them to your friends.” She promised that the “mystery” party would be the most unusual in New York’s history. The first arrivals ascended in the lift and rang the bell, which was unanswered. They smelt gas and summoned the superintendent, who found Mrs Mont on the floor of the kitchen with a tube connected with the gas range in her mouth. Artificial respiration was unavailing. The husband was found at his office. He said he and his wife had quarrelled shortly before the time for the party. • The guests in the lobby, many of whom were not acquainted with Mrs Mont, were told that the party was cancelled, and left, most of them being unaware of the tragedy.