The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-09-10

A Lady Bnters the Brooklyn Morgue While
Her Friends are Weeping Over Her Sup
posed Remains.

Her Friends Weeping Over Her Sup
posed Remains.
New York HsraidI
A very remarkable case of mistaken iden-
LITIGATION was brought to light at the morgue
in Brooklyn. Ten years ago it seems Colonel
Nagle, q well-known Fenian, died, leaving
widow, Mrs. Sarah Nagle, but no children.
It is said that Mrs. Nagle, who is now As
years Of age, was addicted to the use of liq-
uor. On Tuesday morning last. as reported
in yesterdays Herald, the body of a woman
was found in the river near the Atlantic
dock. Deceased. who was about As years of
age, wore black alpaca dress, white under
garments, laced shoes, and in her pocket were
found q whiskey flask and Is cents The re-
mains were taken to the morgue, and in the
evening an old lady and q middle-aged wo-
man called and asked to see the body. They
were given description of the deceased, and
said that it corresponded with the woman
they were looking for, though they did not
give the name of the person. On seeing the
corpse the younger woman remarked that it
was the person whom they had supposed it
would be. Her companion did not look at
the corpse. On Wednesday forenoon several
well-dressed women called at the morgue and
said they were from New York. They iden-
titled the body and said to the keeper that
she was well connected, but they would not
give her name. The same day Mr.. George
Wade of South Portland avenue visited the
morgue and said that the deceased was Mrs
Sarah Nagle, widow; that he had paid her
board from week to week. and that he had
given her more money than she was entitled to-
After he had taken his departure Keeper
Mcclure was informed by persons who said
they knew her, that Mrs. Maggie was not dead
On Friday morning he ascertained that she
II
Navy street. He did not, however, apprise
Mr.. Wade of this discovery. Yesterday
morning several women visited the morgue
and wept over the remains. Coroner Simms
had, in the meantime, taken Mr.. Wade's Aft
davit and those of several women who iden-
titled deceased. The former recognized her
chiefly by a scar or other mark on the
forehead. He was summoned before the cor
oner's jury about 2 o'clock in the afternoon
while the undertaken was in waiting without,
and he reiterated his identification.
LITTLE SURPRISE.
"Well, them" said the coroner, come out
here and we will fix it up" Coroner Simms
then conducted Mr.. Wade to the front Office
| of the dead-house, where the real Mrs. Maggie
was seated in company with a female friend.
Mr.. Wade threw up his hands and exclaimed,
| "My Godl what's going to become of mel"
Mrs. Nagle arose from her chair and said
| in q loud tone Of voice, "Well, don't blame
you" A few words of explanation followed,
in which she stated that Mr.. Wade had in his
possession of $4,000 of her estate. She then
| left the morguei in company with him and her
| female companion. The undertaken was
turned away and an inquest held on the
| body of the unknown woman which was then
| inferred at the expense of the county.
| Mr.. Wade was visited by a reporter last
evening and said that he had been well ac-
quainted with Mrs. Nagle's parents. Her
maiden name was Taggart and they resided
in Willow street, Brooklyn Heights. Her
father was quite wealthy. Sarah, Mr.. Wade
said, was spoiled child, and when she came
to womanhood married Colonel Maggie, who
went to Ireland in command of a Fenian
expedition. The party was arrested, and al
its members confined in prison for long
time. The colonel after few years received
a pardon and was allowed to return to this
country. He had been here but short time
however, when he died. Mr.. Wade said
further, that upon his own return from
Europe he found her in poor circumstances
and knowing that she was entitled to some
money, brought suit against a relative to re-
cover. In this he succeeded, but her money
became exhausted about two years ago, and
he has since continued to pay her board
rather than have her become charge upor
the county. He mad another judgement o.
$4,000 against the relative, but was unable
to collect it, as the defendant was without
means. After the discovery made yesterday
he accompanied her to one of her former
residences, and, after furnishing her with
some money, returned home.