The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-23
A MOTHERS TRAGIC RAGE.
Welspiel Recognized by Mrs. Riedel-
"Murdertr! Murderer"
How He Decoyed the Girl Of Thirteen
from Her Home.
THE PRISONER SET FREE.

dose OF pruSS1c acid, now or uy whom uom'n'ssc'eu
being unknown 10 the jury" such was tho verdict
Coroner Dempsey's Jury delivered al haif-pass ak
O'Clock last night. in the OF the young woman
found dead in the Quarantine graveyard at Staten
Island ON Sunday, ths llth inst, and watch has
excited such wdo attention the staten
Island Mystery" The mother and ather OF the un'
fortunate young girl came on from their home IN bos
son early hour yesterday were driven 10 inc
County House at Richmond Four Corners, where the
body the lay They identified It as the re-
mains OF their daughter whom they last saw 10 lie
nearly i've years ago The scene at the recognition
was heartrending, and that which occurred when the
mother aiterward, at tho inquest IN New brighton,
identified wclspiel the man who stole her child
away was dramatic In the highest degree. To-day
the body Of the unfortunate young woman will be con-
signed the bosom OF her mother Garth In the Wood
lawn Cemetery, at Richmond Staten Island, and with
its burial will probably perish all hopo of clearing up
mystery which surrounds the death OF the girl and
which two weeks Of investigation has only served 10
intensity There was produced ut the inquest yestcr
day warrant obtained by tho grips iathcr for the ar
rest OF Welsple in 1873 Boston on charge OF adult
tcry IN having while married man, cohabItcd ith the
gr who then little more than fourteen years Old
After the terrible revelations detailed below much
disappointment expressed by the jury that Captain
Blake DID not dc.am the man upon that charge when
he was acquitted by the Coroners jury anu permitted
TO to this city u free man.
THE MOTHERS IDENTIFICATION.
Al carly hour yesterday morning Mr.. Joscph
Ricde and Mrs. Agnes Redel, the parents OF the dead
GIRL taken from this city in charge OF tho police
authorities OF Staten Island and driven out to the
County House. tho dead girl has lam tor tho past
week. Ibetather is undemonstrative and common.
place elderly German gardener, rather spare built
with sallow complexion and black har mixed with
Of noble proportions and face SO fair and with
features so grand and clear Gu; bear striking
resemblance that by sculptures to the head Of
Minerva. She attired IN black alpaca dress,
green plaid shawl ana black hat with white kerr
chief around her throat Despite the LONELINESS OF
her dress and her want OF culture. the
wonan's manner full Of native dignity
inspire ali who met her with respect When the
party. reached the County House they called upon
Supcrln endcnt McCorr.ack who led the way 10 low
brick building used bath house by The Inmates ot
tho institution. Into narrow unlIshted apartment
this editce the mother anu ather were Introduced
A pine box was lying upon tressles. Sir.
Mccormack raised the lid and exposed to view
a shrouded hsure. He raised tho lantern he
carried so to throw better light
upon the exposed face of Inc dead The mothers
quick eve caugut the features ike lightning, anu a
hcarlbrcking shriok broke upon tho she threw
herself upon the body waliug:-
'.Uh. katie! that's my Kat,, ~
Ticn She sobbcd IN silence Tor q moment and broke
forth AGAIN IN German ana broken Engsh;-
child oh, why did you not send her back to US
AliveY Why did you XIII her ~
The father too much absorbed IN attempting to
soothe his wfes grief to exhibit his own. but 1t was
evident from the look OF agony upon ms face that ho
iclt the full misery of the situation After time
Mrs Ricde became calm and began TO fondle the
ro,d hands Of the dead and smooth the hair whIs-
per'ng prayers and silently weeping the whine;
which they had and took from u
small vase his wife had carried a photograph OF
their daughter, taken when twelve years old.
Tbs he showed TO the officials. and, although
e oi the dead had changed color and sunkon
,onsidc, ably the likeness was manifest. The kind
hearted Mrs. McCormacK brought out u pair OF scis
ors ana IRON the head Of the dead girl lock OF
hair, which The mo.ner carried away In her bosom
The unhappy parents were then driven 10 the V,age
Hall 1t New Brighton, where the inquest was TO be
proceeded with.
While awaiting their arrival Coroner Dempsey had
Wclspicl placed upon the stand. He was asked many
questions by the jurors but only tcraiei his former
Statements in reply and did not contradict nmscl. in
any Important particular. Then recess was taken
until Two O'Clock. AZ mat hour the hail was crowded
10 capacity and the most interest
manifested IN tho proceedings. When the jurors
had akcn their places brcathIsss hush prevailed,
beng understood that the parents Ct the dead girl
were IN building and would DO called 10 testify.
agnes Rcdel, y called Coroner Dempsey, and the
mother the dead girl shown into the She
took seat III front tho desk at which the Coroner
sat and awaited his questions with downcast eyes aud
trembling Lps that constantly moved in nIu,,cred
prayers while her fingers nervously clutched hand
kercuiei IN VAIN cnort 10 steady nsr nerves " was
evident tina. she with difficulty suppressed her emo
answered firmly that She was forty three years
old, and lived with her husband at No 8 fremont
place, Boston Highlands The third question, Did
recognize the body you saw today 2! brought AL tho
tn0,ncrs soul into her eyes, with u sob she
swered '.Uh yes sir yes, sr-the picture OF myself!
My poor Kalie'
, ..When aid you see her last aves" asked Coroner
Dempsey syinpatheticaily.
-Four years aud u halt ago, whom she lett home. "
was tue reply.
iow did she come to leave YOUR
"Welspcl stole her away from u, exclaimed Mrs.
light Ia hor eyes; IL have never heard from her
since she continued sotening 1--WE did our best to
learn what had become of her, but never could hnd
her she left her home
''Would you know Welspcl now, II you saw hms"
SAID the Coroner
Yes, SIR" WAS the answer accompanied by swift
glance around the room as VI expecting to see him.
TRAGIC HEcoGNIrioS.
s'3ring him III =, said the Coroner and officer left
the room. rho attention of tho witness engaged
with other questions Tor II moment when Wespcl was
led into the room, preceded aud followed by several
men, ia order that there could be nothing unfair about
the identification AS the party entered tho door,
directly outside tho rai behind Mrs. Ricder. her
quick caught tho hustle and She
and turning her look upon tho Coroner gaze!
about the door that wcspel not visible aud she
stood awaiting his appearance erect, with her arms
liked rigdly by her side, clcnchcd hands, datcd
nosriis parted lips and batcd breath No statue
carved from Parian marble ever cxcclled III beauty
the grace iu attitude assumed by the unhappy mother
us she tnus awaited the whom believed to
the murderer OF her daughter. WcIspicls lace wore
Indifferent look. and his eyes we've fixed upon the
mother, whose eyes diiated INTO look oi intense
rage. suddenly ho raised his eyes anu ibey met the
mothers look. The scene that ei-ucd was dramatic
and thrilling Ia the extreme. Wcispiols eyebrows
raised Tor second ID ustouishmcnt, then his face
turned ashy PALE cold sw at broke Ins,antaneousiy
upon ms forehead and hs knees gave way under HIM
until lie seemed about to faint, and casping his hands
holding them above his head ~ posture OF affect
pleading he gasped IA agOnlcd accents that thricd
v horror hearts oi all who heard him, he cried
..Mfs. RicdcI. here
The mothers form seemed TO dlate as she lowered
,boyc The crouchug form OF uer chIIds destroyer,
an. .ad In tone OF unnatural calm such might be
assumed by "a Nemesis to AN ovcriaKcn vc,im:--
~ last Az last, Mr.. Welspisi. you stand here ~
wclspleI sec incu bcfon 81 the power OF speech or
,o,Io, HIS head sank upon his breast aud Ito turned
10 the officer. and d,snOndent gesture oil
Tho hand Indicated his desire to cave the
rom Iis was al once leu away, and the mother sank
mi, nor seat and ulasred hands IN her zap Her lips
moved u, prayer and the HEgALp reporter who sat by
her SIDE eau bi the worlds . ~
..,iol forgive him; God forgive him. He ki led my