The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-21

Mysterious Death Of Courtesan In Duane
Street.
SUPPOSED SUICIDE BY TAKING IAuDANUM-coRo-
NERs INQU ST.
Before Cor Iilton.
Coroner Hilton held inquest yesterday afternoon at
12s Duane street the body of a woman 90 years of
age, named da Cook, alias Adelaide Creed, who, ii
is suppos committed suicide by taking audanum.
From the evidence taken the occasion il appeared that
for the last eight years the deceased has been
leading the life of courtesan that during tn time she
frequently heard to say that she would be the
means of her own destruction About a mouth ago.
while boarding at the house of Mrs Williams in Duane
street. she attempted to commit suicide by swallowing
dose Of laudanum but through the exertions of her
friends her life saved In few days after this oc
she took lodgings at the house of Margaret Gid
ney, where she remained until the hour Of her dissou
ton In Wednesday night deceased purchased bottle
(hai ounce) OF iaudanum at drug store in West Broad
way; and intimating to one of her female companions
that she would destroy herself she proceeded to her
boarding house, where she arrived at 121s O'Clock
Deceased then went up stairs to her and stayed
there about half hour when she out
into the entry way and sitting down in her night clothes
todArs. Gedney that had swallowed num-
The andady OF the house surprising that she had male
an attempt at suicide about sending for DOCTOR
when deceased got up and laughngly said ~ didn't
takeany; was only getting the girls string" This
denial OF course alayed all fears the safety Of de-
ceased ard at the request of Mrs. Gedney she went to
bed About O'Clock A. NJ, male friend called to see
he deceased and at half past eight O'Clock he left her in
bed well and apparently in good health She asked for
drink OF water at this time and to all ppearances in
excellent enjoyment OF her heath.
AT ten o'clock of the inmates entering the bed
room of deceased in order TO what it that detan
ed her from the breakfast table, the latter found
quite dead The alarm was promptly given, but medi-
cal aid was of avail as the vital spark had fed
Whether deceased partook of audanum after
the departure of her friend at ~ O'Clock yesterday
ing, was not made manifest The poison, il taken
Wednesday night could not certainly have remained In
her system so long without producing death Of
the symptoms which always follow the taking Of this
deadly drug IL IL therefore presumed that tle act Of
selfdcstruction committed between the hours
and 10 o'clock An empty bottle, labelled 'Laudanum,
poison" was found in the bedroom of deceased little
before O'Clock A. NJ by of the fea boarders and
at first supposed that this vial contained the poi
son drank by deceased but this could not be possible
for said before deceased known be in good
health 1T 81 o'clock. All he witnesses testified these
facts, a win be perceived from the following
EVIDENCE.
Margaret Gidncy being duly sworn deposed and said-I
reside at No rs Duane street have known the deceased
since her childhood think she born in this city;
think she had been the town for the last
eight years. she has lived with for the last three
weeks, and occupied the front bedroom the second
floor have often heard her threaten sefdesruction
about four weeks ago while living with Mrs Williams
she attempted to init suicide by taking laudunum,
out she recovered from the effects OF it,
heard her give any for attempting to kill herself
think deceased was about twenty-five years age; she
came into The house this morning between and
o'clock lei her in she seemed be sober she
the company of another girl deceased went up stairs to
her in company with Maria Bressel went up
her room shortly afterwards she alone Maria Bresse
berg in the back dect ased slept with another girl
who occupied this room afterwards deceased
out of her room and sat down in the hallway; she
in her night hos, and seemed unusually merry
and in good spirits; she did not talk of anything
in particular, but seem inclined to joke; shortly
shq fbn nd cfu
the door Lending to the hallway she said while standing
here, that she had taken laudanum; my questioning
her closely she said that she had not taxi any auda
nun, and had only said for the purpose Of getting
the girls sring' then told deceased go her
m and go TO bed she did and went down stairs;
about two O'Clock of the girls, named Ellen pugan
brought vial, which she said she had found in her
room; il broke and had 1t label marked Iauda
num- she said she had found it in the fire place in de-
ccased's room, paid no particular attention to It; few
minutes after his gentleman in who had been in
the habit Of visiting deceased he went up stairs to
Tocm Invent up with him, and found girl named Flota
McCaBn. in bed with deceased she got up and left de-
ceased and her gentleman friend in the room together
down stairs at ten o'clock this morning when the
chambeinlad came to me and said that deceased was
lying dead ia her bcdroom went stairs and found
such TO be the case.
Maria Bessel being sworn, deposed that she resided in
the house No. l2S Duane street. with deceased; |
h me with her last night stated by the preceding Wit
ness she sober and appeared good spirits met
her the of Reade street and Broadway about
and while in there she said she had purchased eighteen
cents worth Of laudanum; she showed it to me, and
tasted Of ii, and found it 10 be laudanum tried TO
suade her to give IL to me, but she would not do
shortly afterwards we came home together; way
home, she said she intended TO take the poison the bot
tie now shown resembles the one deceased had
in her possessions; il full; when had tasted
it lie said it all | should have of it she
said this in laughing way, and did not think she in
tended to poison herself shortly after home
she went out in company with another girl named Emms
Bedell they returned in about half an hour was sit
tirg 10 the back bedroom at the time Etama Bedel
into the bedroom of creased and found the vial shown
me- she brought it to and said that deceased had
taken the contents of IL.
Flora Mctann resides in the house with deceased
have the bedroom the hall the second story;
somewhere about O'Clock this morning deceased
to my room and got in bed with me. shortly after she
complained Of its being cold and asked me to and
sleeP with her did so; about fifteen minutes after
gentleman who in the habit Of coming to see her
came in and went back to my room; she seemed
in good spirits and was laughing.
street ] called the deceased about quarter
to two O'Clock this morning; she in bed in her
at the time she awake and called by name;
she seemed 10 be in good heal H. remained with her up
10 ~ o'clock this morning; she awobe while was pre-
pairing to leave and asked me for glass Of water gave
II to her she seemed well at this time and babe good
oning, and LETT II was after two O'Clock when went
TO SLEEP, and II was half past seven when woke this
morning; did not wake between; she was asleep when
woke Thu mornings have heard her wish that she
dead on several OCCASIONS generally when she had been
drinking.
Hlen Tugan. sworn-T went into dcceased's room
shortly after she in and she said she had taken
laudanuIn found the bottle after when she denied IT,
she was laughing and making fun she said to brighten
the girls then went to bed
Sarah Jane Jackson (colorcd} sworn-1 saw deceased
about II o'clock last night in her the next time
her this day, at 10 o'clock her body then
laying somewhat twisted, though she had had fit;
the coverds were spread smoothly her body and
face.
DR.. Finne occupied the entire afternoon in making
post motsm examination upon the body Of the deceased
The stomach carefully examined, but Of lau-
danum could be found. The physician Intends however,
to apayze the stomach to-day, when further light
may he thrown upon the matter, At present the
assumes very mysterious and intricate aspect.
The inquest has adjourned until 10 O'Clock Saturday
moDing when the edical testimony viii be completed.
The deceased ii has been ascertained is native of Ad
Olson, Vermont has son, about two years old living
with It's grandmother in Newark, Nj
The has excited great deal of excitement in the
neiehborhood, and hints Of foul play being used
against the deceased have been made by Of her
friends.
The Coroner, VIC hope, viii investigate the matter tho
roughly.
Theatres and Exhibitions.
Rho, TIM, - gard Of