New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-07
A CHAPTER OF CRIME.
THE JERSEY CITY ABORTION CASE.

REVELATIONS.
The first fatal abortion case that has ever
been brough, TO light in the State OF NewJersey was
that announced in yesterdays TRIBUNE The victim is
Miss Ida W. YAH OF Newark and the alleged abortionst
| If Mira Mercea X. Metzler OF No 81 Erie-st Jersey
CITY, This place ostensbly confectionery shop, and
Is situated near Public School No. In OF the
windows Is tin sign announcing that cairvoyant"
may be consulted within, and above placard with
the words furnished rooms to let" in conspicuous let
ters The house has been known among certain clique
OF Erie Railway employees the "litte candy store
around the corner" the name which printed
| on the awning 1t Is alleged that number
of these persons accustomed frequent the house,
though for what purpose Is only question Of surmise
The signs in the window had attracted considerable
attention for some time past and among Others who
had been OH the watch two reporters of local pa
pers who for 10 days had kept vigant surveillance
They were reality detectives and by their persistent
inquiries in relation to the place aroused the suspicious
OF the police, and a sharp lookout was kept on the
house The publication Of the following advertisement
intensified the suspicious in relation TO the house
seeing cIarvoyaut %aS be consulted every dsy
S a. c Laes 1a Medicinal Tp Preparations suppGed
The house was watched closely by the police, and 1t
openly alleged that Mrs. Metzer was accustomed
10 decOy young girls into her place on the pretense OF
showing them photographs of their future husbands,
and would then arrange to introduce them
secure victim. On Monday of last week,
| the officer who was watching the house
reported to Capt Van Ripper OF the Second Precinct that
and woman had entered the building, and that the
former had gone away alone On Sunday H. A. Piaget,
an undertaken In Newark-ave informed the County
Physician that an unknown had died under sus-
picous circumstances at the place. The Police Depart
ment informed by the County Physician, but the
whole matter kept quiet and the arrest of the
alleged abortOnist postponed until late hour OF the
night when the police under command Capt Van Ripper
visited the house after man had been to
ter In hurried manner. II was supposed OF the time
that he might be the sedueer Of the deceased but was
subsequently ascertaned that he the Of the
cused. This and the woman, Mrs. Metzler were
arrested and taken TO the Second Precinct Station
House. The woman was locked up for the night The
man, who gave his name as Frederick b. Crozler Of
Eghth-st., Jersey City, was admitted to
bail. lie subsequently, made an attempt to
procure bail for the woman, but failed
The opened yesterday, usna and nc about
3 o. IN. a man who gave the Of Alonzo L. Kmball
was arrested by the Police The accused Is about 5
years old and wears heavy black dewhskers and mus
tache He suspected OF completely in the affair, and
il is alleged that he is the person who accompanied the
girl TO the house. At a. M, yesterday, Mrs. Metzler,
her son, f. g. Crozier, and Kimba were taken before
Justice Reese OF the First Precinct for examination
Mrs Mezler alias Medea testified that her name was
Meroelia K Metzler and that she had not committed
the abortion on deceased. She refused TO make any
further statement. Madame Metzer about ~ years
OF age, and rather stout. She was dressed In deep
mourning and a heavy black vail. Her son, Fred
erck T. Crozler il about % years old When called TO
the stand he stated that he had nothing TO do with the
case and that he only happened by accident TO be at
the house when arrested. He did not however, deny
that he knew something about the affair. KIM
bah, the suspected seducer Of Miss VAIL stated
that he was the agent in Newark and
Elizabeth FOR the Domestic sewingMachine Company,
aud that deceased was friend OF his that she had con
dded to him a short time ago that she was in trouble
and that he had taken her to the house Of Mrs Metzer
at No. "a Ere-s for the purpose Of having abortion
procured He denied however that he was her seducer
and requested Judge to allow him private examina
ton which grained. At the close OF the examha-
tion the accused were all committed to the Hudson
County Jail as the Judge refused to accept ball
The house No 81 Erie-st is small tw0-story frame
building. and II is said remodeled about six months
ago for tho purpose making It available for the bust
ness which is supposed 10 have been carried on. The
accused moved into IL on May from No 300 Newark
ave. where formerly resided The store IN front was
filled with toys and candies. The upper Story
had three rooms and Mrs. Metzer occupied them
m company with a man whose name is unRnowh'
and who has disappeared The police searched
the house Yesterday for the instruments with
with which it is supposed that operation was per
formed but were only partially successful. large
number OF letters pamphlets receipts, &c. were fouhu
in the drawers bureau In of the rooms ana also
box Of pills marked Tarrant x Co., No. 27s Greenwich
ST. N y, labeled, "l6.s29-one pill every evening al
bed time" The rooms were well furnished ana had ap
air OF comfort large number Of letters were found
on the premises They are revolving in the extreme
and show beyond the shadow OF doubt thai the woman
engaged in most Infamous business oo,ie vi 'H'
are from young girls who desire ner assistdh0e'
THE UNDERTAKER's STATEMENT
A rather tall young woman Of prepossessng appear
ance, dressed black, entered the store OF W. v
Piaget undertaken at No 1T Newarkaye at about D.
M on Sunday and told the clerk that his services were
required at No "a Eriest and that the case was given
to Mr. Piaget because the lady OF the house was an
acquaintance and that IL was all right she refused 20
give her name, but insisted that the clerk snoud
eccompany her which he did. and was ushered INTO
the back room the second floor and there ound the
body Of young woman lying on oeu ire sandy
chin whkers which to the description OF FRED
B. Croser He examined tne pDu' anu spcons were
aroused, and he declined TO nave anytning 70 w
with the case until he had consulted MS emp,oyer
He returned 70 the store and Mr.. Piaget still being
absent he consulted DIR. Buck the county PhJs,'inh,
and thew Together visited the premises at about o'clock
that evening ana found the body in the same POSITION
and present whose description Is ehaeiS one d o.
Alonzo f. Kimball Dr. Buck at once ordered tne Douy
70 be placed on ice and conveyed Mr. Piagets esab
lishmen postmortem examination was maae ae ~
il was decided that death was caused by the unlawful
OF Instruments during pregnancy, Wlca Prouuoeu
miscarriage laceraton perfOraton and innamnatiOn
Except for their violent treatment the organs appeared
TO have been in a healthy condition. ,
When Kimball his way To tue staton-house ne
that death was the result Of gross careessnes auu
that Mrs Metzer had sworn the grl TO secrecy oeOIe
she would undertake the also that the persons
who performed the operation were masked 80 that IL
vas impossible 10 whether they were mar vi
The case has been given 10 Coroner Parsow, anu ne
has closed the doors and windows OF the house An IN
quest will be held to-day and full INVESTIGATION MADE
Police officers were sent 10 Newark yesterday ana
every one implicated win be arrested Inc mouse was
surrounded yesterday by large crowd VINO were sar
GUS TO know the facts IN the case The DOdy OF miss
Vail has been removed to Pisget the undertakers
HISTORY OF THE VICTIM.
Ida W Vail the victim of Madame Metzler was the
daughter Of a printer employed on The Se1ark Daily
Adperser, who died about seven years ago. leaving
wife and two children and about $4,000 for their support
hal and family by