The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-25
MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

AN OLD WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN HER YARD
sUsPIcIoUs CONDUCT OF HER BoARDERs.
The police and Coroner wolinan have carefully IN
vestigated the Circumstances attending the sudden
death OF Mrs. Mary coggin who was found dead early
yesterday morning IN the yard the rear OF her
residence No. 219 East Twenty ninth street,
but far they are puzzled TO determine
whether It is case OF suicide, ACCIDENTS
death or murder. Mrs Coggin was sixty lone years
age, though still hearty ard vigorous. To suppor
herself has kept boarders ana taken in washing
Tho two boarders who were stopping with her have
been out OF employment ana one Of them In par.icr
lar has been tor long time leading dissipatsd iiie
Their names are James Wade. waiter, and Joha
O'DonusI, u coachman the former has beeu
on continual debauch for weeks at
time. and owed his iandiady long Ar
rears OF board The latter finally demonstrated
with Wade and gave him 10 understand that II a.
did not give up drink and 60 to work he would have
to leave the house. THIS gave much offence to th'
topper and be was heard frequently 70 abuse ant
threaten Mrs. Coggin when n,oxica,ed, ana a. such
times she Obliged TO take refuge IN the adjoining
room occupied by a family Of the name OF O'Brien.
O'Donnel. the other boarder was man of compare
tively steady habits. Last Tuesday night, however
he was very much unaer the influence OF liquor
Throug bout tho same day Mrs. Coggn occupied
In washing She appeared TO he in good health and
spirits. About eleven O'Clock AZ night Mrs Coggiu
entered Mr.. O'Brien's apartments, where his family
congregaied, ana seemed In deep distress at tue
conduct OF her ooarders She SAID that she was
afraid to 60 near them Wade was then IN tue front
room. Mrs. CoggIn left O'Brien's rooms ana wert
10 me door leading TO the kitchen Of her own
to o. Brlen an got us key and with 1t opened her
The floor tho landlndy herself occupies extends
through, sitting room facing tho street, the
kitchen looking into the yard and two connecting
bedrooms between
Mrs. Coggn lay down a lounge In the kitchea
and remained tor short time partially asleep, there
being light in the room, wnen she felt something
touch shoulder. Starting up terror she looked
around, but couii see no one. She lay down again.
when the same mysterious touch aroused her. She
then jumped TO her feet aud came face 10 face viii
her ooardcr, Wade, Standing IN the dark at tue
head OF tho lounge. The man took her by the
oulders and forced her down on the lounge saying
ut the same time, ''You ought TO be chdked." The
woman summoned courage enough to reply, ''If
cboked IL is the Almighty will do IT, not you" and
Ihrusting him aside, ran INTO Mr.. oBrians Kitchen.
There she trembngly told OF what had happened. IL
TO remain in Dir. O'Brien's rooms At Inn
moment O'Donneli was heard coming up the stars;
but he too was grossly intoxicated and could win
difficulty md his way his room. His presence,
however, seemed to INSPIRE Mrs. Cogsin with cour
age and sue con cuded spend the ngnt In her ows
room She left the O'Briens shortly after twelve
O'Clock very detected state OF MIND, aud that
the last OF her alive
MORNINGS DISCLOSURE
AT about haiti past three O'Clock yesterday morning
Mrs. Pollock, who iives In an adjoining building.
from distance. She paid no particular attention at
the .ime to The unwonted noise About four O'CLOCK,
however, she had occasion TO 80 to the window OF her
bedroom which overlooks the yard OF the building
where MrE Coggin lived There she saw the body OF
woman stretched at iuil length near the fence d..
rcctly under the fire escape Mrs Pollock alarmed
tho people OF the next house. and when investiga
ton made the body OF Mrs Cog2n was discovered
In the yard, with the head toward The building and her
feet stuck into ashbox A tower wag wound round
nsr head which covered nsr lace and tore.
noticeable, and she lay as II she wore asleep OGlcer
McCue. OF the Twenty nrst precinct was called IN ~.
with the assistance oil the Dcighbor carried y Nv
less body up stairs and laid It on the lounge.
INVESTIGATING THE CASE
Officer McCue reported the case at the rwentynrsi
precinct, ana Roundsman Kelly was detailed 10 make
investigation. lie, TOO, was impressed with the
belief that the woman died q natural death. The
neighbors however, entertained different opinion,
anu their suspicious were confirmed when hight
gray shawl belonging to deceased was found hanging
on Inc rails OF tho IRE escape which ran up 10 hor
Kitchen window. The shawl was crumpicd as II II
had been handled violently.
| For some uuaccountaoe cause tho w0ma3's body
was allowed 10 remain on the sofa until seven A. NJ
Yesterday before ply sc,an was sen, Tor Dr. Burke
doubleday dead turned and lett the building without
viewing the body.
In ths meantime Wade, who was still drunk, was
acting Ike man beret OF his reason. He insisted
MISS O'Bren going across the street Tor brandy.
He poured tue brandy down the throat
Of tho dead woman aud kept rubbing her
| the nciehbors, who told him she was dead. wncn,
however, his remedies failed aud he became
vinCeu mat really dead, MS manner
| changed and he became abusive and profane He
called the dead woman vile Dames and laughed bois-
| terousIy. The rcmonstrances OF the neighbors did
not alter his insane conduct In the least.
During the forenoon Coroner woltman visited thu
place with Dr. Miller and made investigation into
the OF tho death. Wade then grossly In.
toxcaed that the Cororcr concluded not to take hi
| testimony for the present. shortly after the de-
| parturs OF the latter, however, Wade became sud
| denly self contained, and without any assistance
dragged his heavy trunk from his room down fou
flights OF stairs, put Il into an express wagon anc
| rapidly drove away. Since then he not mado hu
| appearance the premises.
Last night the ighpors conpregated In the room
where the body lay. The daughter Of the doad woman
| was among the watchers. Whom intorrogatcd by .
HERALD reporter the daughter said that sne knew
pothiDg about the case, but remarked signnc ntly,
81 he could tell you ALI about Is heren
''Do you mean Wade 2" asked tho reporter. ayes"
said the woman, sorrowiulIy.
This Is tho history and aspect Of the case, and
may DO mentioned also that O'Donnoll had left tho
house last night and could not be found No arrests
have been
DR.. Miller made external examination OF the
body ana found uislocatiop OF the neck, SIX ribi
broken the left side, fracture of two thigh bones
fracture OF le lower leg at ankle ana fracture OF the
right radius OF forearm. more extended ana minute
investigation will be held by Coroner WoitIan IN .
few DAYS