The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-06
BELLA JONES DEATH.
WAS 1T SUICIDE ?--TEsTIMoNY OF THE DOOR.
KEEPERs or THE STATION HOUSE.

WAS 1T SUICIDE ?--TEsTIMONY OF THE DOOR
KEEPERS OF THE STATION HOUSE
Early on Friday morning hast Bella Jones twenty Ave
years Of age residing at No 100 Thompson street. WAS
brought into the Fifteenth precinct station house by
officer William l. Beard and locked up on a charge OF
intoxication and disordery conduct
The same morning the Coroners Office was notified
that Bella had committed suicide by hanging herself
the ventlator above the door OF her cell Since then
different to the of her death have
reached the Coroncrs' Office and thorough invcstga
tion into the matter has been ordered by Coroner
Eekhom It stated that she was dragged out of her
house by Officer Beard and beaten by him over the head
with club In addition it is declared that she died OF
injuries caused by the officer and did not commit
suicide. The statements made by DOOrmen Flynn and
Reilly OF the Fifteenth precinct and Officer Beard as to
subsequent decease will be found below ~
DOoRMAN PLYNN's STORY.
Daniel Flynn the doorman of the Fifteenth precinct,
tells the following story:-"At about quarter past
twelve O'Clock last Friday morning Bella Jones
brought into the station by Ofrcer Beard and
two three other policemen. She only
and laid ON the floor in front OF the desk. Ser
geant Murray was on desk duty that morning After
taking her name he ordered her 10 he locked up She
got up from the door and walked with me TO the prison.
aud
LOCKED HER UP
fell asleep About twenty minutes one O'Clock she
aWoke and commenced kicking at the door OF
the cell and making great noise. Between
ten and fifteen minutes to O'Clock the
noise ceased, and supposed that she had again
fallen asleep. Az O'clock | went my rounds
through the prison, and when came opposite the cell
in which she confined discovered her suspended
from the iron grating of the ventator above the door
| gave the alarm and opened the cell door and cut
her down. She then alive and her eyes
appeared to be starting out of her head Sergeant
Murray sent for Dr. Dorm who and pronounced
her dead. She had torn her clothes into strips had
tied them together, and wrapped them twice around
her neck and had jumped on the bench In springing
from the bench she must have struck her head against
the door, there bruse on her forehead There
also mark around her neck which the cord had
made
DooRMAN RELLY's STATEMENT.
About one o. clock the morning of September
sitting in chair in the yard and heard Doorman
FLYNN who had entered the prison hut few seconds
before cry for help rushed in and saw Bella Jones
prisoner, hanging up over the door of the cell Door
Flynn cut her down. She was alive !
bruse forehead and also the mark of the cord
her neck.
oPPioER Boards STORY.
On the morning OF September 3, about quarter past
twelve O'Clock, julia Flannigan who lives at No. 1855
Thompson street told me that Bella Jones who resided
in the same house. acting in very boisterous
manner; that she had pistol, and was likely either
took her to the station house, with the help
OF three other officers She would not walk,
so we had to carry her | did not strike her with my
club as reported arrested her the night of the
a charge of disordery conduct made by Charles Thigh
man, OF No. PIG Wooster street The next morning |
took her to the Washington Place Police Court
and Judge Bixby sentenced her to ten days i'm
prisonment to pay fine of 80 When |
arrested her that night she told Acting Sergeant
Griffith that if she had to go to the Island she would
cut her throat she was tired of life.
The story of Officer Beard is substantated by several
witnesses who the arrest and who accompanied
him until he reached the station house
The inquest in the case will be held by Coroner
EickhOff Wednesday.