The New York herald., 1873-05-19
A GYPSY's DEATH.

Cold Spring Excited Over the Death
and Hasty Burial Of n Gypsy Girl
An ExhumatiOn and Post-Mortem Ex-
animation Discloses the Fact that She
Had Been Brutally Violated.
POUGHKEEPsIE, May IS, 1873.
There is painful mystery surrounding the death
ana burial OF gypsy girl near Cold Spring. Putnam
county, and the investigation which is progressing,
should act as warning to the members OF these row.
ing bands not to disregard all law and decency In the
matter OF caring for the members Of their tribe
when misfortune Overtakes them. On the
day In question two wagons, containing
three young men, one old woman, one young
girl and two children, all supposed to be
gipses arrived in the little country place known as
McKeeps Corners, not far from Cold Spring. AS
soon as the wagons stopped one Of the young men
hastened to Dr. Grliin's residence and pressed him
to come quickly to one OF the wagons. The Doctor
did so, and there found the young girl in dying
condition. She was beautiful in appearance, but
her attire was Of the most scanty kind. She had
nothing on but a chemise and an old dress. Near
her was a box Of pills. Dr. Griffin thought she
acted as though she had been drugged, when he
demanded to know OF the other occupants Of the
wagon what they had been giving her. One OF
them replied that DR.. Schlosson, OF Bedford, West
chester county, had prescribed the pills for the
girl; that she hsd been complaining for several
days, but that she had not been very sick till The
day previous. Dr. Grimm asked the poor girl II she
would like to have some water, but she made no
audible reply he then In order to test her strength,
held the water towards her and asked her to raise
! her head, but she could not He then raised her
head and poured little water in her mouth. but
she did not swallow any. The Doctor then hurried
into house near by to get other aid, but when he
| came back the young girl was dead.
| At five O'Clock in the afternoon the same daV
| her body was handed over to the Overseer OF the
Poor and she was at once buried In an old burial
ground near by, without prayer or priest or any
service whatever. and within the sound OF til Q
bells OF five churches. Her wandering companions
took their departure Immediately after, unQueS-
toned and seemingly uncared for.
Not q soul knew VINO the unfortunate girl was
nor where she came from, nor the names OF any OF
her inhuman companions. As soon as the above
| facts became nOised abroad the better class OF
people in the vicinity felt that great wrong had
| been perpetrated that mystery surrounded the
| whole affair which 1t was their duty, II
possible to dispel in order that justice might ensue
| 1t had been given out, too, that Dr. Griffin upon
seeing the girl expressed the opinion that she had
been drugged, and that increased the desire for q
thorough investigation.
| All the reports coming to the notice Of Coroner
Bullock, of Cold Spring, that Official took hold OF
the case & at once and ordered tho body to be ex
| Murdock, OF Cold spring, was then instructed by
the Coroner to make post neortem examination Of
! the remains which ne did ninety-sx hours after
] death. cOroner's jury was next empannelled
and the inquest was commenced at the Cold Spring
was Dr. Grimm. His evidence was in the main cor
| roborative OF the above, and then DR.. Murdock
was called. He testified to having made the post
| mortem examination the day previous. He testi
fed that the body was only slightly discolored and
that there was red iush over part oft, mainly
over the back. and there was one brulse upon the
back near the lower end OF the spinal column, which
OF r anre
| external labia were very much swollen. There