New-York tribune., 1878-04-02

FOUND DEAD IN BATH-TUB YESTERDAY MORNING
DRIVEN TO TIE ACT by FEAR OF IMPgIsoS-
MENT-THE coRoNER's INQUEsT-sEETcH OF
MADAME REsTELLs LIFE.
Madame Restel otherwise known rs Ann Loh-
man, cut her throat with q carving knife, and was
found dead in her bathtub early yesterday MORN
ing The act is supposed to have been the result of
her brOoding over her recent arrest and indictment,
and her anxiety over her approaching trial. The
estate which she has left is estimated to be worth
half million OF dollars. An inquest was held yes
terday, and verdict of suicide was rendered.
THE STORY OF THE SUICIDE.
WEEKS OF ANXIETY ENDING IN DEATH BY HEI
OWN HAND-CAREFUL PREPARATIONS FOR THE
ACT-THE TESTIMONY OF HER RELATIVES.
The intelligence that Madame Restell had
committed suicide reached Police Headquarters shortly
ten o'clock yesterday 1t was brought by Orlando
L. Stewart, the dead wOman's counsel who was sum-
mOned by the family early hour yesterday morn
ing. He gave notice Coroner Woltman and Deputy
Coroner Cushman who proceeded at once In carriage
to the house, No. l East Fiftysecondst, and held
posmOrtem examination Of the body The story OF tho
suicide as gathered from William b. Shannon. the hus-
band OF Madame Res:ell's granddaughter, and from
Charles r. Purdy, her grandson, is as follows:
AS Margaret McGrath, one Of the housemaids, went
down stairs yesterday morning between six and seven
O'clock she her mstress's clothes lying chair In
III
thing Madame Reste to take bath at this hour,
as It was her custom to battle at night The
girl did not suspect anything, but continued on her
way down stairs. Returning in about half hour she
was astonished find the clothes still lying in the same
position. Entering the rOOm she threw back the glass
doors that shut the bathub and there found the dead
body of her mistress lying in the water with gaping
wound in her neck from to Both faucets were
turned on the tub was nearly filed with water, and the
body entirely nude, lying on the back, the arms
crossed the breast The running water had removed
most of the blood but there darkred line about
the neck and few splashes OF blood appeared on one
side tub Beside the bodyas had fallen from her
band-lay O large carving knife, with blade about
eight inches long, having a very keen edge. Tho
cash severed the carotid artery the ugular vein and
the thorax The body entirely cold when discov-
ered showing that death had taken place several hours
before
On examining the wound Or. Cushman stated that he
believed the knife had been drawn from right to left
the throat. This was evidently second attempt
as a slight cut the right side Of the neck was found
He said that death must have resulted almost IN
tantly cash evidently made with great force
The woman's death undoubtedly caused by mental
anxiety and dread the approach Of her trial on the
charges preferred against her by Anthony Comstock
She was arrested by him her home February H. and
taken before Justice Kbreth Jefferson Market Police
Court He refused accept anything except real estate
ball. and she committed to the Tombs. There she
remained for several days before she could procure
| bail She was charged with selling articles for
| immoral purposes, aud at the examination
the articles seized by Mr. Comstock at her house were
exhibited She showed great bravad0 in the early days
OF her arrest but when the case came before Judge
Lawrence and lie refused to grant her release, she
seemed awake TO the grave nature OF the charges
against her. About March 1, she engaged Orlando L.
Stewart OF No, 2s7 Broadway special counsel. Since
then her agitation has seemed to increase every day.
Thursday she her counsel at his Office and the
clerks there declared that she was so restless that
she would not remain seated for more than minute
aud that continually repeated the same questions,
and seemed unconscious that the same answers had been
given several times to her queries.
On Friday she was present when her came up in
the Court OF General Sessions Mr.. Stewart entered
plea of not guilty, with the proviso that he might with
draw and substitute motion to quash the indictments
transferred to the Court of oyer and Ter
MINER and DistrctAttorney Phelps, Saturday last,
sent note to Mr.. Stewart, informing him that
! tho would come up on Monday. That
! night Mr.. Stewart Madame Restell at her house.
He found her highly excited and 1t was with much
difficulty that he could calm her sufficiently 10 listen TO
his statements. lie told her that there no cause for
and When he ie her She seeed to be more calm
and hopeful Mr. Shannon and her grandson, Mr. Purdy,
Mwamc il Resteil had been t''. excessively nervous
and very despondent Her arrest and appear
ance IN court did not TO annoy her SD much as
the strong public feeling against her, which was man
Tested every OCCASION This she feared would lead TO
! her conviction former charges shOnld she DC
freed from the late indictments. Thi; anxiety peyed
upon her that she could lind no rest she WAS tortured
day and night by visions or punishment
All day Saturday she wandered from rooni 10 room OF
the magnificent house, furnished with every luxury.
on sunday spent the day in tue manner. Sne
would mt times, sit down for short tiEc then rising
tering herself wrnging hor hands and ctyins, why
otyons Whatever the conversation She would con-
tnualy revert to topic. To her grandson and
granddaughter, who bade her eood-ngbt soon after
o'clock she said: feel better tonight; lu oh how
I 4 drca
trial" Then they heard her mutter, as she turned
heG GrcaG "i@ dcSc Sfs They tRougGt nothing Of the
latter remark but subsequent events show that
Soar nfer the first shock Of TIE discovery it Was
found that she had removed the burglar alarm bell on
the door that leads into the kitchen. so that no ono
might be disturbed when she came down at nglIt TO
get The carving kdife II vas thought by Dr. Cuslnan
| the morning.
TESTIMONY AT THE INQUEST.
In Madame Resteis fine residence-the foar-story
house at the northeast Of Ffhave.
and fty-second-st.-ycsterday dark green curtains
covered the elaborate lace hangngs at the windows of
the parlor+oor. On the stories above. the shut
ters were all closed giving the house sombso
appearance. The body remained ia the bath
room until after the Coroner had viewed 1t.
preliminary examination was held at the house of Cor
oner WOltman. The following the testimony taken:
william b. shannon, OF No G57 Ffh-avc testinel Mrs.
Ann LOhman was my grandmother-in law; have resi-
noticed that she was acting very strangely
heard her say repeatedly 81 never did anything z.
anybody, why should they bring tnis trouble me g
She walked mp and down the floor, wringng her hands,
and seemed very much agtated She trembled and
shuddered. and from the manner IN which She acted
judged she great mental agony have on several
occasions slnce she was arrested, beard her
cry, "If | could only get sick and dle,' and,
" / wish 1 dead, IL would end all"
about o'clock last night went 70 her room; she was
tnen bed, having retired AT carrier hour thau usual;
| sat the bed; Carrie y wife) and had been tilS-
the having been carried over 10 the court
of oyer and Ternner; she made the reniarh that there
might be another against her. heart her sSy, 81
dread . o'clock sO" but she did not explain why.
The chamDernaid. Margaret McGrath, gave substan-
TALLY the same OF the finding OF ner ms'resss
body that given above She declared that the kuifc