The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-23
A MATRIMONIAL MANIAC.
Loving; and Dying Under
Difficulty.
Singular Suicide Of Young Woman Up Town
Her Reasons for Shooting HerseN-In-
quest, Evidence and Verdict.

Coroner Young yesterday morning investigated
the case OF Miss Emma Claus the beautiful young
girl who committed suicide on Thursday last by
shooting herself with her iathers pistol his house
No. 81 avenue b. 1t was stated that there had been
an Improper intimacy existing between the deceased
and her lover Charles Reed, employed at station ID,
but the evidence adduced went TO show that she was
girl Of excellent character, and the testimony
failed to show that her good name had been tar
nshed in the least Aside from the extreme morti.
fcation she felt at the disappointment in not being
married at the time appointed there seemed to
have been no cause for the act. Subjoined viii be
found synopsis Of
THE TESTIMONY.
Matilda Stlckme, q young lady living at No. l2l
Allen street, testified that she was acquainted with
Emma Claus and had been for three years; deceased
told the witness that she was to be married 10
Charles Reed, and that they were TO be married In
Sixty.sevcnth street; she appeared to be In her
usual mind and was much pleased: the witness
at one time asked the deceased how long she had
known Charles Reed ana she replied she had seen
him about six times: he letter carrier at sta
ton ID, corner Of Eight street and the BOwery; on
Thursday last the deceased called on the witness at
her place OF business, 1856 East houston street, aud
INVITED HER TO HER WEDDING,
at two O'Clock that day, bnt the witness was going
to funeral, and consequently could not attend the
wedding; at nine O'CLOCK tlaC evening nearu tnaU
deceased had shot herself; deceased, as far as the
witness knows, was girl OF goou character never
heard deceased threaten TO Kill herself: the witness
mas twice seen Reed, ana would recognize him II she
johanna Lentul, OF 81 avenue II, was acquainted
with deceased; after Emma was shot sne told the
witness that size had shot herself; saw the pistol
with which she snot herself, but Emma did nOr give
a reason for doing 10.
Edward Mehling OF s5 avenue b. testified that on
Thursday afternoon he heard deceased nal shot her
sell; went up stars and saw her Sing on the
dress saw her clothes covered with blood; III
answer to a question asked by the witness, emma
| az AM TIRED OF IIvIsG;n
deceased bore good character SO lar as the witness
Ecci,hasar Claus, father OF deceased testified that
| he was away to business wnen his daughter shot
herself, and before he reached home she had been
removed 10 the hospital; he Immediately visited her
there and asked her " she would not explain to him
| the cause OF her shooting herself, but she would
| not lie went UP again the next day an!
asssel 4 she had anything 70 FAY, 70 Which
a1sea Il she waited q se GSarass se sa
Eyes, want c to see MIN; nc must marry me;n mad
speak Of him; the pistol with when deceased shot
herself belonged to the witness who mad it ma away
where he thought no one could find 1t; she never
told the witness why she snoG herself.
Joseph Bopper. n. D., was called to see de,
why she had shot herself, when she sad. ~ do not
want TO live any longer, nor do want to tell why
shot myself; give me something to make me Sleep"
subsequently inc doctor repeated the question, and
after some hcsancy she stated That She was to nave
been
MARRIED THAT AFTERNOON
to Charles Reed and that he disappointed her. and
for that reason she had wish TO live any longer;
she also said that Reed to the house tina. after
noon at two O'Clock and look her TO the church,
where they registered their names to be mar
RED; they then returned TO the house together
ana he went away, promising to return shortly ana
tncn take her to the church, get married and 20
the country to live; DR.. BOpper was present at the
pOstm0rtem examination, and Is Of the belief that
deceased mad not been scduccd.
rms closed the testimony, and the jury rendered q
X
teen and half years oil age, and a native Of this
city,