The New York herald., 1877-10-19

away under the strain OF these troubles. Again, il
was stated that NJ. Leroy had direct pecuniary n.
terest IN hts wife's death, as she had consderaDc
real estate into the possession OF which he m gnt como
after her death The latter story was wholly ds-
ally, who completely exonerate Nr Leroy from all
blame IN this unfortunate AFFAIR. An intimate friend
was IN position to know The facts, gave the following
account OF the causes which had preceded this unfor
tunatc d6nouement:-
Mr. LsRoY's BUSINESS TROUBLES
The firm OF Thomas Otis Leroy Co. three years
ago occupied proud position when they stood Al the
head OF tho shot and lead business this city. Their
warehouse in Water street. extending almost
entire block, daily The OF tho active
operations the lead business, numerous shipping
clerks and statesmen being continually engaged IN sup
plying the demands OF customers from Tho East and
West To those acquainted with the real estate mar.
kel /, was well known that Mr.. Leroy owned q great
deal OF property aside from hts regular business but
very few knew 'ha. instead Of investing his
he bought immense blocks on time He was
one OF those who had faith in The Immediate rise OF
unimproved property, and, though warned by his IN.
innate friends OF the possible decline In real estate
ne adhered the idea that the prices he
mad paid tor his property would bc doubled in short
time one operation, OF course, followed another;
more unimproved real estate was purchased than he
really could carry, aud was nnally WHISPERED tnat
real estate investments. All this was during the
years 1873 and 1874 wnen the real estate market was
already the decline aud whom . became impossi-
BILE TO sell any property much less vacant lots, al
valuation equal to the purchase money The
A LEROY were then possessed OF considera.
Bile real estate on the west side. as well as
on the cast side of tie city, ana aiso farther up near
lO5th street, where they owned an entire block OF
ground. Their shot tower along the East River
In tho noghborhood OF East Fifty fourth street, and it
the friends Of the firm learned that mortgage on
their property In East Fty.ioqrtn street, near
given to Henry Morgan 40 secure notes. This
mortgage though only for $4,000, nevertheless, was
The first Indication Of trouble existing W me nrms
property was mortgaged to Mr. Richard 5. Clark for
about 5000 O00 The regular business OF The hrm bad
however, been considerably crippled by these real es
tate operations, which fnaiy resulted IN the transfer
OF the concern TO hands, Mr. Edward A. Leroy
naming AS manager OF tho old Leroy business IN
Water street. and Mr. Thomas OTIS Leroz assuming tho
position Of manager OF the Colwc Lead Works at No.
63 Centre street.
About the same time that this change in the busi-
ness affairs OF the family was decided upon, both
partners OF the wealthy house OF Thomas Gus,
under tho direction OF other firms, change IN the
domestic surroundings OF the family was also carried
into effect Mrs Thomas o. Leroy ana her thrcc chill.
dren Abandoning tnetr own uptown mansion and
taking quarters with the ladys father, Mr. Richard $.
Clark, NO 455 Filth avenue THIS u Is said At once
having herself been mistress OF due household,
felt kcenly the change OF LIES condition,
which compelled her once more to seek her
fathers home Though surrounded there with
ali Tho and comfort which fond father
could bestow upon her and her offspring. and
still having her energetic husband working with will
to tho disasters OF the past, she neverthe
less showed signs OF melancholia which alarmed
increased this unfortunate state Of mind until now
cght days ago she suddenly missing from the cir.
ole 10 which she was devotedly attached.
WHAT LEROY SAID.
Inquiry IN other competent quarters cclted con.
arma!ion Of the main facts OF the above statement
Company, OF which the deceased lady's husband
Is the general manager. had neld full convcr-
saton with Mr. Lcroy on the subject, and his
knowledge of the case rested, therefore, upon tho
very best authority. Mr. Leroy mad missed his wife
since Wednesday, October 10, he sad. For several
days he had been but little at the Office, seeming
greatly distressed in mind and suffering much mental
anxiety about ms w.ie,s late VT. Leroy naa been
had gwen description OF his missing wife. He was
there told be and keep the matter out Of the
ment Of the OBJECT In view. He was assured that
competent detectives had been detailed 10 ascertain
be quoted. AS regards Mrs. Leroy's sad end Mr..
Hooper said that her action was not 50
strange as IT., 4 might G ssom .a,,o,. 70 view ,a o.
attacks OF temporary alteration Of mind. In this
mental condition she had already previously left her
home in a mysterious manner, not saying whittier
sno was going, and returning as unaccountaoy she
had gone. Mr.. Hooper recalled particularly one IN
stance when, as Mr. Leroy had told him, she left
home and went TO Rockaway. Al first she declared
tnat she would never roturn, but finally relened anu
consented to go back. Mr. CLARK, her father, had
estate and sustained disastrous losses. This
had created Ill feeling between the deceased s
ad to her natural mental weakness the
OF much trouble and grief 20 her. When Mr. Leroy
failed his wife, upon her wealthy iathers advice. let
her husband and took her quarters with him, anu
this separation had also cruelty wrought upon her
suffering mud. Mrs Leroy was forty y-one years old,
and particular time Of lic physical conditions
sometimes supervsne dangerous to the health OF
u temporary aberraton oil mind, during which the
deceased executed her fatal design.
CLARK AND HIS soN-IN-LAw.
Stl another gentleman, who claims 10 have been on
an intimate footing with the Leroy family, gives an-
other version winch. though II differs from the above
respects yet corroborates 1t in others This
gentleman said that Mr.. Clark had conceived decided
aversion 10 Mr.. Leroy hts son-lnaw, when the latter
failed. On that Mr.. Clark called on his daugp
ter and offered her homo in his splendid mansion OF
Fifth avenue soiey upon one condition. This condi
ton she should have nothing moro to do with
hor husband and her countenance entirely against
him. Mrs. Leroy though woman off eccentric bent
OF mind was yet ond ot her husband and compelled
she was accept her fathers hospitality, she keeny
felt the separation from Mr.. Leroy. IL was princi-
pally this which preyed upon her mind, and OF late
had been feared by number Of her relatives that
she would seek seli-destruction. Mrs Leroy in her
younger days was u lazy moving groat deal In FASH
ionnble society and dispensing at her homo quito
prouse hospitality 10 her humorous friends, all OF
whom will be deeply shocked when reading that the
su eide OF Central Park Lake was no other than this
once attractive and admired woman. This was, tho
MAN, tho statement oi this informant who requested,
IRON obvious reasons, that his name might be sup
pressed.
COMPLAINANT OFFICIALS
While there should be no disposition to magnify a
suicide crime winch others might be involved,
tho above facts would render 1t imperative upon tho
Coroner to hod an inquest The police succeeded in
that all would be right ana that their unailing sa-
gacy would soon discover clew TO his missing wife,
What is the factY That but for this boatman IN tho
Park lake days might yet have elapsed before light
was shed upon the mystery Of her disap-
pcarance. Even yet there are some facts In this
requiring elucdalion. How long was tho
body In the lakc2 is a question upon which only
guessing answers have been venturcd. Is " quito
that Mrs. Leroy committed suicide on the very
Wednesday night when she left her fatners house or
did sue Tor days before she took the
fatal step? Probability points to the nrst mentioned
conclusion, but u thorough Investigation may, per-
haps shed light upon these and other mysterious
points in this rem lrkabe case
II was not known at the Coroncr's office yesterday
when inquest would be held and the writer, upon
application clerk Of the Coroner, Mr. Toa was
somewhat vaguely informed that 1t would be held
time.n Later 1t was givcn out that Coroner
Wotpan would mold the inquest to-day or tomorrow
II ned the testimony elected must prove OF more than
ordinary interest But few people IN the society where
the lady SO well known and OF which she
had In former years formed conspicuous ornament
had learned yesterday OF Mrs Lcroys suicide and tho
news when II Is read to-day cannot fail to produce
wIacelt aud most painful sensation. Among the COM
parativey small number who know II yesterday even
ing IL was spoken with bated breath and with ex
presslons OF sincere condoence and rogret The