The New York herald., 1877-10-19
Details Of Mrs. I. Otis Leroy'S Sui
eide in Central Park.
HISTORY OF HER LIFE
From a Luxurious Home to the Cold
Waters Of the Lake,
MOTIVES FOR THE DEED

corpse found Central Park Lake The surroundings
OF This case made II appear at 1rst that there had
been foul play and that the unhappy lady had been
tho victim Of murderer's hand Tho authorities,
who appear to have been with the actual
facts, were responsible for this erroneous i'm
preston; Tor, rs will appear more fully in
the story below, they had dono their ut
most to "hush, up" tho Whether they
mad done this to spare the feelings OF
highly respectable family from other motives II 10
difcut to say; butthc fact remains that II a crime
had been committed IN tho the silence OF tho
authorities must have materially aided the escape OF
tho perpctrator. II turned out yesterday that this
was no murder, bat suicide and that tho lady whose
remains were dragged up from the bottom OF the Cen.
trail Park lake Mrs T. Otis Leroy tho wic OF the
general manager Of the Colwoll Lead Company, At No.
63 Centre street, and belonging to prominent
family, widely known both in the higher business and
social circles Of the metropolis
now THE BODY WAS POUND
The BODY, stated in the HERALD Of yesterday
discovered by boatman at the Central Park Lake
Wednesday afternoon. The writer conversed yes
terday with the boaman, whose name was Fitzgerald
and who seemed to be very intelligent man for his
station in life He narrated his discovery Of the
corpse with ciroumstantial detail 1t was between
two and three O'Clock IN tho afternoon The sun was
shining brightly, and as Fitzgerald was leisurely
handling pair of sculls ne had little thought Of the
horrible spectacle soon to meet his gaze. He was
sculiing in the direction Of the Mall landing. About
ten twelve feet from the Terrace the keel OF the
shell received sudden shock Tho boatman thought
that hard substance had struck against IT, and
after investigation It appeared that 1t
female figure floating under the water's surface
which was just then bathed the warm sunshine
The boatman was little disconnected, and promptly
called comrade, who assisted him fishing up the
body BY this tmo quito excited crowd OF visitors
IN thc PARK had gathered round 10 witness the nor
rbe sight, and from the beaten and battered appear
ance Of tho corpse II was murmured at once that
murder had been committed. The corpse was laid
out at the arsenal. IL not the body of 'young
and beautiful grl had been stated by of the
newspapers yesterday but Of a medium sized woman
with chestnut hair which had turned gray in some
spots regular and delicate features. small hands and
corded black silk and kd bottines aud pendant ear
rings plain ring and purse were also found upon
her person, as well as handkerchief marked H."
CORPSE REMOVED
When the body, which had evidently been dragging
in the wuter and wind for some days, had been re-
stored to an aspect OF cleanly deccncy at the Park
Arsenal 1t was removed to the Morgue 1t appears
that days before the keeper of the Morgue had
been notified by Mr.. I. OTIS Leroy that his wife was
The description Of the lady had also been communl
Gated to the Morgue keeper by Mr. H. Buckley, the
brothcrin-aw OF the deceased, and when the corpse
arrived the keeper at recognized It's identity.
These iacts were not learned from the keeper, who
~
the and who refused TO give any information. He
declined yestcr crday state what undertaken had
10 keep all the facts from press and tho public
II ho could Mr.. Leroy and Mr.. Buckley
communicated with and the body was removed 10 the
Calvary Church, corner OF Twensy-atst street and
Fourth avenue OF which the deceased had been faith
tu member during her lifetime. When the bereaved
husband behed the bruised, dscolored and eless
mains, which were already beginning to show signs OF
decomposition, of her who was his loved wife, hts
heart failed him and his gref intense. Ali tho
rcmcmbrances OF past domestic difficulties were tor
gotten in the contemplation Of the sad end which had
SUICIDE AND NOT MuRpsR
Coroner VOL ltman had been notified OF tue affair as
we'll as the police, and yesterday morning that Official
IN company with hts medical deputy, Dr. Cushman,
repaired TO the vestry room OF tho church, whero
the body lay DR.. Cushman made the post-mortcm
only outward bruises and abrasions the forehead,
cheeks and indeed, upon the entire face OF the de-
ceased, which had the appearance having been pro-
duccd after death by the contact OF the floating body
wit the rock aud various hard substances under the
surface of tho lake Both the Coroner and his deputy
1t as their opinion that II clear oil
cde and the statements made by the relatives OF the
unfortunate lady agreed with this aspect OF the
When tho post.mortem examination had been con-
cuded, with the result above indicated, II was
nounced by the undertaken that all suitable prcpara-
tons for the funeral had been made, and that
1t would take place this morning at woodlawn
Cemetery. The body, which reposcd In a hand
some casket placed in tho chapel, which
locked up and the undertaken, following tho instruc
tons OF the relatives declined TO allow II to be seen
by any representatives OF the press TO give any
the residence of the father tho deceased Mr. Richard
Smith Clark, at No. 45o Fifth avenue; at the house
OF the dcceased's brother law, Mr. Buckley, No. AZ
East Thirtyrst street, and, indeed tho homes of
the other relatives OF the unfortunate Indy. II am
rcpy used for the oceasos a. Mr. carks
While "Don't answer any questions" served as The
motto at hr. Bulklcy's residence Mr.. Leroy himself
purposey kept out OF the way all day and could not
be found
THE STORY the sELY-MURDEa.
Tho relatives thus reinsng 10 shed any light upon
moving high station and In The apparent enjoyment
OF all the urcs OF life mancsty preferred that
oil sorts OF vague reporls-somo OF them Of a
palnu characcr-shouid loat about rather than that
the plain truth should bc known. The story ola MUIR
der naving once been bruitcd about II was undouDt-
cdy their first duty toward the living 10 draw tho veil
OF mystery from the hidden motives of the dead.
II appears that Mrs. Leroy has been missing
since Wednesday evening, October 10 On that
Ing sho dressed herself carefully and quietly remarkng
en-nevcr 10 bo Seen alive any more. Il is important
IN this connection 10 mark tnat the lamented lazy,
though apparently ANXIOUS to go 70 her death in
lady like and neat attire, had lets ner diamonds at
home, and had carefully Invested herself OF her watch
which she was always in the habit OF wearing on her
person. Mrs Leroy had resided Tor some time at tho
residence OF her father, Mr. Clark, on Finn avenue.
Snc surrounded by her three daughters the eldest
young lady of ninccon, and the youngest girl OF
| nine who we're dcvotcdiy attached 10 hsr. Though
living separate from her husband for the last eighteen
months there seemed no sufficient reason why
she should cooll array herself IKE u bride
| OF death ana walk out evening TO the Park
there 10 seek violent and ngonzing death II was
whore Mrs Leroy's corpse found there only
two ioct Of water, and this II true would nave borne
| out the theory Of murder. This was mistake, how
| over On the contrary the wator there rather
deep, and the boatman estimated Its depth at less
than ten icel. Though word Tell from the a,y's
lips TO Indicate that she about TO start upon her
last walk earth she lett her athcr's Filth avenue
mansion u Is supposed by the police that she rode TO
| the PARK In a street car there walked straight
| TO the lake. and, choosing some favorable
moment when nobody could be watching her,
plunged into her watery gravc. rhus FAR no one
/ mas come forward who has seen the hapess woman
her way TO the spot where she took tha fatal
plunge in the cold dark, dreary night When the
body was nrst discovered and tho theory OF murder
generally accepted ono of the park keepers, with
great readiness informed Lieutenant Corcoran, OF the
park police, that on Sunday night he heard man
aud woman talk IN a quarrcIsomo manner near the
lake. but this statement Is now discredcd as having
connection with the case, and the belief prevails
among the authorities that she was entirely alone
| when shc precipitaed herself into the lake
j MOTIVE FOR
| lfbeing assumed IRON the domcanor OF Mrs. Leroy,
MS she issued from atbcr's house, from the lact
that she lett her watch and jewels behind and other
/ wholly deliberate.