The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-03
ANOTHER HOB0KEN TRAGEDY.

A Young Lady Poisoned by Opium-A
Mysterious Love AHair-Was She Sc
duced and Poisoned. or Did She Perish
by Her Own Hands s-Strangc Conduct
Of the County Physician.
case OF no ordinary nature has just been
brought to light In H0b0ken. From the conflicting
accounts given Of the cause and manner Of the
death OF handsome young lady OF seventeen
named Anna May La1an, 1t Is yet dinlcult to pub.
lish the full details Of the tragedy The unfortunate
girls relatives-a stepbrother and an aunt-betray
an illdisguised reluctance to communicate any
thing to the authorities beyond an assertion that
deceased poisoned herself. Certain 1t Is, however,
that Saturday morning, at half past nine O'CLOCK
DR.. Elder was summoned to the bedside Of Miss
Laffan, who was said to be dying at her residence,
1877 Washington street. The Doctor found the lady
unconscious, the pupils Of her eyes excessively
contracted and every indication OF narcotic poison.
He used all possible EFFORTS to restore her, but
SHE WAS BEYOND RECOVERY
and she expired in the afternoon. There was no
telling whether she had poisoned herself OF
whether another administered the fatal draught.
This meagre account Of the affair was given ia
County Physician Buckle yesterday morning, and,
astonishing to relate that functtonary, by Issuing
permit for the burial OF the body, virtually pro-
hibited Coroner Parslow from holding an inquest.
Under the State law, the County Physician pos
sesses this power, but why he wishes investiga-
ton into the cause OF her death Is problem which
he alone can solve. That there are well-grounded
suspicious of some foul play may be dcduced from
statements made by reliable parties 1t Is reported
That deceased had been entangled In arrf
THE SNARE OF DEEP LOVE
by Q rufflan residing in HObOken, who Is already
married. When the girls affection became known
her friends were averse to the acquaintance, and
demonstrated with her. On Friday meeting was
proposed by the seducer. whether she met him
that evening or not Is not yet known, Tor can 1t
be said whether he ruined or poisoned her. 1t Is
asserted that she felt respondent on that night,
but went to bed as usual. Next morning at eight
O'Clock she was observed to be unconscious but for
an hour and half rl.
NO PHYSICIAN WAS CALLED IN.
The deceased's brother says that she was melan.
choIy from her infancy, and took poison once be-
fore. He AYERS also that she attempted to drown
version Of the affair published. He boards at No.
Hudson terrace, and rumor has It that he who
proved an occasion OF the victims death besides
also In that house. The mystery shr0udRng the
case is deep one, and an inquest will probably he
avail himself OF the extraordinary power Of his
position and have the body buried while there
exists -- Z
POSSIBILITY OF YoUL PLAY,
tt will seem very unintelligtble to the public. Dr..
Elder declines. to give q full statement OF his
bound to confidence In mis- relations with patients,
but he acknowledge having attended Miss Latlan
as above stated. The permit may be revoked
to-day, in which case Coroner Parslow VIII be
bound to Investigate the tragedy. The probability
had been In the habit of using, but II any deceivef
has dragged her 70 SO dismal an end he deserves
the consequences OF rigid inquisiti0n.