The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-12
A S SUICIDE
Spiritualism, Rum and Woman's Wiles-An
Unfinished Letter.

""i" VI tuls CITY was 5tartlcu DY tue TepOls
man had shot himself In the hallway Of dlsreputa-
ple mousse In Noxon street. Crowds OF people focked
thitner at once ans excitement ran high. In mo-
ment the truth OF the matter became known.
THE HOUSE
is iocatcd IN Noxon street, as previously stated u
Is brick structure, two stories high For two year
1t has been occupied by noted female abOrtionist
named Matilda Green. This woman Ii well known
to the police, and for many years efforts have been
made TO bring against her suficent evidence to
convict her OF crimes which she has committed,
without avail. Scores OF females have peeu
her patrons, some OF them moving in
the higher walks OF life. Upon reaching the
dwelling officer Furman and young man named
william Kern:ck found Daniel Van Cleef lying pros
trate In the main hallway welterng in blood, having
shot himself through the head with one Of Smith r.
wessons breech-loading revolvers All the facts Of
the case are revealed in the following starements:-
MATILDA GREEN'S STORY.
Daniel Van Cleef Is about sixty years OF age. be-
came acquainted with him year ago. He came
to my house in Academy street, and, In May last
wanted ~ TO move down town. nearer to tho
Buckeye Moving Machine Works. He was then
drinking character. We moved to the house In
Noxon street he renting It, Two or three times since
he has had the derium tremens. When work
ceased at the Buckeye he couldn't get work
anywhere else and then he'd get drunk more fire.
quenty. Once lie came TO the house IN the
middle OF the night and said he had had trouble
with James O'Neil and that they were racing MIN.
cried out 10 my daughter. ''Jenny, save meW
She said, GO to bed.n Il VIII, he sad, but FIRST
get my plston She did so, ana he laid II under his
pillow. lie slept with It three nights We got
afraid OF him, and told him he must leave. That
was III July last. Since then he has visited Us OF
aud on. Last night he came here about half-pa
nve and SAID, Jenny want my carpet-bag. I'm
to get it, when he followed her. said to him,
Don't CO." lie turned and snapped his fingers AT
shot, and Jenny came 'i running down stairs
SAID, Jenny, what's that 7" and then heard an
SARAH JANE wooLsEY's STATEMENT.
This is the woman called Jenny" She is the
daughter OF the abortonist and to AL appearances
II IS said Van Cleef was infatuated with
the following Is her statement
first became acquainted with Van Ceef In Janu-
airy last, through Jerry Lake, He didn't call on me
more than twice before he asked me to move
down town nearer the Buckeye Works and board
him.. Three four weeks after we moved, rather
We came here on the first OF May. He has never
paid my rent; he paid me $40 per month board and
washing lie would get drunk two or three nights
out OF a week. He was hardly ever sober and when
drunk was very ugly. After spree in July last he
came into the house between two and three O'Clock ia
| the morning, crying Jenny save me; I've been In u
| pistol gave IL 10 him and he slept with IL under
| his pillow for two or three nights. Finally We got
AFRAID and told him he could not stay here any
| minutes to six last evening. had been uD town,
and he had been In an adjoining house watching Tor
| my return. Just as got In the basement saw him
standing in The doorway. He SAID, "Jenny, will you
let me have my carpetbagf' said 'oh certainly.
nat and ran up stairs. lie looked bad.
He followed me up stairs, Swapping his
| lie came my room with me, and as he stood in
| my doorway handed him the carpet bag. He said
to take me back to board again II iii promise
drink any more!' ! smiled and said; Van Cleel,
don't think you'l give up drinking I'LL the last glass
is gone out OF the country. DO you want your
| apronr He said Eyes, III take IT, said, Where
p place Ell below a Fshxn said. linen you are not
| going to work in the Buckeye any morep' At
NC Tocs "p w COY Knows anS IN In esar
| work there again." Becoming alarmed ut
his manner asked him to excuse me. and, without
waiting for reply, started down stairs rapidly.
hearing him say, 'You want me TO go, them !" When
got hall way down the steps heard the report OF
pistol. and almost Immediately after heard another
report. by tins time had run out into the street.
ana stood calling F for help When heard illrd re-
and we ali went up stairs together. Van Cieei lay
| with his head towards the front room door, and u
pistol la, by his side. While officer Furman was ex
amining him he said. "Sam. keep OF my pocket;
I've got money enough to pay my board" farman
self ~ Dan said, ar | didn't who else would do
np Soon after no lailed to talk, though he mum
| bled great deal and tired to.
,s~~ JAMES sIGNoR's STATEMENT
| This gentleman, proprietor OF the Mansion House.
corner Of Main and Clover streets says that Van
Cleef formerly boarded with him and often got
| under the influence OF liquor. At such time he
an% aS Wildly anogt sh ms we VINO resides at
| that he had uied hard to get her away from her
companions He said he was sending her 1ity dot
| lars month, but believed he was supporting /, lot
| OF Spirituasts. at all times when intoxicated IL
seemed to talk entirely OF his vile and their
| cstrangement.
| Mr. MIILER's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Miller, with whom Van Cleef has boarded the
ter and says that two hours before the Shooting he
was perfectly sober ana talked nationally Lysander
| Cox also states the same thing, ne having parted
with the suicide at hafpast i've, when he seemed
| quite cheerful.
ARRIVAL OF PHYSICIANS.
| As soon alter the occurrence possible Drs.
Cooper and Campbell arrived on the scene, but upon
examination 1t was ascertained there were no hopes
OF Van Cleefs recovery. Some one suggested thai
| he be moved from the stoop on which he was lying
to room inside OF the house, but one OF the women
either Matilda or Jenny Green. said, 'fou can bring
him in here TO dress his wounds but he can't stay
here" Even then the man was dying, and lie was
soon after removed TO the residence OF Mrs. Slelght,
his we's sister, In Catharine street, where he died
at seven O'Clock this morning.
woMANs wILEs.
| All Of Van Cleefs comrades say he had become
| infatuated with the woman 'Jeuny WOolscy,n
| but why we cannot for the life OF as coniec-
ture. Some Of them say, also, that She lived With
him as his mistress I'LL he got out OF work and
| money and then came desertion This with inc
trouble existing between himself and wife In regard
to Spiritualism together with the additional trouble
| OF rum, was nc doubt the cause OF the act.
AN UNFINISHED LETTER
| Upon searching the effects OF deceased AFTER his
death bank book was found showing that he had
| $500 on deposit in a Newark bank. The following
| letter was also i0und;-
PoUGuKrKrsIr. Sept. g, 1870.
| To THE PEOPLE or PoUGHKEFPsiE:
In justice myself friends living this AMI
children wish to state facts and whole
why commit this rash act
| Right here this letter breaks or as though de-
ceased bad repented aud resolved not to commit
| suicide. The date was undoubtedly mistake as
| he wrote the letter yesterday afternoon.
| II VIII be seen that Jenny Woolsey states she
heard three reports OF pistol. one Of the Shots
probably the hrst missed, the bali going into tho
ceing; the other two took effect behind the right
ear, penetrating the BRAIN The first ball found
In the hallway this morning.
Coroner Andrus VIII hold inquest tomorrow
morning. An hour before the deed was committed
| deceased was in Cleggs grocery store reading "A
newspaper and In cheerful conversation with a man
| named John Reynolds. His sons and wife arc
| hourly expected from New York and New Jersey
THE SUICIDE OF Eia BREEZE.
| The inquisltion over the remains OF sir Henry NJ
| Breeze who committed suicide by hanging himself