The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-19
STATEN ISLANDS MYSTERY.
New and Important Evidence Obtained
by the Coroner.
KATE RIEOEL OR MRS. WELLSPlEL
A Wide-Awake Coroner, Who Intends to
Get at All the Facts.


10 Coroner Dempsey in reference to his connection
with and knowledge Of Kate Riedo!, tho young gld
whose body was discovered in the field at Tompkins.
ve Staten Island, will be have been correct
In most particulars by tho iacts presented below.
Dyckman In the Of his statement said that tho
young girl whose acquaintance he had made in Thirty.
ninth street, often spoke OF aunt living in Hester
street and brother who resided In Lewis street, The
name Of tho formor gwen as Wiener
W WIENER NOT HER AUNT
A HskALp reporter called yesterday afternoon at
No 1874 Hester street, where re saw Mrs. A. Wiener,
who lives with her husband at that place, and who
seems to own the building and let out apartments in
ii to different parties. Tho lady willingly furnished
all the Information in her power. She denied being In
any way related to the deceased and said she had
TO know Kate simply because the young girl spent
time in the house. Tho girls namo had been Kiedel,
but she was, at the time of her death, married
mau or, at least, she claimed to be so.
Her husbands 10 WcllspieL Miss Rcdel,
or, moro properly Mrs. Wellsplel, had not been
In the habit Of spending moro than Gay two at
lime in the Hester house. She and her husband
had hired an apartment, and they lived there until
Mrs Wiener found parties who suited her BETTER and
then the Wellspies left During the time she hired
apartments there she was away most Of the time
servant in different places. wespel piano
lost sight both OF him and of his young wife, She had
heard however that he boarded or took hts meals in
restaurant In Chrystie street, Ho called at No. 134
Hester street yesterday afternoon, whom Mrs Wiener
spoke to him of the finding of the girls body at
Tompkinsvilc, and persuaded him to go aud find
out whether or not II was his wife WeilspIe
seemed to know but ttlo of her movements, and ap-
pearcd to be not particular about her absence
He did not believe that the body that of Kate
Riedc but determined to goor at least said he would
go-yeserday afternoon Staten Island and view the
features OF the dead. Mr.. Wiener, at this point said
he agreed with his wfes statement and that beyond
the nero fact that the man wife had stopped in
the house, he knew nothing about their present
past iito. Last Christmas the pair moved away. From
conversations with Kate part Of her history
discovered She came from Boston, where her parents
arc still living. Wellspie and the girl always lived
man and wiio They seemed to have no children nor
aid Kate speak much Of herself. This was all that
known Of the dead girl at No 134 Hester street.
HAD SHE BROTHER.
In regard to the repued brother of the GIRL his name
found to be Wohlbarth, and his residence No. so
Lewis street, between Delaney and Rvington streets
He denied all relationship TO Mira Wellspie but said
that he had knowledge OF her liie as heard
from her own lips. Tho report Of her being married
correct he had, at time, received her child
and had given it board Mrs. wellspel had two child
rem, both OF whom dead the first died at the age
of six weeks, and the other when it nine months
old Both boys. He stated that Mrs. Wellspiel's
birthday came in April in which month OF this year she
would have attained the age OF twenty-one.
The way the dead girl came tot be known
to himself and his wife that Mrs.
wohlbarth had been engaged in place with
Kate. She hrstSbeited their house about ono year
ago, and since then she had made only few visits
About three or four ago Wespoi and Miss Rcde
married IN Boston, She had been a school girl
there. Wellspei was a native of Germany and resided
In Boston at the time. He kept saloon there HIS
Christian name William. They to New
YORK and sho hired out as a servant while
no worked in Lindcman's piano mandatory, in
Mercer street. Wespicl and his wife did not live over
happily. There were quarrels now and then, and he
Ing he was earning good wages where me worked, he
allowed her to hire out, which was totally unneces
sell and her. About the validity OF their marriage
Mr.. Wohbarth was not certain. He often sus-
pcctcd that tav might not be man and wife,
her child there % board, she gave Mr. Wohlbarth to
understand that Wespel was her brother, and IL was
some time after before sho ged tho title OF rcla-
tonship and made known the closer tic between them.
Why she should call Wohlbarth her brother that gen.
tcinan could not understand except that being the
mother OF children and working In places where sho
was expected give references as to her character she
would say, "He IS my brother" or "Mrs. Weiner
Is my aunt" order to give her employers
tho idea that she hal some homo the city. There
might have been jealousy on the part of wellspie,
there, and, sitting down on chair, entered into con-
versatIon. W6lspie had earned their III feeling for
some gooa reason, and MIS- Wohioarth naa forbidden
and talking for some time with them, Wellspie came
to tho door, and putting his head IN said, ls my vito
here" She, without any words arose, put on hcr
bonnet and left in her husbands company. That was
tho last time they visited Lewis street. That II
week before after New Years, and tho news Of the
poor girIs death the FIRST information the
Wohlbarths received OF her later movements or
Dyckinan Mr.. Wohlbarth knew nothing nor of Mrs
hat IN had hear he rirl
oil that lady as hor aunt Kntc had told him that she
herself was servant in the residence No. Ill East
Thirty-ninth street. Wohbarth and his wife started
last evening to to Staten Island but they concluded
TO 20 back. They both speak well of Kate and say she
amale and well liked in all tho places In which
She held situation.
MR.. pEMpsEY's WORK.
Wcspel is, as above stated, about thrtytwo. He is
Of tho average height about five feet five SIX inches.
vi him little Is known and his connection with the dead
woman Is mysterious. Late last night HERALD
reporter visited New Brighton and had the pleasure Of
talk with Coroner Dempsey ut his house The Cor
oncr was In bad humor. giving as reason that he aud
Staten Islanders IN general had been badly msrepre
he laughed at the idea that Kate Riedel
was Mrs WellspIe but, when the reporter had given
quite interest in the statement spread before him,
and admitted that there might be truth in tho views
and day, attending the case and had detectives
the TRACKS OF several parties, and would give
Of the opinion that the press had no
right tn be fcrrcting out Information,
and thus upselting the ends Of justice. He had
inquiries as to whether any parties had come 10 the
island about the dead girl, and no had been
seen. The above oarra,ive VIII, no doubt, help tho
Coroner Ia his work, and II seemed to be Mr. Dcmp-
sey's intention last night to havo both Mrs. Wiener
and Wohlbarth at the inquest which Is to be
held this .vonng at seven O'Clock. Tho above
statement OF interviews with Mrs. Wiener aud
Mr. Wohbnrih seems reliable, as from the Coroncr's
manner he seemed TO be In the receipt OF similar news.
Mr. Dempsey is working hard and Is conhdcn. he will
yet thoroughly SIT the mystery and bring light out OF
darkness Al present no expresses Arm determine
ton To keep facts from the press and 10 dvuge secrets
only when his plans are fixed
ERNST PROBABLY GuiLrLEss
Inspector Diks yesterday morning sent Sergeant
Suz and George DIks ~ staten Island with the boy
Schal 10 view the body. They went down on the nine
O'Clock boat, and when the lad tile dead body he
was unable 10 recognize II as that OF any one
whom be had In life. This failure to
identity Is thought by Inspector Dilks as OF
the greatest Importance 10 the prisoner George
Ernst who was locked up 10 the Fltth precinct station
house last night and who Will In ali probability be dis