Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-11-23
THAT SUICIDE CANARD.
The Police Investigation.
Report Of Major Richards.

We yesterday gave some particulars of the
investigation by the coroner and police into
sensation story afoat i'm regard to mysterious
suicide of young lady, and we stated that the
result of the enquiry to show the fasity of the
story. The following additional particulars win
be Of interest:
The story as circulated was to the effect that
on the day of Secretary Rawlins' funeral a
cut her throat with a razor; that the razor be-
longed to Mr.. Van Aernam, the Commissioner
of Pensions, who, it was alleged, had been liv-
ing with the woman; that Mr.. Van Aernam was
summoned to the death-bed, when he sewed up
the wound, and by brides not only closed the
mouths of individuals who were cognizant OF the
and had the body taken te the West for inter-
ment. These reports finally reached the ears of
Secretary Cox, who Immediately set about to
make thorough investigation of all the alleged
facts and circumstances. Major Richards, act
ing under the orders OF Secretary Cox, proceed
ed to gather up all possible information and to
that end Detectives McDevitt, Bigley, and Col.
Asmussen were directed to work up the case.
The result of their investigation is set forth in
last night:
DEPARTMENT OF MErRoroLIrAN Police, Office
OF MAJOR and Superintendent, No. 2 Louisiana ave
nue., Washington, November % lS5g-Hon. j. ID.
with your verbal request Of the 10Th instant, that
inquire into the circumstances Of alleged suicide
September last, as published in the Baitimore Ga.
.efte Of the 18th instant, and the hteliigcer aud
to You the result Of the Investigation speedily as
possible, have to state that have ptrformed that
duty, and beg leave respectfully to submit herewith
Every circumstance stated to have been connected
the newspapers above named, but as gathered from
has bssn hS % h
detail If there is any reliance to be placed in human
en ,ns is With id not
scintilla Of truth for its basis, and emanaes from
source as low and degraded as are the motives which
prompted the accusation.
The aninus of the whole matter seems to be a de-
ment Of an officer of the Gov eminent who stands in
the way OF their selfish desires and aspirations.
obedient servant, A. G. RICHARDS,
MAJOR and Superintendent.
This report completely exculpates Mr.. Van
Aernam, who has always borne a character
above suspicion and reprOach, and now another
duty remains, and that is to ascertain the foun-
datiOn of the rumOr and ferret out its authors.
In the course Of the investigation it was ascer-
tanned that the report as circulated gave the
name of the girl who had committed suicide as
Estelle Van Aernam; that she resided with a
family named Stewart at No. SOP 18th street;
that Mr. Stewart, one Of the male members of
the family, was bribed by an appointment to
clerkship in the Adjutant Generals Office; that
tain Kidd and Mr.. Welsh. both clerks i'm the
Pension office; also to a woman named Annie
Devine and to other. These parties were gues-
toned i'm regard to their knowledge of the AFFAIR
Stewart denied that such a thing had ever Oc-
Cured in his house, and proved that he was in
office before the present Commissioner of PEN
siOns came into office, and that he had not the
least agency in securing him the appointment.
Kidd said he got his information from the wo-
man Annie DevIne, with whom it seems he has
been living as his wife. Welsh got his informa-
ton from Kidd. Annie Devine tells a story
about getting the information from some other
source. The undertakers, who were alleged to
have been bribed. were Messrs. Harvey s. Mari;
but they have shown beyond question that
they took no corpse away from the house indi-
Gated, and, Furthermore, all the corpses re-
moved from this city about the time indicated
have been accounted for.