Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-16

Their Mysterious IlIneSs-SuspiCion of
Poisoning-An Autopsy TO be Made.

Their Mysterious IlIneSs-SuspiCion of
P0is0ning-An Autopsy To be Made.
There is some excitement in the northeastern
section of the city, caused by the mysterious III
ness and deaths OF two white women sisters at
their residence corner OF 14h and streets north
east Their names Mrs. Johannah Loyeioy
and Miss Kate Ksee, the latter about I6 years old
The dead sisters were among the heirs or the late
John keefc, their uncle who was for some years a
dealer IN oranges and lemons in this city. lie died
In 1872 leaving will, bequeatEing his property at
the southeast corner OF Massachusetts and New
Jersey avenues to Gonzaso College for the henetit
OF 81. AloystuS church The children OF his two
deceased brothers filed a caveat TO the
s M essaH1ng esng that tha as.od1.s at the time Of
unsound mind and Incapable OF making a Will.
Issues were Therefore made in the Probate Court,
and sent to the Circuit Court for trial by jury
MeSSrS. Bradley and Duyall and r. Harrington
appeared for the cayeators. and MesSrs paviiCe
and Fendall for the propounders OF the VIII. The
Jlry fonnd Tor the caVeatOrS. The case was taken
10 Ihe General Term, and the judgment below
affirmed and they recovered the property. Mrs.
LoveJoy and sister, who are entitled to one half
OF the property, have been living together at 1ith
and II streets. and had both been unweil during
the winter. The elder was, however. able TO be
out last Saturday, ana was down town. but on
younger sister was taken sick, and both grew
worse. until their illness teyt,tnatad in death.
The violent SpasIns OF both OF the sufferers LEFT
suspicion on the minds of those who were with
them that they had been poisoned. Dr.. Merriam
seventh precinct, anf De-. Patterson, the coroner.
was notified early this morning so that an autopsy
could be made. The husband OF Mrs. Lovejoy.
was IN a great state OF excitement this morning.
ana Is reported tC have said that If the autopsy
dvuiges poison he VIII tell the police who 70 ar
rest Lieut. Austin sent an officer To the house at
once TO take charge OF the premises.
WHAT Is SAID ABOUT The FAMILY.
Jonannah Loyejoy, the elder OF the two sisters,
was about % years old, and had been mar
ried about four years to Wm- Lovejoy, an indus
trlous end Woodworking man employed as engi-
neer for the Washington brick company They
have one child. ABOUT three years old, and one de-
ceased. Kate keefe is only sixteen years old, and
both lived at the house Where they died. The
mother was at the house this morning, and
did not appear to oe much affected by the eircum-
stances OF the death Of her daughters. She is
about as young looking as the elder deceased
daughter. and is now the wife OF Mr. Gainey.
APPEARANCE OF THE DEAD BODIES.
The house where the deaths occurred is three
story frame building and stands on the corner
where the III street cars pass every five minutes.
The two corpseS were found laid this morning on
cot bcdstead, on which had been placed a mat
tresS and sleat and another sheet was spread
over them. They are both short Of st ,ture, like
tleif mother, and had dark cOmpleX.OnS and
heavy suits of black hair. They both had
been cuppad on each temple by DR.. Merl an. and
the marks showed quite distinctly. The face Of
the elder showed an. expression of misery but
the younger one had a placid look. The house
appears to have several tenants living III it, and
two or three rooms appear TO have been occupied
by Mr. LOve1oy and wife and her sister. The
rooms are poorly furnished, and a general appear
ance oi poverty and squalor peryades the prem
lses.
THEIR SUDDEN ILLNESS.
1t appears that on Monday they ate their break
1aSt as usual, both being apparently in excellent
health and with good appetites. They were going
out to collect some rents due them, and Mrs. Love-
joy was taken suddenly ill after eating and did not
go. Her sister Kate Keefe started out, but soon
returned nome too I'll to attend TO the business.
They grew worse, aud DIR. Merriam Was called In,
ana attended ti'ein prescribing remedies for
spasrnS and delirium-but he was finally forced
To the conclusion that they had partaken OF
poison. They were cupped On the temples TO re-
the brain, but as they grew worse they gradually
lost their senses, the younger one, Miss Kate, APP
pearlng TO suffer most and she died at 8 30 O'Clock
last evening, and Mrs Loyejoy at 9:30-juSt three
hours afterwards.
THE AUTOPSY.
The coroner responded to the call, and I'm COM
plny with DR.. Hartigan and Dr. Thos n Nc
Laughlin repaired to the place, where an autopsy
poison in the stomachs
THE STORY THAT Mr.. LoyEJoy TELLS
is that considerable property was left 10y Mr.. John
keefe when he died several years ago. which, ac-
cording to the terms OF the will. was left to ST.
Aloysius church; that these two children and the
children OF James and Michael Keefe. seven In
number, Joined together 10 break the will and re-
cover the property from the church, which they
the Orphans Court these two children
came In for their share OF the estate, and that
Mrs. keefe, the mother was LEFT cut altogether, as
was the brother OF the deceased Keefe and their
wives, and that since this decree there has been
great dissatisfaction existing To the results 1t
is not yet developed who is suspected OF admins
tering poison, should any be discovered, but the
general belief exists in the neighbOrhood that a
crime has been perpetrated by some one inter
ested.
At the trial OF the will case IT was shown that
one of the alleged halucinations OF Keefe was
that some OF his relatives intended to poison him.
The other neirS-flVe children OF brother, who
inherit about one half OF the eState-some months
ago moved to Chicago, where they how reside
Twice Married to the Same Wife.
There was romantic wedding at the residence
OF Mrs. Mary Esputa last eyening-her remarTtage
with her former husband, John Esputa, taking
place there in the presence OF a small number of
frie ndS Prof. ESputa, it VIII be remembered. was
formerly prominent here a musician and for
years was the organst OF St Augustine's (col-
Ored) Catholic church. About four or five years
physicians and friends lie went TO Florida and re-
malned there until a few weeks ago. Last
year he commenced proceedings in a Florida
court against hts wife for divorce, and in August
last decree of divorce was made, and in a few
weeks thereafter Mrs. Esputa was informed that
the bonds of matrimony with her husband had
been dissolved. Some two months ago Mrs
Esputa and her friends were further surprised
by bsr foe for sa1fon csat,,a suit against
and this case was pending in our courts when
Prof Esputa, his health being broken, and appar-
emily having but short time to live, arrived here
about two weeks since) and went to the house Of
his brother-fn-law. where he remained until day
before yesterday. Then, being unable to walk. he
insisted that a carriage should be ordered and he
should be taken at once to the residence OF his
wife, which he would make his home. Here he
was made as comfortable as possible, and yester-
day it was arranged that, having been parted by
the Law. they should be reunited A marriage
license was thereupon procured and the assistant
pastor of St Stephens church was sent for also
Mr.. ID. T. Cahll. and In the evening the marriage
service was performed. Immediately afterwards
Mr.. Cahil on the direction OF Prof. Esputa, drew
his will. bequeathing his property to his now law
ful wife. He also signed an order to dismiss the
equity suit against the wife, and placed it In the
hands OF Mr.. Cahiu. This dismissal was filed this
morning.
THE FUNERAL OF A. NJ. SoTELDo, JR., took place,
according to the announcement made In last even-
ing's STAR, at half-paSt three O'Clock yesterday
afternoon, from the late residence OF the deceased
No. n Iowa Circle. The attendance was large A
noticeable feature was the profusiOn of flowers,
several beautiful pieces having been sent by the
journalistic friends OF the deceased Rev. Thos.
Hughes, OF St Peters church, conducted the SER
vice at the house and the brief final service at Mt
Olfyet cemetery. where the remains We're tPmno-