The New York herald., 1869-04-11
DEATH UNDER SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES.
Investigation Before Coroner R0llins-Rum
and Heart Disease.

Investigation Before Coroner Rollins-Rum
and Heart Disease.
For twenty years past Margaret Reddeu, an Irish
woman about forty.1ve years OF age, has kept
disreputable house at So West Houston street. dur
ing all Of which time John Mcmahon formerly an
attache of the Croton Board has been living in
innate terms with her. She Of late drank 10 excess
and frequent quarrels were the result. Only
q few weeks ago Margaret had John ar.
raigncd before the Jefferson Market Police
Court on q charge OF assault and battery.
but at last she relented and failed to prosecute.
Margaret, however, continued in her alcoholic ex-
cesses, and for some days past she has been under
the care Of Dr. Downs. She continued to fail up to
eleven O'Clock on Friday night when death ensued
The medical attendant was appealed TO for a ccruf
cate but taking view OF the remains he declined
doing for the very good reason that both her eyes
were terribly swollen and discolored besides which
there seemed to be other marks OF violence about
the face and body OF deceased. These facts DR..
Downs made known 10 Captain Nils OF the Eighth
Rollins for his action In the meantime Captain Mills
placed an oicer In charge OF the premises.
Yesterday afternoon an investigation took place
at the late residence Of deceased, when John
Mcmahon was called and dep0sed TO having lived
with deceased, who had been q hard drinker for
three years, and that for several months past she
had not been sober. on Thursday last she came up
whie he was lying on the bed ana spat IN his face,
I'm he Ia retaliation struck her III the lace with
MS nst for the first time. AT ha.fpast o'clock on
FRIDAY night deceased sent for the witness, and on
approaching the bedside desired him 10 witness her
Will which she made verbally. she left her property,
amounting In value 70 about $1,000 lnostly IN casn)
~ the children OF her nieces, but hcr wearing ap-
parei was bequeathed to her niece, Mrs Vandeleur.
Henry :. Downs NJ. d., deposed to having been
called 10 see deceased on Thursday last found her
left eye closed and eccny mosed, with several dscoo
rations upon her person, ana confusion the back
OF her head; she said her husband (meaning McMa-
hon) had struck her and had knife Ia his hand TO
cut her but no evidences OF injury by knife were
apparent: the doctor then considered her under
tGe influence OF liquor. her pulse beng weak
found deceased In similar condition, except that
the right eye was then closed and the swelling had
extended down the face and neck. After that visit
the doctor did not again ner alive.
Henry Mcmahon nephew OF the first witncss de-
posed TO having seen deceased incbriated quite Of
ten, and that about three weeks ago she fell down
stairs; she had pccn Ia bed two days during which
time she wanted him 10 go for liquor, which he re-
fused to do.
Drs John Beach and Thomas c. Fnnell made
post mortem examination ON the body, over watch
tney found numerous bruises, but more particularly
on the left eye; tue right eye was also partially
dscolored. The medical gentleman also found luiiy
nearly all the other internal organs BADLY diseased,
besides which were uninstakable indications Oi en-
cessive use OF strong liquors.
In the opinion OF the doctors death resulted from
tnteulperance, accelerated by disease of the heart,
and The jury accordingly rendered verdict to that
effect -
politcilns is now confirmed invalid. lie deeply
deplores the life lie has been leading, aud during the
Investigation sail ne hoped the Almighty would
ms lease Of life IN order that Is far as was ia his
power he might repent OF his sins.