The New York herald., 1869-03-20
SUPPOSED SUICIDE.
Mysterious Disappearance Of n WoEan, from
Boat i'm the River.

Mysterious Disappearance Of a Woman from
a Boat I'm the River.
The East river has been the scene OF one OF those
mysterious events, involving the fate OF human
being, which may remain forever one OF the unsoved
mysteries incidental to city life Between the hours
OF eleven and twelve O'Clock Tuesday night John
Knapp OF the canal boat 7. J. Harvey, lying In the
East river, at the foot Of Eleventh street,
came to ofllcer Abbott Of the Eleventh precinct,
and stated that about three weeks ago he took from
a dIsreputabe house in Centre street . woman
named Martha 7. Miller to act as cook on the boat.
During the evening she said she felt ILL., and asked
him to procure her some liquor He left at about
nine O'Clock for IL ana went TO q store In avenue
d. lie returned In about twenty minutes and found
she had disappeared and that her shoes were on the
cabin moor and q ring winch she wore, was on the
table lie feared she had thrown herself overheard,
as she had previously told him that II anything should
happen to ncr she wished him TO open her trunk
aud find a letter containing her parents address
and inform them. she had resided at Johnstown,
New York, for about nine years wnen her husband
died. and sne was Induced 70 come 70 TINS city under
reached the police than the above statement. Her
trunk has been taken 10 charge by them, and the
letter referred 10, which gives her fathers address
as J. Padgett, 2s New Banks, Halifax, Yorkshire,
England.
furnishes detailed account OF the circum-
stances which preceded the disappearance OF the
woman, but still leaves the matter shroudcd In
rnystery:--The name Of the woman who has dis
appeared was 'Maltha y. Mer;r her maiden
name Padgeti. She was born In England
was aged twenty weight and has been In this country
fourteen years. she came over with u wealthy
English family and resided at Johnst0wn. N. ",
where she married and lived until her husbands
DEATH when she removed TO Railway, N. Y. About
four months ago she came to New York, where
met her and engaged her as cook. On Sunday, when
the boat lying a. Jersey City. she complained Of
illness; went for doctor, but could not find to
come with me. ! went TO the hospital in Jersey
city and they refused TO receive her. as she had come
from New York. When sick on Monday she
threatened TO throw herself overheard, and
about three or four days ago she took
q gold ring and told me TO give 1t TO my daughter.
She also said there a letter IN her trunk which
would give her fathers address, and wished me TO
write TO him II she did not get well. She improved
rapidly until last Tuesday evening. when she be-
came III again. told her would apply next day
at Bond street for ticket for her Bellevue ospi
tal Az nine O'Clock she asked me 10 no for some
Iauor and when returned with II, in about twenty
minutes, she was gone. The ring was on the table
next the lamp, and her slippers on the moor. | be-
eve she could not have walked up the dock without
my seeing her, or being observed by some one.
She was or short stature, dark complexion and had
dark hair have given her clothes and the ring to
the police authorities was the only person on the
boat at the time.
il n evident from the place where the boat n lying
and the hour al which the woman disappeared that
n she threw herself overheard the chances were
against her 5oing seen the boat about two hun
drcd yards rom any house, aud the vessels IN the
peichDorood are being built OF rented and have no
crews ON BOARD