New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-17
MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR.
A DRUG CLERK FOUND DEAD.
MARKS OF VIOLENCE on Ills BODY.
ARREST OF HIS WIFE.

A Gaze Of death under somewhat singular a1d mys-
erous circumstances brought 10 Light YESTERDAY.
and by many ia supposed to be q case Of murder,
while others under the impression, from the fats
at hand, that il is only case Of suicide. The de-
ceased is William Williams, an Enslishman, abou.
thryfve years Of age, who has been a clerk in the
drug store No. % Spring street for the last few weeks
About o'clock yesterday morning, Henry Stein,
lad, who lives with his parents over the drug store
referred to- in opening the door of the druggists
premises discovered Williams lying dead on the hocr
in the back room, with a cut over the left eye and
cash on the same side Of his face from which blood
Lad flowed freely.
Some hours later when Coroner Connery had been
summoned an examination Of the two rooms occupied
by the druggist was made, which resulted in finding
several tumblers and cups on the floor and counter
which had contained arsenic, prussc acid, laudanum,
and two or three other kinds Of poison. One vial of
morphine was found standing between the legs of de-
ceased while in Of his pockets he had small BOT
tie containing another kind Of poison. No blood WAS
discovered about the premises except what apparently
had flowed from the wounds on the deceased's face.
During the search for information which might throw
some light the mysterious occurrence, Patrick Nc
GOldrick o young living at No. 2l8 Mott street,
made his appearance, and being questioned stated
that not far from o'clock in the morning he and I'd
ward DOnnely, friend, saw woman on the sidewalk
in front of the drug store, partially intoxicated and
making considerable noise. Her clothing was burned
if with suphurc other acid and she appeared to
be in a great state of excitement. When the two
young men came to where she was standing she
told them that she the wife of Williams, and repre-
scented that they had been having severe quarrel.
The woman stated that her husband had attempted
to strike her with a heavy pestle used for
grinding and mixing medicines, but that she took the
weapon from him and dealt hin blow with it, At
about the time Williams was seen within the
store with common table knife in his hand apparent
ly much inebriated and in decidedly bad humor
Williams invited young Goldrick into the store but the
latter fearing violence at his hands declined the invita-
ton. Mrs. Williams was then conducted to the Four
tenth Ward Police station, Spring street, but not
being detained by the officer in command McGoldrick
and Donnely conducted her TO her residence No. ?
Dover street, but when the death of her husband
known to the police she was arrested and is still in
custody awaiting the result of the Coroner's inquis-
ton She i. an Irish woman, and as would appear
has not lived on the most loving terms with the de-
ceased.
Mrs. Williams went to the drug store where her
husband was employed quite early on Monday even
lnp, WITCH lSib ~ i"3 WYNN ''i0
was still there. The presumption is that she remained
in the place till daylight drinking and quareling
with the deceased, and after her departure that Will
lams, perhaps half delirious, swallowed quantity of
poison which proved fatal. different state Of
facts however, may be developed before the Coroner
That Williams alive and in n fighting condition
when his wife taken from the store is certain, and
il is equally true that all the doors of the establish
ment were fastened when young Stein found the de-
ceased lying dead upon the floor, which precluded the
possibility of any one entering from the street and
killing him. Besides wounds Of fatal character
from the partial examination made, were found on the
body. In order to give time to procure the attend
snce of all the witnesses having any knowledge of the
matter, and TO furnish all the evidence possible,
Coroner Copnery postponed the inquest til O'Clock
this morning, when it will be proceeded with
Deceased physician aud chemist, and man,
according to his letters of recommendation Of quite
eciauti6r affanmepts