The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-07
Double Suicide and Child Murder In tho


Coroner Wilhelm called upon yesterday to hold
inquest upon threedead bodies found lying in the dwell
ing house No. 1856 Bowery under the following circum-
stances as came to light the Coroners investiga.
tom
For some time past two German women, named Cecilia
and Wanda stein, together with a little boy named Ed
ward the of the latter, have been living at the
above place in great distress They worked at the straw
bonnet making, and by the failure of the house for
whom they worked, thrown out OF employment.
From time to time they have been aided pecuniariy and
otherwise, by a German named Louis May, who knew
them in Germany previous to their emgrating to this
country. 1atterly, however, they became very much
reduced and told May that they would commit suicid
if circumstances did not alter favoraby.
On Monday last Cecilia the eldest of the sisters sen
he following note TO Mr. May
DEAR siR-As we intend to leave the States forever, we
iereby return YOU your likeness You would DO as avor by
ending some OF our ELECTS Europe u.s. after we have
This act 70 you nothing however is more
ter Wanda sn by opening and closing your window She
broadway and Church street you here fare
New York, Sept. 3, 1865
Mr.. May however, could not answer this letter until
Tuesday, which proved too late for the work of death
had been his missve of friendly aid had arrived.
On Thursday he proceeded to their residence and slipped
an answer under the door, little thinking that those ia
whom it directed lay at that moment in the cold
sleep of death. Nothing was seen Of the women
since Tuesday morning. The neishbors found their
locked and supposed that they had gone out OF
town for short time Yesterday, however, the oceu-
pants the house experienced very smell in
the hail. which at drew suspicion TO the locked up
apartments An officer informed of the occurrence,
when Mr. Black the landlord of the premises, and he,
forced upon the door, and to their horror found the dead
bodies Of these three persons Information was imme-
datey conveyed to the coroners Office when Coroner
wilhelm proceeded the spot and held inquest upon
the bodies of the deceased post mortem examination
Of the bodies made by Dr. Uhl when the presence
Of prussc acid in the stomach quite apparent The
little boy had no doubt first been poisoned and then the
unfortunate sisters partook Of the deadly drug.
Everything about the place bore the appearance
Of poverty in the extreme. The jury, after hearing
the evidence, rendered a verdict Of suicide in the
case Of the woman but in the of the boy Hwarde
verdict Of sDeath from prussc acid administered by
its mother, Wanda Sten," was given.
The deceased all natives Of Germany Cecilia was
thirty years of age; Wanda twenty two, while
the child Edward, about SIX years old.
The affair caused little excitement in the neighbour
hood particularly among he German residents OF that
section Of the city On table in the room OF the de-
ceased found the phia which contained the prussia
acid; it entirely empty showing conclusivey how
surely the work Of suicide and nanticide had been per-
rotra cd