New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-23
CRIME IN MANY PHASES.
MYSTERY STILL UNsOLyED.


THE BODY OF KATIE RIEDEL IDENTIFIED BY HER
PARENTs-A DRAMATIC SCENE IN COURT BE-
TWEEN THE MOTHER AND HER DAUGHTEKS
sEDrCER-uNsATIsFACTOR CLOSE OF THE IN
QUEST.
The cOroncr's investigation into the Staten
Island mystery ended yesterday leaving 1t mystery
still The inquest was held in the New-Brghton fown
Hail. much better place than the stapeton Police sta-
ton, and continued throughout the day Early In the
day parents of the dead girl arrived upon the island
aud under the of Police Captain Blake and another
gentleman were taken to -Four Corners where the body
lay Here terrible scene Of grief took place Doth
parents recognizing their daughter almost Immediately
ana the mother, with means and sObs, threw heTseli
upon the body. They declared that Katie had aged
greatly since she left home. After remaining IN inc
room about ten minutes the parents Withdrew and re-
turned to New ghtOn. AS they very poor the girl
Will he buried to-day the German Cemetery, the ex
penses being paid by kBdhearted residents OF the
island After the funeral they Will return 10 Their nome
IN Boston.
The morning session Of the inquest was uneventful,
and consisted OF long cross-examinaton OF Wcspel IN
which the main questions asked him before wcro
poated His story was the the prcT!ous eA-
animation.
The afternoon session was begun by the calling Of Mrs.
Agnes Rledel. who testified that she had that day recog
nzcd body that of her daughter 1t was over four
years and half since she had her; Wespcl stole
asccrain Kacs whereabouts although she had searched
long and diligently she sure that She could Identity
Welspicl ~ this point 81 the testimony dramatic
scene took place which impressed every one present
The Coroner had signed TO an officer 10 bring Wespei
into the room without war ing As nc entered re dm
not notice Srs Redcl who had risen from her seat and
was facing him. until he STOOD just before her The sur
prise compIetcly oyercaue him. Clsspng his hands in
an agony OF enreaty ga,pad out While his ace grew
aspen and his legs tO,t.fcd beneath him. 90 hrs.
R,edel! Mrs RrIel :" You need not clasp your hands
TO me - she cried, she sat down again
"Ycs Sir" said She rc,lmnS her narrative "tidt Is
the man who stole my girl; they left the city together
she was little over l3 years old when he stole her
away; It was Dee. II or -, 1872; until now have
never seen him since; hcardthat they bad gone
to again that they had some to the West but
though we tried to find them and got out warrant for
Welspie's arrest lie always escaped US "cl'pie had
bad character in Boston; he cheated eyoy Que, ch'r'
ne out Of my property, and cheated me out OF my cho
ne tempted her with money and presents Oh
irycirv. and told her not to mind her mother, who
was poor, but to ob-y him, and one day
me- and she would DC rchozctEer ana travel ali over the
would Tncn hc was violent and U-rcated her; threat
cncd to XIII her II she refused % cOhlDit win him He
was Jealous OF other men, ana told her once that he would
Kill Katie il she ever went with any else. When
told her Of tni5 she said, on, no, he loves me TOO
much and laughed. l know that lie had unlawful III
tercourse with Katie"
EThcu followed evidence hearing upon Wcsucrs re-
p.aeI threats Of poison after which shocking de-
tasof his doblc relation. with wife and mis-, were
brought forth. Mrs Eiodct5 testimony was weakened
by her evident thirst for revenge upon her daughters Sc
dcrr which caused her unh ~itugy to Yes % any
qucftions however irrelevant, long 05 they paced
Wclspia IN bad light. Evidently she did not intend to
bear false witness. but her answers were those OF
woman VINO had broodrd over her wrongs for four
and thu. failed TO distinguish batwee" truth aud error
Til. testimony Of Joseph Ricdcl Kae'5 father. in part
corrob,racd that Of his wife, but lar less passion
ate and bitter.
Wcl,re was once more recalled ana gave his version
az the beginning OF trouble between the families, which,
II seems was 10 money trouble in great part.
The Jury t1cn Withdrew, and after short coHsulta-
ton returned the verdict that Kate Radel came 10 her
death from prus,ic acid, why by whom administered
t.ry were unable determine. Coroner Dempsey de-
cIicd hat IN" evidence would not permit him 10 h)lu
Wcspai murder. and lie therefore released hn thus
closing thc sr not very FAR from where it begun
I'm ,crs sing the UDss hllitv that person committing
suicd" by king pl~>ie acid cod compose 9tfa III .tf
tatug tie poison and putting a"ay the b0ti' as hae
somewhat analogous 10 tie present were Ifat to the
Jury. which showed t.i1t IL was quite possible Tor
d.rdy roi~uns IN of these casr5ta- oil servant
eirl II l., VINO had swallowed pruSsc aeb.-lt was
nm n.t Of acid rtcu!Ncd tir ViG thrust between The
Two mattress OF her bed, got INFO br and drew the
dca.h WIS WIt'aut co"YuI-loNS IN tho'!. 'a'5 ul
Mr. Euugua-ilp ulD swallowed seven drains 81 medic
iua acid jhJu "ai"ei lIon tdr table ~ tlc crlto OF ie
room to lh' door, unlocked and opned H. cane" Jf as
sl.urr returned to ;h' SoiG, ana street uet himself
urou if. Here he found WING - n ~ profound
-'luaar HIS lc@s cross" his "rmS hJ M &C. al" As
n.uablc nature Of the belief that any "ot+ H"Ne ~
rau1nt b, attributed To The deceased, NAM ,imP" acfs
IKE those Uu,ni pc performed III snort space 81
juEr, ant scarcely dttiict rom IAe a"'lI ana "''
G. fsrf<