The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-14

--TErTiM0ef OF HEX ALLEdED LOSEh-rnb DE
CEAsEDs ALLEGoRIcAL STATEMENT OF HER OWN
CASE.
from the West Troy Avocate.l
Miss Persia X. Brown Of this village, left her
boarding house on Saturday afternoon, the 5th inst
without informing any one as to where she was
going, and nothing was known Of her whereabouts
until Monday morning, when her lifeless body was
found in the canal short distance above the lower
side cut, by o raftsman. When taken out Of the
water she could scarcely be recognized by her fea
lures. Coroner Wands summoned a jury, consisting
of Moses Carver, George Learned, John Watson,
VIM. II. Hayward James F. Houghtaling and Henry
S. Leroy, to inquire into the circumstances attend
ing her death. Below is the testimony taken before
the jury
ed with deceased for the past eight years. she work
ed for me, making caps; l keep hat and cap
store of Canal and Broad streets, West Troy;
/ saw deceased last alive about II o'clock on
Saturday; she was at my house and store; had
been absent that morning until halfpast 10;
then did not discover anything unusual in p. X.
Browns actions or appearance; had no conversation
at that time with her but about business OF the stores
discovered nothing different. from usual; she left
my store to 60, as l supposed to dinner at IL M;
she did not come back to the store again; never
saw Ter since that time; know Mr.. Amos Cass; |
know of his calling upon deceased frequently; he
has not called lately to my knowledge; deceaseds
character is good been an honest, upright, vH1ous
lady; always thought deceased while living, psssst
y rational at all times.
Mary A. Curtis sworn, said am boarding at 0e
present time at Mrs Smiths in the same house Miss
r r Brown, the deceased and her mother boarded;
have been acquainted with deceased for past eight
months; Mr.. A. Cass was keeping company with Miss
b. when first got acquainted with her; we then
boarded together at Mrs. Thompson's, next door to
where we now board; boarded at that time at Mrs.
Thompsons for two months during that time last
fall Mr.. Cass kept steady company came TO see her
as often as two three times week; l have
seen Cass and Persa together several times; they
always appeared friendly together; deceased never
told me that Cass engaged to marry her; once she
- rho knx. htvv.s oIsn
gave reasons why not. l saw deceased ON Sa-
tufday before she went to work. at halfpa SIX A.
M nothing said at that time saw her again at din
time at table about twelve o'clock; after dinner
/ went to the cars in Canal street; on my return
home met Mr.. Cass; Cass and went down to Mrs
S. c. Peaks; soon returned; when we came back
together as far as Mrs. Hills store he wished me to
call Persia out, and said he wished to see her. did
not find her in the store; found her in her room,
sleeping in her chair; told her Cas- wanted to see
her. Persa said he might cone up II he wanted to
see her: Cass soon came mp stairs and went IN her
room; Cass was in the room alone with Persa about
two hours; he then came out; / saw him; he shut
the door after him; unusual for him to do 50; she
did not follow him out as she usually had done when
be had called before. ! was standing IN my mo
theirs room door next to hers; Persa soon came out
Of her room, and went to her clothes press; then
went in my mothers room; this was about four
o'clock P. NJ, Saturday; did not notice what she
did in the house after this; | have never seen her
since, until saw her dead to-day. do not know
how she came TO her death; never have heard ner
say that she intended to make away with herself;
Cass took dinner at Mrs Smiths that day. (Sa'ur-
day.
Conrad Miller sworn, said am a raftsman;
was watching timber this morning on the bank OF
the canal between the arsenal and lower side cut IN
this village; my fiicnd Francis Russell, who was
with me, said Here is q woman in the canal; she
lay on her back between two RATS; she was
floating: she WAS dead; did not know how she
came in the water OF to her death; that is all
know about IL.
Francis Russell sworn, said was in company
with Miller this morning about 10 o'clock; was
the irst who saw the woman in the canal; have
her; never saw her before TO my knowledge.
Mrs. Hill recall.d-The property shown me iden
tify as belonging to Miss p. II. Brown; identify
the breastpin and earrings as such as Persia wore
While working for me; she had such a locket as
shown me- and cord about her neck; never saw
the lccket oren since Mr.. Cass daguereotype was
put in
recognize IS belonging to Persia Il. Brown; the
.ocket l have seen before attached by same cord
10 her neck; the same daguereotypes were In II;
her brother ard Mr. A. Cass; earrings, finger rings
1 nd breast pin identity as hers; the handkerchief
was hers il was found with the name 1t had on in
New York; deceased told me so: the name X. X.
Brown shown me, wrote on garment Tor Persa
mother.
ID. r. Buuus, NJ d., sworn, said-I am Q prac-
Using physician and surgeon in West Troy; was
called TO assist in holding post mortem exAmna-
ton today upon the body OF Persa X. Brown, about
4 L r. W..
ceased for the past eighteen twenty years while
living: did not recognise deceased by her features
to-day; found no external marks about her person
as If violence had been used: examined contents oil
pelvs and stomach; found her uterus IN perfectly
healthy and normal position and condition; the
stomach in O healthy normal condition, about halt
piLt indigested food Ia IL; no indication oil poison
ing violence about her stomach or otherwise; her
lungs healthy and normal general congestion OF
water into different vscera and organs; my opinion
is that deceased came TO her death by drowning;
could not Judge accurately how long she had been
in water-probably fcrtyeight hours
John p. Witbeck sworn, said was called by
the Coroner 70 hold post norton examination
upon the body OF Persia II. Brown to-day, az l
o'clock P. NJ assisted by Drs Burus and viee;
/ have heard the testimony OF Mr.. Bsrrus, and con-
finn II In every particular. -
Amos A. Cas- sworn, said am school
teacher located at present at Albany teaching has
going 70 Albany taught at West Troy; while
teaching at West Troy ! formed an acquaintance
with one Miss Persa X Brown, since which time, for
the last year previous 70 my leaving West Troy, !
kept company with, walked out and waited upon
herr during that time there were no pledges or pro
misses on either part as regards marriage or other
wise since the lst Of May 1856, since my gong to
Albany, have called y see her twice at her house
and met her once accidentally In the street here at
West Troy; once deceased, Der brother and Mrs
Curtis called to see me .. the Academy; ] called
last Saturday at Mrs. Hills bat store to se Persia r.
Brown; she was not in; about P. NJ called
at Persa's boarding house, Mrs Smiths, m
West Troy, corner Of Canal and Broad streets,
which was formerly my boarding house /,
after dinner went With Mrs. Curtis 70 call on
the bride, Mrs $. &. Peak; when we came back
told Mrs Curtis to tell Miss Persa r. Brown 10 come
out from the store. that wanted 20 her; Mrs.
Curtis came ont Of Mrs.. Hills store, where Persa
worked and said she was net there then started
TO go up stairs, to visit Miss Brown met Persa at
the head Of the stairs; she asked me in her roon
I went I'M her mother was in the room; Mrs. Brown
went out, and was alone with Miss Persa; we had
q conversation in regard 10 marriage to this eject
abe asked me II was about 10 marry; told her
| candidy YES; II was understood who IL was; she
said abe wished happiness, prosperity, &c; she
further aid she bad chance TO marry, and had re-
fused she did not say why she refused; then lie
PerSa in her room, passed down stairs, saw Mr. r..
:. Ayres in his store door, spoke 10 him, and then
went my way 10 the country; Sunday my brother
came 20 the country where was, and told me that
Persia Brown was missing; ! told my brother TO go
10 Nr Brown Persa's mother, and tell her In sub
u4axca suAat have NOW told be went