The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-02
THE COuLs0N MYSTERY.

>-
Removal OF the Inquiry ~ to the Cause
OF the Drowning or James COuison-
Statements by the Deputy Coroner and
tho Keeper Of the Morgue-Thc Mystery
Net Cleared UP.
The inquiry into the cause OF the drowning OF
the late Mr.. James Coulson WAS resumed yesterday
before Coroner Kesslcr. The evidence did not
throw any additional light on the mystery, and the
inquiry was closed, subject to be reopened should
any further important testimony be forthcoming.
Mr.. Alfred M. White sald-I reside at 53l Second
avenae; l am keeper OF the Morgue, and
have been so connected for thirteen months; the
bodies, II In good condition. are photographed; If
not In good condition their clothing Is preserved
for identification; in Summer the bodies would he
in bad condition after being In the water q few
days; the body OF Mr.. James Coulson was first
brought to my notice on Saturday evening, be-
tween four and I've O'Clock; the inquest had been
then held; the Coroner had left q certificate; my
assistant told me SO; the body, when examined it,
was Ia very bad condition; my assistant called my
attention to two STUDS and collar button that had
been found on the body; he SAID that he had them
in mis- possession.
BY the Coroner-He did not tell you that he had
received them from him A. No.
witness resumed-Dld not receive the cards from
my assistant; my attention was not called to the
cards until Monday afternoon, about one O'Clock;
they were then In the Coroner's ofice did not see
the cards on Saturday; on Monday the cards were
partly dry, but some Of them were damp; he found
the piece OF paper (prOducedl in cursOry and &C
cidental examination OF the cards; that piece of
paper contained the address, 'James Cou-,
Herald once;" did not see MIR. Noon until the fol-
lowing Monday; Mr.. Noon did not mention to him
that he had found piece OF paper
with an address upon 1t on the body;
the cards he (witness) put on the desk again and
lett them there, with the Intention OF going to the
HERALD ONCE that evening; In the meantime Mr.,
asked II the body Of young man had been found
on asking for the name they said II was 'James
showed them then this fragment aa'e Of 'e en
velopo, with the address 1t the body was after.
wards ident ih by the gentlemen by the clothing
OF Coroners to make post-mortem examinations
IN cases OF Drowning; Coroner Kessler has made
ment there was no need for a post-mOrtem exam
inatiOn; there were no evidences OF foul play; II
witness had not discovered the address on the en-.
Identification, and the body would have gone, with
others, on the following morning, to Potters Field.
ing and any other articles likely to lead to dentf-
caton TOR one year AL properly marked giving
'nS WAS the and
said that on Saturday last the Coroner received
list Of eleven cases FOR inqnsiton; five inquests
over to obtain evidence, but we gave death certlh.
Gates to the relatives of the deceased persOns we
every day, when are on duty, as as possible,
because there generally friends OF the deceased
there, waiting to take U away the bodies; on the
Bellevue Hospital and after making some inquiries
about some case they were informed that body
had been brought nom the foot or East Fourty.
four tn street; the Coroner went into his room and
witness entered shed in which the corins wcro
kept I'D, DR.. Leo then saidMi examined The body,
his hand into the pockets Of the deceased anu
removed some Of tho PUPPY matter, which |
OF the paper was colored red; Coroner Kess-
Ter remarked that the letter was written evil
Coroner me- to 20 and make Very Careful
examination OF the body; | returned to the body
and afterwards went to the Coroner's room and
Of paper; returned to the body again, and said
to Mr. Noon that had examined 1t, and there were
amined the head and neck; was struck with the
appearance OF the checked shirt; the body was
very much decomposcd; could not have recog-
nized 1t, although Mr.. Coulson and were very
friendly together; made q memorandum of his
dress; the Coroner inquired il anything else had
been found and this led to the production of some
shirt studs; the coroner said that he would take
the letter home and Try to decipher It he pointed
out to the jury that the writing In the letter was
illcgble but that he would do what he could to get
the party identified.
Mr. John T. Toale, 40 Pike street, clerk to the Cor
letter to him on Monday morning for careful pres.
ervation; Mr.. Toae said he saw the signature and
the place from which he was addressed he showed
It to Mr.. Baldwin aud Mr.. Harris reporters; but
they did not know of Mr. COulsOn being missing they
said that 1t could not he Mr. Couson OF the HERALD
afterwards the Coroner gave the letter to MIR.
Slater who at once suspected that 1t belonged to
the deceased, and proceeded to make further in
qutries,
This closed the inquiry; but should any car con-
ductors lie found who can give any Information as
again be opened by Coroner Kesser.