The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1855-09-14
OBJ 1ailg 9ournal,
DOUBLE SUICIDE AND CHILD MURDER IN
THE B0WERY---H0RRIBLE TRAGEDY.


Coroner Wilhelm was called upon yesterday
to hold an inquest upon three dead bodies
which were found lying in the dwelling house
No, 335 Bowery, under the following circum-
stances, as came to light on the Coroner's in
vestigation:
For some time past two German women,
named Cecilia and Wadna Stein, together with
"a little boy named Edward, the son Of the lat
ter, have been living at the above place in great
distress. They worked at the straw bonnet
making trade, and by the failure of the house
for whom they worked, were thrown out of
employment. For some time they have been
aided pecuniarily and otherwise, by a German
named Louis May, who knew them in Germa-
ny, previous to their emigration to this coun-
try. Latterly, however; they became very
much reduced, and told May that they would
commit suicide if circumstances did not alter
favorably.
On Monday last, Ceceliaj the eldest of the
two sisters, addressed the following note to Mr..
May:
To LOUIS MAY
Dear Sir:-As We intend leaving the States
forever, we hereby return you your likeness
You would do us great favor by sending
some Of our effects to Europe after we have
left
This act may seem strange to you; nothing
is more natural, however. If you intend to
do us said favor, please give my sister Wadna
ia sign by opening and closing your window
She will expect you at u o'clock, in Frank
lin street; between Broadway AMI Church
streets. If yon are not there, then farewell
forever CECILIA.
New York, Sept. 3, 1856.
letter until Tuesday, which proved too late,
for the work of death had been done ere his
missive of friendly aid had arrived On Thurs
day he proceeded to their residence, and slip
ped an answer in the door, little thinking that
at that moment those to whom it was directed
were sleeping the cold sleep ofdeath. Nothing
was seen of the women since Tuesday morn
ing The neghbors had found their room
locked, and supposed they had gone out of
town for short time. Yesterday, however,
the occupants of the house experienced a very
Idisagreeable smell in the hall, which at once
drew suspicion to the locked up apartments.
An officer was informed of the occurrence,
when Mr.. Black, the landlord of the premises,
and he forced open the door, and to their hor-
ror, found the dead bodies of these three per
sons.
Information was Immediately conveyed to
the Coroner's office, when Coroner Wilhelm
proceeded to the spot, and held an inquest on
the bodies of the deceased. A post mortem
examination Of the bodies was made by DR..
Uhl, when the presence of prussic acid was ap
parent in the stomach. The little boy had no
doubt been first poisoned, and then the unfor-
tunate sisters partook of the deadly drug. Ev-
|erything about the place bore the appearance
of poverty in the extreme.
The jury, after hearing the evidence, render
cd verdict of suicide in the case of the wo-
men, but in the case of the little boy, Edward,
returned a verdict of ''Death from prlssic acid,
administered to him by his mother, Wadna
Stein.''
The deceased were all natives of Germany:
Cecilia was about 33 years of age, Wadna was
%, while the child Edward, was about 6 years
old
The affair caused no little excitement in the
neighborhood, particularly among the German
residents of that portion of the city. On a Ia
bic in the room of the deceased was found the
phial which contained the prussio acid; it was
entirely empty, showing conelasively how sure
ly the work Of suicide and fnfaiticide had been
perpetrated.-[W ". Y. Herald.