The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-11-13
WEARY OF BREATH"
Sad Romances Of Life in the Great
Metropolis.
SUICIDE At TIE "BERKELEY."
A Dream Of Happiness I'm
fulfilled.
SUICIDE AT TIE "BERKELEY."
DEATH IN THE PARK

gossip In New Yorks best society At first II was i'm
possible to obtain any definite Information In regard
to the sad event. all those who werc conversant with
the circumstances refusing to mpart any Information
to the pross and the public All that could be learned
was that Mrs Evelyn Stuart, tho wife of Mr.. Robert
Stuart OF the late Captain Stuart, OF the United
States Navy, and stepson OF the Hon ELIJAH Ward,
was discovered In her apartment carly In the morning
suffering from the effects Of overdose of laudanum,
and that she dod soon ailerward- Beyond this the
whole case was enshrouded In mystery, which for
time seemed impossible to clear away. In order to
obtain some definite information HERALD reporter
was at sent TO the Berkeley but his inquiries met
with no very generous response The clerk declared
that he had knowledge OF tho affair as he was not
ION duty at the time the suicide occurred and had
carefully reiraned from learning anything about It
since.
DISCOVERING FACTS.
Subsequent inquiry threw as little light upon it as
the inquiries at the Berkeley II ascertained
that Mr.. Stuart a clerk IN tho Gaatin National
Bank and that Mr. +. ID. Tappan, the president,
bis guardian. But Mr.. Tappan also refused give
any information the subject and the only thing
could be induced to say that Mrs. Stuart not
Insane. All other questions he refused to answer,
and he would not even say whether Mrs. Stuart had
lott any letters which would explain her That
The did So however, there is little to doubt. Kate
Cumming, the chambermaid, testified before the Coro-
aud said with tears her eyes, that sho would rather
die than live as she did, and that her husband had
spoken unkindly to her the night before The young
wife subsequently left the room, and on returning
sat down to her desk and began write TINS testi
having been written while the fatal act was in CON
temptation; but other facts tond 10 show that the
termination TO take her own lifo was not formed at
tho moment Kate Cumming would indicate.
WHAT GEORGE INNEss, THE DRUGGIST, SAYS.
George lnness keeps quaint little drug store at the
corner Of Eleventh street and University place. and
when the news OF the suicide got abroad Mr.. Illness
Was considerably excited Tor It was he who had sold
the fatal drug. In his .Poson Bookn thero is a REQ
ora that November 10 he had sold to stuart
Berkeley House, halt an ounce OF laudanum for The
purpose OF making poultice. HIS label was on
pnlal found IN Mrs. Stuarps apartment, and IT
Tho same phial in which he had put the iaudanum
credited IN the "Poson Book" to ''Stunrt, Berkeley
House." This fixes the identity OF the poison with
which Mrs. Stewart took her life ana the when 1t
was bought, which was saturday afternoon, but 1t
seems to confuse the testimony OF Kate Cumming,
who apparently seeks to convey tho impression that
u was on Sunday morning when Mrs. stuart procured
whereas Mr. lnness declares that IL was on Saturday
that the audannm was bought and that servant had
purchased IT Tor Mrs stuart
THE MYSTERY SOLVED
But II Kate Cumming was retcent in regard TO the
poison, the hint which she furnished regard to the
unhapplness In the Stewart apartment, especially
when taken IN connection with the testimony OF Mr..
Slater, sufficient to unrave the whole mystery.
"Mr. Stuart In the habit OF drinking to excessn
said Mr.. Slater, especially OF ate" Acting upon
these hints 1t difficult to ascertain the whole
truth OF this occurrence and su
igaton developed the TACT that Mr. Stuart the
husband OF the unhappy young lady, was In his
in the Berkeley House yesterday in condition which
warranted the assertion. He had evidently been
upon prolonged carouse, and was almost unable 10
answer the questions asked him by tho police relative
condition explains the resolution which took shape
the purchase Of the audanum at Inness drug on
Saturday, the tears oil Sunday and the oblivion OF tho
husband the fatal until SIX O'Clock yesterday
morning. All the mystery disappears with dis
renee II ii does justify OF
the people who were in position to give information
in regard to the affair. When this much had been
ascertained runor was busy with It's many
tongues exaggerating every circumstance attend
ing tho death of the young vile and the brief
married life OF the young couple. 1t was
Stuart had left behind her three letters
and .he ncpee
TO the husband, but cruelty anu every other offence
which Is apt to accompany drunkenness was laid AZ
his door. Even the grave torn open expose
some OF those hereditary sins which often develop
themselves the best families, and the daspa-
avdity which only suicide In high lie with a little
domestic scandal behind it could evoke Aud well
domestic drama natural as the dramatic sequences
OF the mimic world.
A BIT OF FAMILY HISTORY.
Captain Stuart was, his day, one of tho widest
spirits who ever went to sea In the blue Of the Amer
can navy. But be was a gallant follow aud u brave
officer, and he married rich, very rich. HIS wife
a daughter OF George Rapeiyea, one OF the weathest
landed propriet0rs OF old New York. The captain
his widow, years ago, married General Elijah
Ward, and 1t manly To please her that the vet
eran politician consented IN 1874 10 again become
Candidate for Congress, 10 which he elected and
TO stil further crafty her ambition he a candi.
date for reelection 1876 but beaten by General
Arson G. McCook, the present member IRON the
Eighth district This defeat IA terrible blow
Mrs. General Wards PRIDE for they had lett their ele
CANT home at Fortyslxth street and Fifth TO
bvouac the Arlington and other downtown no aud
II while they living at the Filth Avenue that
the young couple whose tatcs crossed by
fortune TO lead to yesterdays tragedy,
rcd The young Mrs. stuart was New Jersey girl
who had been adopted by wealthy New York family
and she had everything Tor winch tho heart could
wish except happy welded life.
DEATH SCENE.
1t Is impossible to conceive anything more heart
rendng than the unhappy death or this unhappy
woman. waking out of The stupor OF indulgence the
husband found his vile breathing heavily, and already
IN the embrace OF the grim monster whom she herself
had summoned. Sending for Mr.. Slater, the manager
OF the Berkeley House, he asked that a physician
West Ninth street, was called. This at fifteen
minutes before O'Clock yesterday morning. Dr.
Hubbard found his patient IN state OF coma from
the effect OF laudanum, and she continued IN that
until eight O'Clock, when she died. Information
OF tho affair conveyed to the Fifteenth precinct
station house, and subsequently, Coroner Gilman
empanelled jury and verdict IN accordance with
the iacts was given
A VICTIM OF MELANCHOLY.
his home at No. 1l3 East Eighteenth street,