The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-20
A TRAGEDY IN BOSTON.
Death of a Woman Under Suspi-
cious Circumstances.
Her BrOther-in-Law Charged with
the Murder.

the boarding house of Mrs. O'Brien at $50 Harrison
avenue, last evening. The circumstances OF the
case, stripped Of the romance which was piyen
them In some OF the morning papers, are about as
f0llows:-lt was about year ago that Thomas
Mayne, with his wife and brother James, came to
Boston from New York and secured employment at
their trade Of stonecuttng. Both are good workmen
and reliable men. They secured board at the
house Of Mrs. O'Brien, as stated above, and
deported themselves WELL so far as their relations
to the outside world were concerned. Mrs. Wayne,
however, seemed to have had an uncomfortable
love for strong drink. Instead Of using it she
abused 1t, and her greatest pleasure was to be
locked up in room with bottle OF liquor which
she would drink from until she fell In stupor from
her chair. In appearance she was a fne-lookng
woman OF about twenty-eight years Of age cOmely
In proportion, and was capable of being a comfort
to her husband instead of being what she was--an
unavoidable nuisance. Her habits were such as to
render home perfect bedam and drive her hus-
band out of doors in search OF happiness. FIRE.
quently she has been in the custody OF the police
on charge OF drunkenness, and at one time she
was sent to Deer Island at his nstgaton, returning
therefrom about four weeks ago. When she got
back again she
PROMISED TO LEAD BETTER LIFE,
promise which, however, she was unable to
Keep. SHc COuIlHueu 10 go from Dau 10 worse.
Last Sunday her husband threatened to fog her If
she did not reform, and was about to put his threat
into practical execution when outsiders interfered
and prevented 1t. Yesterday morning John OBrien,
also q stonecutter, who lives In Charlestown, came
over to the house, and with the Wayne brothers
joined in great drunk The boarding mistress,
Mrs. OBrien, together with Mrs. Mayne, composed
portion of the party and all hands endeavored to
enjoy themselves by drinking liquor. After q
while Mrs. OBrien left the party, which
occupied room on the second floor,
and was followed soon after by Mrs.
Mayne, who retired to her own room, rear
apartment on the first floor Mrs. Mayne was then
somewhat intoxicated. Nothing more was heard Of
her till eleven O'Clock, when Mrs. O'Bren looked into
the room and saw her lying on the bed. In the
afternoon James went Into the room and was, as
he expressed it, Sin and out" several times during
the day. At about five O'Clock Mrs. O'Brien called
at the room again and found the door closed. She
attempted to open 1t, but was resisted by some
power from the inside, as II there was man press
ing against it. She called the name Of Mrs. Wayne,
when the door was opened about three inches, and
she said she wanted to go In and light lamp.
James, who was holding the door, told her to go
away. She repeated her remark, whereupon
James said that he would light the lamp himself
then
CLOSED THE DOOR IN HER FACE.
Mrs. O'Brien thought that his conduct was sOnle-
what singular but made no remark concerning it,
resuming her daily avocations. little while after
Of giving Mrs. Mayne cup Of tea, and found her
lying on her side with her head in q washpan OF
water, which was sitting on the floor. The body
stairs and screamed, 'Thomas, come down here,
for your wife Is deadln
Thomas FASTENED into the room with the others
and found that her assertion was correct Mrs.
Mayne had evidently just expired. AS q very natu-
raj proceeding search was accordingly mace ior
James Wayne, who was last seen with her when Sne
was alive and he was found lying IN ped LII an up
per room.
much surprised at the news of his sisters DEATH
He taken to the station house where, this FORE
noon, he made the following statement to re-
STATEMENT OF THE PRISONER.
william Maynes, the prisoner, is a withered old
man of f0rty-fve years of age. He Is somewhat
understood and wears his hair cut short with long
gray mustache, He was very garrulous this morn
Ing when he was visited by the writer, and told his
side OF the story glibly and with appearance of
unconcern. Substantially he spoke as fOlOws:-I
am a stonecutter by trade; was born In Ireland,
try used to know my brothers. wife In the Old
Country. When she was girl she possessed bad
She married Mr.. Dolan over there and behaved so
badly that he deserted her. Then she married
my brother Seven years ago sent for fol- him and
her, and we all lived together in New
York. She still behaved very badly. She used
to drink to excess and did many other improper
things. One day, while she was drunk she laid on
her infant in bed and stined it, The matter did not
appear before the police Soon alterward they re-
moved to Boston and lived at Mrs. OBrien's board
ing house, $50 Harrison avenue. She had returned
from Deer Island aweek ago, where she had been
serving O term OF Imprisonment as common
drunkard. Yesterday kept quite sober, although
there was q crowd in the house drinking all day.
My brother and party were up stairs drinking
heavily She laid on the bed in her own room in u
drunken stupor. Every little while used to go In
and look at her. At about seven O'Clock went out
doors into the yard and when came up stairs she
laid all curled up, with her head in pail OF water
She was dying. stood and looked at her minute,
and she died. Then Mrs., O'Brlen came into
Oh. vvit fharo nd iUht cd fha
body out. remained until that was done, and
then went into the front room and sat down a
M to my own room and lay down. l did not see
my brother at all, and the statement that told
him that he would live happy now Is false. While
/ was lying down the people came into the room
and told me that they were going to send for the
police told them to do so. Two officers appeared
and went with them to the station house and was
locked up in the cell you see me In now do not
know what caused the wOmans death, but she Is
no loss to the world any way. She was constantly
my brother going to beat her, but RETAINED at
my solicitation. She was forty three years Of age.
was meyer 5 arrested before yssf my we ana maye
have died from the effects Of too much rum
THE SCENE
Of what may or may not prove tragedy is in
large square room at the rear of the brick house
cupied by Mrs. O'Brien. When the reporter visited
4 this morning i presented wretched appearance
The corpse OF Mrs. Mayne lay on the bed, partially
covered with sheet.
The eyes were wide open and the lower Jaw had
the pillow there two large stains Of dirt and
the floor was cluttered up, as II no pains had been
taken to put the rooms to rights. pile OF rags lay
in the centre and the chairs and tables were In all
sorts Of positions about the room. There were two
small children playing on the floor, unconscious OF
the presence OF death. The room. was illy-venti-
lated, and stencil pervaded 1t such as would
almost seem to turn the stomachs Of those who
went therein. Altogether the appearance OF the
apartment was disgrace to civilization.
SPECULATIONS.
There are two theories with regard to the death
of Mrs. Mayne. Some of the morning papers assert
that her brother-in-law, James, attempted to out
rage her person while she was lying in q drunken
stupor on the bed, and then committed murder In
order to put the only witness of the crime out OF
the way. This theory would seem TO be sustained
by the fact OF his remaining In the room with her
so long, and refusing to grant admission to Mrs.
OBrien. The other supposition, which may prove
the correct one Is that she died from congestion OF
the brain, which was produced by over-indulgence
In intoxicating drink. The inmates OF the house all
seemed to sustain the latter theory with the eX
ception of the husband OF the deceased. When In
teirogated in regard to the crime this forenoon he
replied, 81 don't know hardly what to think
whether Jim did IL or nOt.o The true state OF
affairs, however, viii probably be developed at the
inquest DR.. Hastings visited the scene OF the muir
1,. thic morning and took the statement of Mrs