The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-20
What the Neighbors Of Hard
ing Say About Him.
MRS. WOODS ADVENTURES.
She Is Ordered Out of the House by
the Dead Mans Relatives
THE SCENE AT THE COTTAGE

street. near the Boulevard where, early on Saturday
morning, Thomas Harding attempted 10 murder his
housekeepcr and then committed suicide. An officer
from tho Thirty-nrst precinct stationed at tho
door, with express orders TO permit none but relatives
OF the deceased to enter. long strip of black SERGE
which formed sad the bright and bloom
ing flowers IN the garden, hung from tho door The
body Of Harding lay in the front paror packed in ice
aud covered with snow white linen cloths. Tho fea
lures wore a calm and placid expression and
looked strangely handsome IN the GOODNESS OF
death. They had been washed, and pre-
seuted q marked contrast TO the appearance
they had presented but twenty hours before when
they were clotted and bosmcared with tho life blood
OF the suicide. The wound in tho forehead had been
deity scwed by Dr. Utter, and consequently did not
mar the otherwise peaceful appearance OF tho dead
mans countenancc The arms OF tho suicide were
clssped across his breast
Sca,ed IN the paror was his little daughter Carrie
child about Eve years OF age. She seemed to fully
realize the dreadful calamity that had beiaen her in
the loss OF her father Tor wcpt bitterly tho greater
part Of the time. Mr. Noedham, Harding's brother
in-aw, arrived a. the house carly in tho morning and
took charge Of the corpse, and no began making
preparations for tho intcrment, which will take place
tomorrow afternoon in Greenwood Cemetery.
MRS. WOODS DISMISSED.
Mr. Needham, soon after his arrival at the house.
instructed his sister to inform Mrs. Woods that her
services were no longer required, ana sho must no.
cordngly, leave the house. Miss Needham did us she
was requested, but although she spoke Mrs. Woo Us
In the most polite manner possible, that LADY took
umbragO at her summary dismissal, ana acted for
time as though shc intended to create disturbance
She, finally, seeing that nobody took any further
notice Of her or her intentions, put her things and
lett the house with her young son and
went TO the residence Of friend IN The vicinity
OF Blocker street, where she VIII ROMAN in seciuson
for fow days she said yesterday afternoon that she
fet quite WELL and were It not Tor perceptibe ner-
vousness and agitation IN her those know
her say that she looks well as she ever did sho
had formerly resided with her sister, Mrs Mary
weaver, Ia smith street, Brooklyn, and many friends
called their yesterday in anticipation OF seeing her
To avoid the gaze Of tho curious crowd her friends
advised her 10 remain ID New York.
Among the callers was Mrs Annie Smltten, who re-
sides In Navy street, Brooklyn with her husband and
baby. She Is the youngest sister OF Mrs. Woods
being still IN her "teens." She stated to HERALD
reporter In frank aud sprishty manner that
she was quite wiling to tell al she knew
about her sisters troubles but had only just returned
from tour mouths trip IN the West ana knew
nothing about the tragedy on the Boulevard beyond
what Tue newspapers had already made public
AT q late hour In the evening Mrs Weaver returned
from q visit 10 her sister in New ork having spent
the greater portion OF the day In her company She
entered into conversation ut with tho reporter
and started oil at ratting rate by stating that the
cwspapers contained many things concerning which
Mira Woods felt very much grieved. On beng 70.
qucstcd 10 state In what manner the newspapers had
which had no bearing whatever the case, such Tor
tnstaoco as that ono lady's hair correctly do.
scribed, and that the dress worn W Mrs Harding
OF different color to that described by Of tho
porterG
After closely questioning the lady she admitted that
the only important matter which she ut cared
TO have corrected tie statement that her sister
had pproptated tho bank book OF the deceased, be-
sides amount OF jcwelry, irinkets and valuabios
She SAYS her sister wishes emphatically To make IL
known that II IS entirely untrue that she has ever
taken or even made claim on any article not her
own.
Mrs. Woods docs not feel CON pmenicd by tho state.
mcnt that she had tainted alter being shot. She is
woman Of remarkable nerve. She has renamed
awake al the time and on her feet great portion Of
the time since tho tragedy occurred. Mrs. Weaver IN
live Harding was crazy for weeks past He looked
downhcarted aud dreary and he wandered IN his
mind My sister had been looking Tor trouble"
WHAT ThE NEIGHBOURS cay OF HARDING.
Now that the excitement consequent upon Ir. Hard
ng's rash and terrible deed has somewhat subsidized
The neighbors have fully realize the relation
snip that existed between him and his housekceper:
they recall many good traits In his character and
speak OF him IN me highest terms. They one and all
unite in saying that better hearted never lived.
According TO several oil them he OF most
reserved nature, but when he had even speaking
quantancc with a neghb0r no became the very per-
sonidcaton OF o:i-handcd joviallty. Ho was friendly
TO all and In tho wnoo neishborhood had not single
enemy. ho was scrapulousiy honest In all
horror vi being IN debt Whenever bill
presented to hun no once liquidatod
II. He had lately mortgaged his property heavily
order to RAISE money to deray tho expenses OF the
lawsuit against his wife, and no was also frequently
heard 10 say that the lawyers had aceccd him. Ac.
c0rding TO his neghbors tho trouble between Harding
and his wife preycd heavily upon his mind, rendering
him ut lines uttoriy UNCONSCIOUS OF what no was
dong. He had often been known within inc past
to get up out Vi mis- bed In tho dead o night and
walk aimessy about the neigh boring strccts suking
ana muttering TO himself Al other times he would
seem 10 DO buried IN deep melancholy, aud then his
eyes would light UP with savage CLEAN that was
terrible 10 bcnod. Yet lie never allowed himself to
be betrayed INTO any violent outours OF feeling On
the contrary, lie Always seduously avoided any pre-
text That might bring him into a conflict with neigh.
Dor.
OTHER TROUBLES
His housekecper Mrs. Wood, was also, the noigh-
bors say, source OF much uneasncss and worry TO
MN. From information obtained yesterday II would
appear that she WAS abusing his kindness to her by
supplying her relatves IN The ghborhood pro-
VISIONS and groceries, which were charged 70 Mr..
Harding's credit rms fact did not come to tho
atter's knowledge until last Friday, when u butcher
in tue ncighDortood presented hun with bill Tor
meat which, rs the butcher alleged. had been used In
his fanny. Hardng ran his eye over the bill aud at
once declared that he had never seen IN the house
one. quarter OF the amount OF meat specified IA tue
bill The butcher then informed Mr.. Harding that he
had for "a long TIME been supplying Mrs. ChappelI,
Mrs. Woods mother and other relatives with meat
anu that he had been ordered by Mrs. Wood charge
the amounts TO Mr.. Hnrding's account THIS enragcd
Harding who thcrcupon returned home, when
stormy interview cnsLed between himself ana his
housekeepcr
one Of the neghbors in speaking about the intimacy
exiating between Mr. Hardpg and his housekccper,
Dbl think that woman was only play ing Ton tor
TOOL Why last summer sho used to SIT III his lap
the back piazza and put her his neck,
the Same time kissing HIM as though he were child
feel pretty sure that he thought great deal OF her,
and nave been tod that intended 10 marry her as
soon as he got divorce from his wife,"
POSSIBLE MOTIVE FOR TIE TRAGEDY.
From other statements which were made by differ
cut neighDors TO the HERALD reporter yesterday 10
would appear TINT tho intimacy existing between
Harding aud his housekeeper notorious and many
held the opinion that he had seduccd her under
promise OF marriage. This promise they alcgc he
tcnded 10 Keep US soon as he got divorce from HIS
wc; but pending the successful as nc anticipated,
termination vi his suit, he Induced her to Two with
HIM as his wife. THIS act made the most OF py
the counsel employed by Mrs Harding, and Hard OK
saw that his case would DO hopeless ono unless hc
succeeded In inducing Mrs Wood TO swear that thcro
had never been any impropretics between him and
herself lhis she DID, positively averring that tho
father oil the child TO when she had gwen lIrlh about
year ago was not Hardrg's but another mans. An
other circumstance which cnas extreme acgree OF
probability TO the statement that Harding really IN
tended 10 marry Mrs. Wood the fact that lie was
pass:onately attached 10 their chid GIRL who is st
living and Is now boarding IN house somewhere down
town, but where could no. be ascerta,ncd. Harding
was In the frequent habit OF going 10 her. and
almost always accompanied by Mrs. Wood. He paid
tho chlus board regularly ind always furnis shed IL