The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-14

wanc p9fs" ne af9o epid, "She was liable be out
IN cwo O'Clock IN yne morning; heard that he at
S6mpted TO get into the house ABOUT two weeks
sgo; sae witness watched the house, and seeing no
snd noticinZ an UNPLEASANT odor issuing nom the
house. M. Sheenan notified the police; = bill.
THIS HOUSE TO LET"
mas necn on the house since March last; Mrs. Had.
ley, ef ~ Elliott place, Brooklyn, owns tho house;
formed that deceased was in the habit OF buying
PROVISIONS Tor many persons; also that she smoked
ana chewed tobacco. Coroner Herman viii FUR
tner investigate the mysterious AFFAIR to-day.
AS there was much excitement among the people
IN the neignborhood where the body was found an
structions to allow one to enter except by order
or Coroner Herman. The deeds, bank books and
taken possession OF by the Coroner aud viii be de-
nyered over TO the proper owner Ia due course OF
IN THE HOUSE AT NIGHT.
HERALD reporter proceeded to the house OF the
unfortunate deceased last night and found 1t sur
the neighborhood In regard to the occurrence was
great, and all kinds OF stories We're told to account
strange noises had been heard to proceed from the
house late at night and that men had been seen
what prpose no one could tell Connled VIM this
Is the TACT that deceased was in the habit OF pur-
chasing quantities Of tobacco and scare pro;
bable that this was Intended for her own use, and
have bought IT. Another strange circumstance nee
was, that though she was evidently q woman OF
means she kept no servant as IL she wished to
keep the manner OF her lie secret What misfOr-
tune may have driven her to this unnatural lie,
possible to say; but there Is a strange similarity
between her case and that of the strange lady in
Little Dorrit," who let her residence 20 to ruin
and who never abandoned her bridal dress from
the day when death interposed and took away
bridal morning. MISS Wlets may have been mi.
sery In her habits, but II she was she took
sare and elegant articles Of vrt1 decay and rot for
want OF cleaning. What foundation there may be
for the story that counterfeiters had their head.
quarters in the house cannot be ascertained, but
there is mystery somewhere which 1t Is TO be
hoped win be cleared up.
When the reporter. after considerable dificulty,
gained permission to enter the house the 'front.'
door was opened, and with candle In hand he
In the house during the time that Miss Wets has
been its tenant, and everything was dark as
dungeon.
pervaded the house. making one feel sick almost
to fainting. The stairs were unexpected, the car
furniture III room The footballs going up the stairs
sounded awiully drearily, and 1t was Impossible to
restrain superstitlous thrill Of awe IN the mere
presence OF the dread mystery. Pushing open
door at the head Of the landing room was entered
which was piled with bedclo,hes, mattresses,
but the body was not there, and the next door was
tried, and the most horrible sight ever witnessed
door frightened away naif dozen rats which
were leasting upon what was lett of the remains.
The smell was something fearful; but 1t was moth
ing compared with what met the eye. In one cor
ner OF the room there was bed, the clothing VI
which was in confusion, looking as If it had not
up, and there were no sheets or pillows to be
seen At first sight the remains could not
with the who .ot SaHy
seemed to be walking away with the floor. There
was piano In the room which was covered with
litter OF all kinds, boxes broken chairs, bed clothes
and music books. With the head resting against
one OF the upper legs Of the piano all that remained
Of the body lay 1t would be Impossible to say that
a human soul had ever dwelt IN the l0athsome
mass upon the ground, as nothing could be seen
but
sHAPELEss TRUNK,
from which the flesh had been devoured by the
rats and the insects. The mouth was open, the
eaten gums There was some dark hair left upon
the skull, but the eyes were gone, and there was
was ike that of a skeleton the flesh mad all dis
appeared, and
as IL they had been polished. The feet were the
only parts completely lett, but this was owing to
the fact that they were encased In strong boots,
which the rats were unable to tear. The breast
and sides were followed out and the arms had
partially disappeared. The sight was CHASTITY
one sufficient to make strong man faint and
shun iood for a month to come.
on the nont part oil this floor there was large
apartment containing some very antique and
costly furniture, but, like everything else in the
house, it was covered with dust and dirt that it
was rapidly decayng. Going down stairs, parlor
filed with valuable articles On the mantel-
piece there was q beautiful silver clock.
minutes mil to twelve In one corner : there was
piano which was covered with green cloth.
by its side there were some music books and O
piano stool, although the sound OF the piano had
never been heard by any one. There were some
rare old.iashioned chairs in the room, on which
were piled all kinds OF odds and ends.
In this room there were also bedclothes,
as there were in every room in the house
kitchen was lound A large stove was in the
centre and the floor was Uttered with dirt. There
were some cooking utensils and some plates upon
a hn ms from
vaded all parts OF the house and IL saluted the
nOstrs at every turning.
IN THE CELLAR
there were stored a large quantity miscellaneous
articles. there we're more goods in the house than
there and how they came to be In such confusion
Is unknown. 1t would be impossible Tor Miss Will
lets, supposing her TO have been possessed OF the
strength OF an ordinary woman, to have lifted
some OF the articles and disarrangcd them as they
now are. The candle went out on going
into the cellar, and the feeling was any
thing but an agreeable one, As you fanced
that you might encounter COLLINS and ghosts at
every step. hasty retreat was made up stairs,
and when the open air was gained II was the most
delightful sensation that could be experienced after
many horrors within the past few years; but they
all Jade into insignfcance compared with this
latest, and 1t is doubtful If there is case on
record in which all the elements OF terror are so
strangely and dreadfully mingled.
THE BODY NOT REMOVED
Coroner Herman, after visiting the body, gave
permit Tor its removal but, dsgracefu to relate,
up to a late hour last night there was no effort
there yet. In hot weather like the present its
presence IN the neghborhood Is sufficient to breed
pestllence, and 1t is an outrage and shame that
1t was not promptly transferred to the Morgue.
Inquiries made by the police for Mr.. Byron Stien
showed that he was out of town, visiting some
where In the country. some new facts will proba-