The New York herald., 1871-09-27
PROFESSOR MAHAN.
Conclusion of tho COrOna
er's Inquest.
How the Celebrated Engineer Met His Death
His Last Hours-Temporary Alteration Of
Intenect-Verdict Of the Coroner's Jury.

His Last Hours-Temporary Alteration OF
Intellect-verdict Of the Coroner's Jury
AT Haverstraw, N. w. yesterday the adJourneG
inquest touching the circumstances surrounding tho
death of Professor Mahan late OF West Point, took
place before Coroner Sl0at and Q jury empanelled
T for That purpose.
The first witness sworn was Peter s. Niche, who
depOsed as foows:-I reside at West Point and
have lived there during the past four years; arm q
professor OF philosophy in the Military Academy
at West Point; have occupied that position since
March, 1871; am graduate OF West Point; gradu-
ated in 1868; on the Goth OF April 1867, reported
to Professor Manan as resident professor OF en-
gineerlng, being ut that time captain OF en-
gIneers In the United States Army; left
West Point at four p. NJ on September %
Tor Haverstraw in accordance with telegram
sent by william Van HOuten. setting lorth the
finding OF body which answered the description
of Professor Mahan; l have since viewed the
body found upon the beach near Haverstraw.
and identify 1t as that OF Professor Mahan,
late Of West Point; l identify 1t, firstly,
from the shape Of the back OF his head;
secondly by tile clothes the body thirdly,
by the name appearing on the top of his bootleg,
and fourthly, by his wearing boots straight the
bottom; Professor Mahan left West Point
Saturday morning, September 10, on board the
steamer Mary Powell for New York; an Old
nurse of the family, Miss Mary Drew was
with him; she was on visit to the
family and was returning to New York; deceased
went to New York to consult Doctor Gray in regard
to his health; he about seventy years Of age;
he still performing his duties at the Academy
West Point up to the time of MS death; his physl-
cal and mental powers had been -
GRADUALLY FAILING --~
since July, 1871; the superintendent OF the Military
Academy gave me orders TO proceed to Haverstraw
for the purpose OF Identifying the body
William A. III nouten testlfed-I reside ia
.,averstraw; found the body OF man on Friday,
| September %, about half way between Snediker's
landing and Rockland Lake; was rowing along
the shore, and first saw the body with its back
turned toward me- itlay between two rocks; IrOwed
| TO the spot and at once saw that it was X
THE BODY OF A DROWNED MAN;
l attached a rope to the remains and towed thS
body up to COsgrove's dock; before towing tho
body up removed IA gold watch which was hang
ing n the water M the e watch h was delivered over TO-
OF my belief, that OF Professor Mahan.
Miss Mary Drew, having been duly sworn. testified
I reside in New York and am monthly nurse:
accompaned the deceased sdt,inn from West Point
49, Ne" board the On Mary S'pe: Po%s
he was going to New York to see his
very warm. and took OF his overcoat; he also took
his ruDbers and asked me 10 take care OF them
for HIM; saw him all the time excepting about
i've minutes up TO the time lie
! noticed some nervousness about half an hour be.
fore missed him; he appeared to be uneasy and
was walking up and down; advised MIN to leave
on his overcoat II he intended to remain out Of
doors, it chilly; he put II Oh, however, and
walked up and down the cabin rapidly shorty
handed me his umbrella, telling me to take care Of
It, he was going to take another little walk,
which he did and then sat down with his back to
the bow Of the boat he sat about ten minutes; saw
him get up from the chair; l don't think it was
more than I'VE minutes when heard the cry,
"A MAN OvERBOARD:'
that man was Professor Mahan; he did not say any
thing to me about drowning himself; the boat was
stopped very soon and every effort made by. the
captain TO recover the body; during the past three
weeks the deceased had been much depressed In
spirits.
pilot the Mary Powell: held that position
the deceased, Dennis Ii. Maha9; wnen
on board the steamer at West Point; was standing
on the upper deck b. the plot house talking with
the engineers this was at Nerplanck's Point: Pro-
essor Mahan came out OF the saloon, stepped on the
seat and over the railing
WALKED TO THE SIDE OF THE BOAT
side we stopped the steamer and lowered boat
but could not see anything Of him; he stepped OF
Van Buren Hubbard, NJ. D., sworn. tcstiaed-I re:
Point as medical oficer since February.
Professor Mahan have known him about two and
half years; have given him all the medical attend
lie has received since have been at west
month OF june 1871; his indispositon was
OF nervous character; mis- bodily functions
were normal; the cause OF this nervousness was, TO
the best OF my knowledge and BELIEF, recommen-
dalton OF the Board OF Visitors IN their report Tor
his retirement; the result OF that accommodation
was to depress his mind very seriously and almost
constantly; at times the
would assume the form OF a violent nervous par
Oxysm lasting usually about half an hour: saw
him IN two of these parOXysIns and his conduct was
OF such character to impress me with the con-
victSn o. MS entae amH irreSpSn
the existence OF the paroxysm therefore cautioned
his wife and sons to watch him very closely, espe-
cally while he was under the influence Of the par
oXysms. and not to allow him TO leave the house
unattended: upon my visits he frequently
DISCLAiNED ANY BODILY ILLNESS;
he stated 10 me that ne was laborng under ter.
ribIe apprehension OF something dreadful TO hap
pen; told him II It were anything TO enlIghten .
S%f"' aid not t WISH Wish to Ne be depository Of his
private affairs; he assured me 1T was IS, not, nothing
that he was physically sound as he was III former
years; recommended him to consult with some
physician in New York who had made specially OF
nervous diseases; he replied, "pOcor, It would do
no g0od-my trouble Is beyond the reach OF Your
art;n about a week or ten days afterwards Mrs.
Mahan, Professor Church and Professor Michie ad-
vised him TO consult physician III New York, who
was an old friend Of the family ana ne was on ms
way to do SO on the fatal morning when he met MS
death.
As there was no more evidence forthcoming Coro
ner SlOat briefly charged the jury, WHO, alter
brief deliberaton, rendered verdict that Dennis
suicide by umpln ing into the Hudson River from the
deck OF the steamer Mary Powell while laborinQ
under temporary alteration of mind.
Tup uoarrr @ sJouY