The New York herald., 1876-09-13
A BROOKLYN MYSTERY.

now DID AUGUSTA oGEvH COME TO HER
DEATH?-wAs 1T BIZ SUICIDE ?-PRussIC
ACID THE cAUsE-AgREsr or THE BROTHER
IN-LAw OF DECEASED AND DOMESTIC
In yesterdays HERALD published the sudden
death of Miss Augusta Greve aged hrty-cight years,
who found seated In easy chair, dead, at the
residence OF Herman Kunemund, No 4221s Gates
avenue. Sunday night last The supposed cause OF
death first reported disease OF the heart The
police OF the Ninth precinct Captain Mcloue him. did
not appear attach much importance case, and
tor few hours all suspicion slumbered. Late IN the
evening OF Monday it appears Coroner Smms, who In
the meantime had viewed the body OF deceased caused
a post mortem examination to be made by DR.. A. W.
Shepherd city physician, al which ho was
present On opening the body, just as
the incsion OF the surgeons knife made.
the atmosphere surrounding became surcharged with
that peculiar odor OF peach blossom, which proceeds
from prussic acid That dcaih produced by swal-
lowing a large quantity Of that deadly poison there
was, therefore, no shadow OF doubt The stomach was
Immediately removed and was placed in a jar by tho
Coroner who sealed IT up himself preparatory TO hav-
ing the contents chemically Analysed. The other
organs of the body found be perfectly
ural and healthy condition. At the direction OF
Coroner Simms thorough search Of the house, from
attic to cellar extending to the yard insti
tuted with view to finding, If possible some vial,
cup, bottle or glass that could have held the poison.
Tho most remarkable TACT to narrate is that
not the slightest sign or trace OF prussic
ucid, any other poison, to be found
about Tho place. 1t would bo impossible.
Dr. Smms states, for person swallowing SO large u
quantity OF that poison to dispose of tho vessel from
which It had been drunk, as It's deadly action would
rapidly assert itself upon tho victim. Therein was
suspicious circumstance upon which TO base theory
OF foul play Another PECULIARLY was that everything
about the place in the perfect order There
traces of vomiting. The corpse, when found,
was seated in CHAIR stated above, the head incn
Ing 10 one sido and lew spots OF saliva ON The rep
trimmed arms o! tho scat The features were dis
torisd and the hands hrmlY clinched.
The Coroner. after the revelations Of the post
mortcm had been made known, Issued a warrant for
the arrest OF Herman Kunemund and Mary Fassen.
TO await the acion OF the jury The jury
men were empannelled, and after viewing
the boly they discharged until Thursday
norning, when the inquest Will be held a the County
Court House. From the statement made by Mr. kuno
mund II seems that gentleman, who Is held under
velancc al his residence brown stone two story and
basement house. Is u Wholesale liquor merchant and
carries on business at No As Broad street New York
He is IA wldower having been married to a sister OF
Miss Grcvc and his wiie has now been dead about two
years. He has daughter fifteen years OF age Mr..
kunemund is an intelligent man, German, and lorty
one years OF age he is engaged to DC married. and his
wedding cards are largely circulated among host OF
friends. lie has lived IN his present mouse aDOu
years and his neghbors among whom he is respected,
say that he Is man OF pretty regular habits beng
won't 10 return TO his home between nine and ten
O'Clock every night Miss Greve the deceased,
had been IN the habit OF stopping at the house OF
her brother in-aw when not employed. Her last place
OF occupation IN tho household OF u doctor IN
Sixty.iourth street, this city, whero she had been
engaged housckeepcr She had also lived with the
fanny Of brother of MIR. kuncmund, on Portland
avenue near Park avenue, Brooklyn. Deceased
turned 10 her brother in-law's house on Saturday
morning About n,ne O'Clock he lett The house
pany with his daughter, leaving Miss Grevc ana Mary
SION. He proceeded Now York where he renamed that
day night he returned TO his home, with his daughter
and finding the windows dark and the door locked, he
went next door and borrowed key, but was unable
to effect an entrance He hnaily got into tho next
heuse. and walking along the cornice, over
The store, managed TO open tho window
back room. und going 10 the manlel piece no got
match with which ne lit the lamp Then 1t was that
he was horriucd on seeing hs s'stern-iaw seated in
the chair, dead. lis daughter was with him at that
time IN the room and they both went down STAIRS to-
gcther, and after informing their ncghbors OF the dis
covcry they notified the police OF tho Ninth precinct
There was nothing at thar time, Mr. Kunemund says,
to indicate that she had taken poson--no bottle
tumbcr bong in the roonL
Mary Fassen, IS dark eyed sharp spoken young wO-
she returned TO the house Of her employer about
halip ten o'clock on Sunday night in company with
her beau, and expressed great fright hnding that
Mss Grevc was dead. Her statement corroboraes all
that Mr. Kunemund had told the Coroner, as
far as his movements were concerned She
further stated that she had been employed there
since July 10. seven weeks, Mr.. Stein having recon-
mcnded her She had not known him bsIore she came
to work there. Her father keeps lager beer saloon
at the Of Troy and Atlantic avenues She pre-
pared dinner for deceased at twelve O'Clock Sunday
and then got ready W 10 out TO heI iather's. Miss
Greve told per that she WIS Cong TO make call upon
relative, and her way homo in tho evening she
would call at Mary's fathers house, and they would
home together" AT that time deceased
a joking afabls mood Miss Grcvo had never been
ut Fassen's she acquainted with tho servants
people Tho dinner table was found set tho girl
had lett It, the food being undlsturbed Mr.
Kunemund in answer to questions asked him by the
Coroner, said that he had never observed quarrel
between Mary and tho deceased except in this, that
Augusta had reproved her for want OF cleanliness
Deceased knew that he ABOUT to bo married. aud
she intimated that she didn't want him to bring a
stranger into the house, that she would there
and keep house, she was always alable ana OF most
cheerful disposition. The remains were inferred III tho
Lutheran Cemetery yesterday afternoon
MARY COMMITTED on CHARGE OF MURDER.
Mary Fasscn, the domestic, was brought before JUS
ce Scmler yesterday afternoon and was arralgncd to
plead TO complaint made against her by Oiccr
Luckoy, on Conformation and belief" charging that
she 'ieoniousy, willuy, and OF malice niorethought
administered 10 one Augusta Grcvc prussic acid, by
OF which the said Augusta Greve died. as aiorc-
said and that the said Mary Fassen did fconiously
murder the said Augusta Greve." The prisoner who
was perfectly composed, pleaded "Not guilty." and
was cam mi ed To he RAYMOND Street Jail