New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-09-18
ROBBING A STARVING WOMAN


HOUSE IN EAST sEvENTY-NINTH-sT. N DAY
IIGHT-NARRow ESCAPE OF CAPTAIN GUNNER
THEORY OF A CONSPIRACY.
Captain Gunner and Detective Campbell, of the
Fifty ninth Street Police Station, went before JUS
tce Powers at Police Headquarters last night with
James H. Elliott a lawyer, of No. 81
Wlliam-st., who lives in the University
Building in Washington Square. that he
might obtain bail on the charge of having broken
into the house of Emmeline Laurent. No. 80 East
Seventy-ninth-st.. on Saturday morning, and hav
ing stolen transfer deed of property worth 10000
and other valuable papers. Captain Gunner stated
that on Saturday evening about $50 o'clock be was
summoned 10 the house OF benjamin , Clark, at No.
% East Seyenty-ninth-st.. on an urgent
matter He went to the place with Detective
Campbell, and was told by Mr.. Clark
that on Saturday morning James II. Elliot. during
his own absence from home had passed through
his house INTO the backyard. lad crossed 10 the
rear of Madame Laurcnt's house, had entered this
at the second floor. had remained there for ten
hours and had then gone away. Mr.. Clark was
anxious that the place should be searched, as he
had no one 20 from the house since That time,
ana he did not know but what the occupant was
dead.
CAPTAIN Gunner with Detective Campbell and Mr..
Clari.. then entered Madame Laurent's house from
the rear by means of the sec0nd-hoOr balcony and
the window. All the doors of the building were
locked. They went from room to room. from the
cellar up until they reached door on the second
floor. rear which was locked. On breaking this
open. the Captain found that be had entered
Madame Laurent's bedroom. She lag in bed in an APP
pareutly UNCONSCIOUS condition She appeared 10 be
a woman about thirty years of age, a brunette Of
slender form and OF handsome face The Captain
endeavored to rouse her and succeeded after severa
attempts. The woman, for few moments seemed
in "a dazed dition but ut length rcgaIned power
OF speech enough TO tell the Captain her story.
Madame Laurent SAID hat on wednesday morn
ing lad locked Up her house. fastened herself III
her room and had then gone 10 bed with the luten-
ton of starving herself 10 death " was tired of
LIVING, and desired only 10 DIE. she SAID. Hhe sent
away her only servant Oh "Wednesday morning, and
had then begun the process, Of starvation. she r.
manned in bed until Saturday morning, having
eaten nothing
In The forenoon of that day Madame Laurent lay
in "A SEMI unconscious condition, when -le was
reused 10y the appearance Of a man inside the rear
evidently just entered. She was startled
bat was too weak TO cry out She
then recognized me INTRUDER a. J4heS IL EiIioi'
lawyer whom she knew. II" had been at her house
on the Tuesday evening before win Elliot Smlth,
law ger who has rooms al the University buIIlIhg
and an office no 40. 80 Nail-,t. Madame Laurent
year. aud since May ! at No. % Last seventy
n.uth--t. She was too weak to speak ABOVE
whisper and Elliot approached her bedside, when
she ~aIu " AIN going 90 die. desire 10 i've no
longer When l am dead send my body TO France
EuIot declined to do this and then added " If
You wish To- lle yOu can; % - al cay matt cr only
q question of "a minute OF two
Finding that Elhot would not acce te 10 her re-
quest, she then pOuird to q pet cat which was III
the room aul a-acu nim To- tahe care oi li. Ehiot
promised ~ 90 SD. EllOt thea proceeded 10 tx
anime Madame Iaureuts legal papers. winch were
scattered about The room. she was too
weak to make any. opposition. and Llll't
f.n- N.-rr fraH
remaining some ten nours. the laws cr departed,
taaI.g % transfer deed OF certain properly m
Iweutieth-,t., made out ia the maine OF 'Illot
smith tO LumcLnc Laurent, Whlch was valued nc
10000. Madame Laurent SAID That sle htd puf-
chased this property, payiu9 $4,000 FOR ~. IN
smith, name, under mat lAd-'eheut' she 1ld hol
-lt. smith Iu return had drawn up thi, document
for the nominal transfer of the property lO her.
Inns paper Eliot had taken. IL had
smith. VINO was his cousin. Madame Laurent
CANNED that Eliot bad taken other papers also
lie carried away the pet car in "a basket.
Affcr obtaining iAr woman story, aptan Cum
ner sent for an ambulance surgeon jLr Pre- byte
ran Hospital he la or "n MS arrival finally ILL.,
duCcd Madame Laurent 10 take some hourlsAnenr
and then advised, III ACCORDANCE with
her wish, that she should be lett ar ner home
Captain Gunner and Defective Campbell were
until nearly midnight. Yesterday morning thy
went % the University Iil4iIL and There arrested
Idiot. lie arAuJW. rugtI having gone 90 tine house
aua having tlhru the transfer deed, ana admitted
[ b
building ana securing fhc paPrra> ue dlu. he docu-
mcnt and the pei cat were found ln his room.
-mtA Na, 100. to Dc found Nj. LlLot stated
tuat las cousin had been out 81 t4e city Ir several
days.
MI. Eliot was taken TO the Fifty-uuth street
STATION and gwen opportunity TO- secure bail. lie
sent ior Iuaad-u- Jua-0u, miner, Ol EIEutlctA-,
Tor whom nc had acted a, counsel tOr over twelve
wears. Captain Gunner tcie-rdAe4 10 IoIcc tic al
quarters requesting tudt Jurlcc Powers should Ice
s.ul tor %, wound oc h re wl ms prisoner 40
$50 cock. justice Power'"en To- headquarters az
tlar nour, but Us tle prisoner was not oil naud tue
case put down Tor $3.50 90 ciocA. Ii was an houI
after tuaI before the cap,an appeared. Justice
Powers was unwilling 10 dcccpt AlI JuusJu IS
Doudslnan. ana Captain Gunner accOrIlu-ly took
hi. prisoner back To the police station. where was
locked up. 10 DC Drought Oc.oie justice hI4OielA
this morning.
told the Justice that when the proper time
came he could explain his action Mr. Elliott
throughout the lime ne before the jus zee
Wa, M state OF great excitement, aithoush Ne sue
cccucd ~ couccaiIug ms ceilings somewhat men
approached b.. IHE IRIDIUM reporter be turned
eXcIteuly ana 5tld peremptorl}: NOJ "a Wordl
have nolhing To- say. IL viii be of no Use Tor you
10 20 NY room or 10 10y Office 10 Z an express
sion of views from me. don't intend 90 pa my sei
III "a false position by talking
After Captain Gunner had made his statement 10
the Justice, Mr EluOt added wlth ID ury smile
" There's one thing you have forgotten Captain
Mr.. Elliot pointed to q small basket on the desk
whcno- came decided new Juat then
GA, yes The cdp,dlu sd. had forgotten the
cat" lie hdd NOT then mentioned d..
Madame said she was ~ lug, and | told hcrit was
only matter OF a minute OF two. A. dId not
promise bury her 10 france, dld promise To- take
The cat. There she IT,.
Deicc.Ive Campbell took the cat along at his de-
pariure. MI. Clark was seen al his nome Later by
iElBCNE rep.ricr He said On Euuay
evening al about $50 o'clock, my door
bell rang and went 70 the door III person
man wuom did not know seemed TO recognize
me al once for he SAID "OI MT. Clark, nov Go
YOU dO" told HIM he had the advantage OF ne, when
he produced has car,i which was hc name James
ii. Eliot. Mr. E.uot then told me he had heard
me argue case ia BTOOkIyn, and although lie had
lot seen me since tnt time, ho recognized NE as
.Oou rs | opened the door.