The New York herald., 1879-09-07
TO THE LOWEST DEPTHS.

voRcED AND DEGRADED, DIES IN A CELLAR
AND IS BURIED IN PoTTER's FIELD.
A sad story OF q woman, formerly the wife of
well known prosperous business of this
city, dying in low basement In Leonard
street. near Baxter, was made known yes
terday at the Coroners Office. A matronly
ladylike woman called on Chief Clerk Toal and
asked to be informed of tho particulars Of her sis
tors death. The records Of the Office told the fol-
lowing brief story:-On the 18th of last March
Adele Smaling. aged thirty seven years, found
dead in bed at No. l6l Leonard street. Coroner
Croker held inquest and the result of the autopsy
showed that death was due to pneumonia and 81.
coholism. She was inferred in Potter's Field.
THAT was my unhappy sister," said the lady who
sought the information. II require these official
proofs Of her death because elder sister died in
testate last July and her property. consisting OF
house in East Thirtieth street. remains to be ad-
ministered on by her nearest relatives. who my
brother. who lives in New Jersey. myself and this
unhappy sister Of mine. We lost trace OF her for
months and were in despair Of ascertain
ing her whereabouts. Suddenly my brother found
o clew by which have learned Of her life and
death. have proof in my possession to show that
my sister did not die natural death. She was as
saulted and abused by st. Domingo mulatto, named
Sam Hennessy. with whom she had been living.
am compelled to make this painful and humiliating
in the hope that the guilty parties may be
There was no doubt of the sincerity of the
woman's statement. She wept as she told the sad
history OF her sisters shame and in reply to further
inquiries said that about sixteen years ago she
dashing belle, who was much courted In society.
She well educated. and was proficient performer
voice, which was very much admired. At that time
she was o virtuous, beautiful woman. Her
parents were wn. ws.todo: and they lav.hed their
ter. Some fifteen years ago she became
the wife of well known and successful
business man of this city, Mr.. Z. J. Winney. who
for fourteen years head salesman and member
of the firm of Ivison. Phinney Brakeman. Taylor n
Co.. book publishers in Grand street Mr.. and Mrs.
afashionable boarding house on the west side Of
the city.
Mrs. winney fond of society and display, while
her husband devoted himself almost exclusively to
business. She soon formed the acquaintance OF tho
other lady bosrders and was in the habit Of
accompanying them to "sociables." where her
q ss in wpsS
thrown her sister attributes her sudden and rapid
moral decline. Finding that his wife, whom he
dearly loved, contracting bad habits Mr..
Winney purchased fine brown stone front building
in East Seventy street. Here they lived for
lavish display Of Hospitality. Mrs. Winnie was
never happy except when surrounded by her invited
guests and when playing the roe OF hostess. Her
house at this time was noted resort for
some OF the best society OF the city. In
this manner she ruled her husband and
of profuse and extravagant hospitality she had
wasted 100000 and had made bankrupt of her hus-
band , During this time several children Sid rel,
deter tho infatuated woman from going head
long to destruction. Finding himself ruined
aud dishonored. Mr.. Winnie procured divorce.
lie died few years after Of his eight children
surviving him. His house and other property fell
into the hands OF creditors and but small remnant
remained of what few years before had been
ample fortune The divorced and dishonored wife was
still possessed OF handsome little competence in
the shane of personal ieWelry and diamonds but
her old infatuation possessed her and she parted
with these trinkets TO supply her inorinate passion
for alcoholic stim ulants and bad society.
LOWEST DEPrHs
Left to her slender resources her descent was
rapid and inevitable and she soon u lost woman
In the extreme sense OF the term. She went from
bad to worse until at last she degraded beyond
redemption. aud became the associate OF the
very dregs of the Five Points. Her miscrn-
u low den kept by colored man, where she Tell to
the extremity OF degradation. In pity IL may be said
from tue influence of drink few years before her
demise she married an honest man, who IL at pres
ent a, sea on board United States man-of-war.
The basement at No. l6l Leonard street, where the
unhappy woman died, IL at present q cheap coffee
saloon, kept by n coarsefeatured woman, and ire
quented BY biear-eyed habituss of Baxter street
saloons Here, In . small. dark room, the poor
woman breathed her last. In all her suferings
aud msfortuues she still carried about her
a linen reticule in which she had carefully slowed
away old letters aud her marriage certificate with
her second husband. which showed that Mary Adele
Winnie married to William Henry smalline. Jr
ON the 3i of November. 1876. by the Rev Philip A.
Brown. assistant minister OF Trinity Church.
The mulatto, Henncssy. claims that he did not
sault deceased. She was intoxicated, he said, and
had fallen and struck her head against an iron
bedstead. innictng deep cut. officer Neais,
Hennessy says, arrested her. and, while taking
times. She was sent the Island for ton days.
Alter her return shc sought shelter in the basement
at No. lG1 Leonard street. then kept by Robert II.
sprisgs where she planned OF pains In her head,
and died alter few days illness.