The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-02
AEGPEMAglA RE0 sylCEDE.

A Shocking Contretemps In High Life-A
Fine Lady Detected in a Theft-She ~ Arr
rested md Commits Suicide-Sad HistoA
81 the Deceased.
Lirs. Mary A. GatewoOd, Southern lady, COM
mitted suicide yesterday morning at No. "A south
Washington square, while under arrest Tor larceny
The particulars, cleaned from the detectives ana
Mrs. Eaton, OF No. 81 Bleecker street. are these;-
Some days ago Mrs. Barney Williams called
at Mrs. Eaton,s millinery establishment at the
above number, with cloak which she wished
trimmed She also left five yards or valuable
guipurc lace TO be put on. On Monday week
Mrs. Mary A. Gatewood, living in South washington
square, visited Mrs. Eaton's establishment on the
preiext of having dress made Mrs. Eaton left her
alone In y bedroom twhere Mira. Williams lace lay
for a few minutes, and on her return Mrs. Gatewood
took her departure Several days after the lace was
missed and suspicion fell upon Mrs. Gatewood. A
young lady in Mrs. Eaton's employ was
No. a South '. Washington square, and under
the pretext Oh wishing 70 purchase lace
t an MRS o ve
Not having the amount with her she returned to
Mrs. Eaton obtained tue money and again called
somebody residing In the house wished to purchase
IL. She stated, however, that she had at her place
%naS se Wond sell MISS 1h sb bae
purchase the lace for lady at the st. Julien Hotel
and made an appointment TO meet her at that hotel
at nine yesterday morning, when the lace would
In the meantime Mr.. Eaton had reported the case
to the Central ONCE, and detectives Mooney ana
Vaughan were detailed to watch at the hotel for the
suspected thief. They were at the hotel with MISS
Carpenter at the hour named, but Mrs. Gatewood
failed to appear.
The detectives and Mrs. Eaton then proceeded to
her residence in Washington square, arrested her
and requested her to accompany them to the Central
Once. She consented to go and prepared herself
At the moment OF starting she requested permission 10
enter adjoining apartment and was allowed to do
SO. moment after gurgling sound and groans were
heard. The detectives forced open the door ana
found Mrs. Gatew0od In dying condition. she had
secreted razor about her person, and on entering
the place had cut her throat The woman was re-
moved to her apartment and died few minutes
This lady mas had sad history. She Is native OF
St. Louis and related to some OF the most respect
able families in that city and New Orleans
ing her and son in INDECENT circum-
stances. Since then she has been in constant
reception Of remittanees from wealthy amt mt
loss Of her child she has been victim OF kOpe-
MANIA and was once arrested for petty theft but as
her history and misfortune were known at police
headquarters she has never been prosecuted. A
year ago she was for short period in the Phade-
phia Insane Asylum but recovered and has since re-
sided in this city, Letters on file at the Central
ONCE from her friends detailing her unfortunate
mama for appropratng other persona property and
requesting the police officials to look after her well
fare. She is represented to have been woman or
fine personal appearance and some literary talent
Her age WAS about forty years.
Mrs. Eaton knew nothing Of the woman's history,
and is by at the result OF her efforts
to recover her property
Coroner Flynn notified or the occurrence at an
early hour during the afternoon, and he VIII hold
inquest tue remains OF the unfortunate woman
today. DR.. Knox made the necessary preparations
and post mortem examination. The razor was
found lying on the floor and the sheath 80 firmly
cenched in her LETT hand that 1t was with difficulty