The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-15
THE UPTOWN HORROR,
Particulars About the Antecedents Of Miss Will
let's, the Deceased Post Mortem Examine
ton by Deputy Coroner Cushman-
No Signs Of Violence.

The account OF the horror Of East Eighty-seventh
street, as published In the HERALD of yesterday,
produced great excitement in the uptown districts
1t seemed almost incredible that such an occur
renee as the death OF q woman could remain
secret for four or five weeks no matter how
secluded or retired her habits might have been.
At the same time, no one believes that there has
been any foul play, death, in all probability,
as the developments OF yesterday showed, having
resulted from natural causes. The body was re-
moved early in the forenoon to the Morgue, in
order to allow Deputy Coroner Cushman an oppor.
tunity to make a post-mortem examination. The
fact that 1t was allowed to remain In the house so
long alter discovery Is not at all credtable to what.
ever department should have looked after it.
Byron Stief the nephew Of the dead woman,
turned up yesterday morning in high state Of
rage because the facts had been made public. He
seemed to think that the press should not have
noticed the matter, terrible as 1t was, on account
of hurting the feelings Of the surviving relatives
Coroner Herman told the worthy young man that
he had better keep quiet and he would have all the
better chance Of getting his aunts property,
which he claims, into his possession. The fol-
lowing is the sworn statement that Byron made to
the Coroner:-
Byron A. Stlef deposed that he resided at No. IL
Delaney street; deceased was my aunt, and has
brought me up from childhood she was q maiden
lady; she formerly kept house for my father and
myself at "a Bowery, where was born; my father
died in 1881; since that time she has resided
retired in her habits; she seldom went out In the
daytime; she refused to have any help or any one
when IN the city, and sometimes oitener saw
her as about ,ns es ' SS q her M sSs
but e el sSx III! ss' ap' ~ ss
n saftasa e aSd a4S q ser s
over, aud since that time she was in the habit Of
ceased was so retired In her habits she was al.
ways very kind TO me, almost like mother; when
sower; her full name was Charlotte %ietts; sSs
was very whimsical sometimes, but generally her
never said she was tired Of life she was about
fifty years old the only relations she has living
there was nephew, bus cannot say whether he
Shortly after Mr.. stlef left Mrs. Handy, who
peared. Shes greatly distressed at the occurrence
particularly as It happened In her house: Mrs.
before the latter became q tenant. The house was
let to Miss Willetts nye years ago. and since that
h has 81 The brother ts
corner Of Delaney street and the Bowery ~:
ness with Miss Willetts she never got further
than the door OF the house, and Of course was en-.
tirely ignorant OF the manner In which the
premises were kept. She supposed that Miss
Willetts was rather An untidy person, but she had
not the slightest idea Of the frghtfu neglect and
filth which prevailed in the interior. In appear
ance Miss Wlletts was rather attractive, and when
young was considered handsome. She complained
frequently Of oppression Of the heart and said she
thought she had heart disease. This may PROBABLY
explain In some measure the suddenness OF her
death. 1t is possible that she may have been
stricken down instantaneously in the place
10 when esr Oooy was Iound; Inc iurnt
was found, including the piano, was the property
Of Mrs. Handy, VINO paid Miss wietts for the
Unfortunate woman should have died In this
apartment, as there was scarcely room to turn
around In 1t. All the property has been taken
possession Of by the Pubic Administrator IA az.
cordance with instructions given by the Coroner
Deputy Coroner Cushmau made an examination
OF the body in the afternoon. There were no bones
broken and no traces Of violence The remains
day yet named for holding the inquest.