The New York herald., 1871-02-01
TEE PORTION OF POVERTY.
Inquest In the Case of the Tene.
ment House Horror.
Household in the Sleep Of Death-Four Dead
Bodies In One Bed-What was the Condition
Of the Deceased at Retiring-The coro-
ner's Inquest and Rendering Of the
verdiet-Ths Landlord Censured.


Tie time before found lying dead in wretched bed,
In a still more wretched looking tenement house In
Third avenue. BY type graphical error the name
Of the man was given incorrectly 0s Scanon instead
Of Laughn. The fact OF the death Of these persons
was not discovered TIL In the evening Of Mon
day, and was reported little after dark to
Captain Byrne, OF the Twentythlrd precinct station
house, In Eightysixth street. The landlord OF the
tenement house was the first TO communicate the
fact TO the authorities, ana he appeared much ex.
cited and PALE evidently feeling that little OF the
responsibility for the death OF these poor beings
morally rested upon his shoulders. When
Captain Byrne accompanied him 10 the house
they found the victims In the same position
In which they were found by the HERALD
reporter at midnigh Entering the room, asmall one,
there was to be seen In one corner bed containing
four dead bodice In the room was scattered about
clothing scanty articles Of furniture and dishes, all
pnclean. A small piece Of candle was furnished by
lhe police, and with this hasty inspection was
made OF the premises. Sticking the piece OF candle
on the head Of the bed the bodies OF those it con-
tanned were examined by its uncertain light. All OF
those upon II wore the iull everyday dress. Evi.
IDENTITY the had got cold and they had, as poor
folks often are compelled to do,
RETIRED WITH THEIR CLOTHES ON.
On the further side OF the bed, and near the wall,
very goodlooking. whom the police knew to be one
John Laughin, with black hair and half-open eyes
and beard some three days old; he was dressed In
dark coat, dark pants, light-coored vest and
grayish woollen shirt. A pair Of woollen stockings
were his feet half covered by an old quill. From
his mouth there had escaped quantity OF foam
and it hung upon his lips IN great white cloud
HIS right hand was thrust into the upper part
OF hfs pants, and the left hung over the
haQA ~ n
his breast. me child seemed creeping
away from the asphyxia OF death which surrounded
1t. 1t was scantily clad IN wOollen Jacket and
striped skirt OF cotton stun. Next TO this lay the
mother. eaceite, with placid and stIess look. She
gray serge underdress. she was about twenty eight
years OF age. Next to this woman and on the out
sands. she wore a maroon colored dress and black
and white plaid shawl Her face was red and her
nostrils and mouth were covered with blood, evil
denty
1t was one OF the most horrible spectaces that one
can imagine, and even the police, accustomed 10
every horror, refused TO enter the room.
One Of the morning papers reports the quartetre-
man-women and child as drunk. Indeed, the in.
quest before the coroner gives to John Laughln
and susan Sands Dad character for intemperince
From the appearance OF the % bodies, however, with
half OF whose face was covered with bright red
THE sUFFusIoN OF BLOOD
and whose lips were stained by the crimson nuid.
there was rather the appearance OF huddling close
immunity from the GOODNESS of the room. Possibly
they were overcome by the effects OF the escaping
gas and waelt Saow.ng or suspee'ihs the cause
tired one alter another, too lafgud and drowSy to
remove their clothing. Tnus
INCAPABLE OF EFFORT TO SAVE THEMSELVES
by opening the door or window, they perished In
that Of MOI bid languor produced py aspEyXa.
The following contains the Developments ehcited
IDENTIFICATION OF THE BODIES.
owen Reilly the first witness sworn-He re-
at N.gl h,s nl n
sister OF Mrs. Laugnlin, ana identified the bodies
lying in the room at No. 1,497 Third avenue as John
Their child, and Susan sands; Mrs. Laughlin and
heard OF their death last evening; John Laughlin
was Incorporate IN his habits
tbs BODIES DISCOVERED.
Charles Wilson, OF No i,4jl Third avenue, sworn
am laborer; ! went to visit the club house OF the
Oriental Social Cub at halt-past four O'Clock Mon
day afternoon, and while IN the room smelled gas;
one OF the members asked me TO cali plumber and
stop leak IN the pipe; went for John Halpine IN
Eighty-slxth street, near Third avenue: he went
anead OF me. and on reaching the club room
! found Mr.. Hapne had examined the burners
OF the chandelier and found there was no leak in
them; snlelled the gas very strong: Halpine
thought the leak must be under the floor: on going
10 glass door leading from the hall into the back
room smeled the gas very strong through hole;
me screw diver, and ! took or the lock OF the
door communicating with the back rooms; l went
into the room Win the plumber ana foun1 bracket
but properly closed; found the bodies or four per-
sons lying dead on the bed; went down and told
windows told him TO unlock the door which led TO
the hallway, which lie did: Moeller opened the sky
light before going into the room; tod Mr.. Moeler
TO notify the police.
EVIDENCE OF THE LANDLORD.
Charles Moeller, being sworn, says-i reside
at 1897 Third avenue, where | Keep a bakery:
rented the back room on the second story: my VIE
rented the room TO Mr.. and MIS-. Laughlin before
Cnr stmas; there was 10 gas in the room but tie
pipe terminated in the ceiling the gas being cut on
MI Rosenberg biFea the front room the second
story eight DAYS ago Tor The purpose Of holding meet
n p bp 10
OF using the gas; be engaged Dlumters and mad o
chandelier hung: did not know whether the termi
pied by the deceased persons had plug in it or not
on Saturday afternoon last The plumbers put up the
fonr or Ve ia ocock M s Via d a'oot 1o
know OF anything having occurred until
about six , O'Clock last evening, when Mr..
stairs; went mp, and dndlng the door locked, had
1t iorccd and fonnd the room nled with gas and
Laughlln, his wife, child and Susan SANDS lying
dead on The bed; ! opened the door and windows
and then fou I'D gas leaking from the pipe in The
ceiling; placed cork in II; / then went to the
STALLION house and notitled Captain Byrnes of the
facts: the gas turned on by the plumbers: for
the three that have occupied the house there
was no gas used on the second floor: saw the child
alive on sunday aiternouD.
EVIDENCE or THE LAHDLoRD's WIFE
Magdalena Moeler was next sworn and testified as
follows:-l am the wife OF Charles Moeler tie pre-.
vious Witness rented the back room on the second
floor OF our house two days before New Years 10
MFR. Laughin, wife and child at The rate of six dol.
lars per month"; ha leased the house FOR thn last
lree years ana bought u yesterday: did not Know
Susan Sands; the contract for the house was made
The leth OF January; the first nstalment OF the
purchase money was paid yesterday; on Sarurday
last the gas was not flowing, owing 10 the freezing
Of the pipe: a plumber was called, who thawed tas
pipe out; this was about halfpast Eve O'Clock on
Saturday evening; the plumber turned the gas on
himself: since nave lved IN the house no gas mas
been used on the second story; the club in tue front
room burned oil.
TIRE LEAK DISCOVERED.
Suspire Rosenberg OF 242 East Th'rty-th!rd street.
sworn-I am a cigar maker, and am member uf
the ''Oriental Social club at 1,so7 Third avenue:
we assembled there on Saturday last to omen our
rooms; we hired the room Of Nlf. Noeler by the
month: | asked him FOR the privilege OF using The
gas while we puilap the fixtures; scnt Tor iiaipine
the plumber, Who sent a man 10 place the chanle-
lieis IN the room; returned about halrpast seven
O'Clock: The plumber had been there between four
and five O'Clock; the gas was used that night tin
About one O'Clock; noticed Slight smell OF gas
but found the burners dd not leak; turned the gas
on myself did not go there again TIL about four
O'Clock yesterday Gondayl afternoon, when, smell
ing the gas very strong went 10 the plumber, with
wilson, and we told him TO send round man 10
mn fha leak / n