The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-04-02
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A WOMAN.

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The Stomach snd Brains MissinG-Ar-
ner's Javestigstion.
On Sunday last District Attorney Isaac Scudder
ceived an anonymous letter informing him that Mrs.
Thomas, wife Of John Jacob Thomas, dealer In
silks and ribbons doing business in New York, and re
siding tho residence OF Mr. James Gregory,
formerly owned BY Daniel Webster. situated on Wee
hawken HIM. New Jersey had died suddenly and under
circumstances which led the suspicion that there had
been foul play.
The given into the hands Of officers 70 investi
gate with instructions allow the matter TO become
known. The officers have hbored assduosly since sun
day night last ana from them and other sources we
gather tho following facts
On Friday, the 21st instant, the deceased Mrs Thomas
went New York, returning again towards night IN APP
eleven O'Clock, she seized with violent spasms. Mr.
Thomas TO the gate house, occupied by his gardener
and wife 70 90 up 70 his house. and hurry
doctor When the gardener and wife went into the mousse
they Dund Mrs. Thomas :. in a violent spas%. n.r
fectly rational. and expressed desire TO live, that
she might up her family She also made the remark
that she had not taken poison she complained Oh
cramps under the knees The doctor arrived and prescr
cd morphine but without effect and he afterwards bied
the patient when she appeared easier and towards morn
ing The gardener and his wife homo, the pa
ten considered out OF danger, and the pms scah
also soon after took his departure About ve A.
NJ the gardener and wife again aroused by Mr.
Thomas TO the house. and the son was despatched
for the physician Upon going INTO inc room d,
Mr. Thomas engaged DR.. Rhen, OF North Hoboken, ana
Drs Rcter and Cudck, Of Hoboken. TO make post NOR
TEN examination which they did, concluding at about
one ~ understood that the funeral 70 take
place Monday, but Mr. Thomas suggested to Dr. Rhein
that the should be inferred that afternoon and the
coincided alleging that the began u emit an
unpleasant odor messenger was sent 10 Jersey CITY
fer Carriages aud hearse and in the meantime hearse
carriages returning from the cemetery to Hoboken
engaged for the rurpose ana the ones IRON jersey
City were turned back Tho deceased, accompanied oy
a few friends was conveyed about five = N 10 thc New
Durham Cemetery, and inferred, without any minister
being present any funeral service taking place
On Monday night ny order OF Coroner Farrell the booy
was exhumed secretly conveyed TO the police station
In Jersey city On Tuesday DR. Var'ck made post NOR
TEN examination when no discovered that the stomach
and brains missing; but facts further than that
The remains Of deceased locked remarkably fresh and
little dscooraton OF the skin was observed and the
euva arising from was scarcely perceptbie IN ven
tlated
On Tuosday evening Mr. Thomas VINO was aware of
the proceedings that had taken place was arrested at the
Hobosen ferry, while his way home and II now lodged
in the City Prison at Jersey City 70 await the result Oh an
investigation.
Yesterday stated that the stomach OF deceased
which loft with the intention at brst 10 nave lts
contents anayzed had been thrown into the sink OF the
outhouse the physicians decided that tho Gauge OF
death was congestion OF the brain, and the remains AZ
that time had been up The inquest was commenced
yesterday.
District Attorney J. W. Scudder ESQ., appeared TOT the
people, and r. Glchrist r. was retained as counsel on
ihc part Of Mr. Thomas.
D Augustus VIM Retller sworn and testified through
interpreter, John H. lIopknsI reside N Hobckcn
and physician; know Mrs Thomas, OF unon Hhl
attended Thomas weeks ago did not attend her
on the 2i OF March attended post mor,em sun
DAY tho I'D VI March; there were present Dr ludlck
md DR. Rhoip; Mr. Bcndrck a relative Of Mr. Thomas
reauesed me 20 attend this was sunday morning. the
two physicians Mr.. Hebcrln and myself, were present
made inspection Of the body for dissection the body
was fa and very good they then opened the body first
examined the breast, then the head the stomach was
| opened little way down and appeared to DC " good
I.s.. NJ, Tksrvs.. IL ynlld
70 preserve IT, IN case any further examination
was necessary did not know what became OF
we left the stomach with Mr.. reberln explaining that
| they wished 70 have examined; does not know wha'
Mr.. Heberu dic with It, Mr. Heberlin Thought thnt Oh
tho stomach appeared healthy IL would be needless 70
excitement in ihe community BY further invesga
sknl, The skuil was in morbid condition the brain
of different coors and in the cavity there from three
OF thin fluid blood there was an abnormal
fuipess u the veins the left ventrcle OF tho BRAIN
injection Of boad part oi the prain was III
n healthy conditiou; the substance o tho spine was
very white, aud IN normal conditon: exsopt inc extra
vasaton Of blood the in excellent condition
the condition OF the brain sufficient TO cause desth
but sudden death the lungs were IN the best condi
| t,on but the heart was involved with fat; not hard.
very thin but Mood IN the vessels OF the hert IN inc
last sickness SIX eight weeks ago, made examina
ton and found a sckly noise murinur In the heart
the heart weak the heart was put pack again n ls
place the heart itself was not normal my opnion ~
that the disease Of the old and the origin OF AL
other malades the abdomen had healthy appearance
the kidneys discolored and unhealthy think the
certificate concluded the post nortsn between one
and two O'Clock the afternoon saw deceased about
two weeks before that; DR.. khein Attended deceased
| during her last Illness ,,,
Dennis Murphy sworn-I reside at the top d the NIL
have been employed as gardener WIN M NJ. "mss ss
last Saturday week, about four O'Clock IN the morning
eleven O'Clock the night before Mr. ihcmas came
down and told my TO 20 FOR the DOCTOR ana myself
| and wife TO come up 10 the house found her In ~
when she too, she said "DsnDis this IL 700 bad
have taken poison: bayo been % New YORK TO day
|
AIMED and said that she had cramps In her knees
| nv wife rubbed her knees with brandy; went ou'
OF tho room and did not go in again; the doctor
and Mr.. Thomas came 10 me with prescription, and
a me- SS 70 70 hy n.S ,rs .sr 1Sn vbe one o the
down and told me TO come up; went sp and found
Mrs Thsmas dead went out OF the rsom and met Mr.
Thomas he asked me was going for tho doctor told
hem there occasion, that she Was dead Mr. Tho
Burst out crying and appeared n great agony sh'
buried Monday but understood the doctors ordered
her buried that night; isw of his relatives and n'
deceased complained cramps under the knees the '
were very Of them lasted while Iwas there
twelve minutes Was 70 go for another doctor
Tho sstrict Attorney here was compelled 70 leave
the investigation coutirued by the forem~n, Alder
Never heard that deceased had any spasms during he
eight weeks sickness previously; deceased was about
| forty years of age, and Mr.. Thomas was about th'
| same apo; they had four children; think Mr. Thomas
nrst name Jacob have heard there was bad feeling
and M Mrs TSas had great deal oS troubs about IN,
servants there is German gcyerncss 10 the house
dersood that Mrs Thomas would not take drink q any
thing night except from the Mrs fhsna
PERFECTLY able 10 walk 10 Hoboken, and ga hearty
| streBg woman.
shortly after two p NJ the Inquest ad,surnsd 'o
an hour.
| AFTERNOON SESSION.
4 mary Mur,by, sworn-I reside IA tho gate houss al
Mr. 1homas' house since august lsst. was wstL Mrs
Thomas the nigh, abe died there uoth Dg tbs mattel
with her on FRIDAY; that morning she wont away Mr.
Thomas came and called my huzssnd and myself 4
come up. my boy N go tor the doetor found Mra
Thomas Ia bed che seemed 70 have oonvufinns r his
she Lad them Intervals all night aud quite sensi
bo bctween tbexn atter M RheIn and admin se
medicine abe oosSer the doctor sai she batter
And tsd 30 bonre and have sleep. that th.
danger Or khen came bes twelve and
he gave deceased -snnc medicine out of bottle. saw
except that the s not ~ bant he bcd ~
ovoe aud then opeood TIE wound again. vss Mt "a