The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-09-19
A LAWYER srEAIs 4 DEED
Frjm n Woman Who Was Trying TO Coz
nit SiIlcIda liY RinrHniIun

u y
NIT Sulcids by starvation.
New ioRH, September lS.-Captain Gun.
ner and Detective Campbell, Of tho Fifty.
ninth Street Police Station, went before
Justice Powers, nt Police headquarters, last
night, with james II. Elliott, alawyer Of
No. 5l William street, who lives in the
University Duilding,in Washington Square,
that he might obtain bail on the. charge OF
having broken into the house Of Emmeline
Laurent, No. 60 East Seventy.ninth
street, on Friday night, and having stolen n
transfer deed Of property worth $50, 900 and
other valuable papers. Captain Gunner
stated that on Saturday about half past 7
o'clock he was summoned 10 the house OF
Benjamin S. Clark, at No. IS last Seventy
ninth street, on AN urgent matter. lie
wentto the. place, with Detective Campbell,
aud was told by Mr.. Clark that on salur.
day morning James IL. Elliott, during his
own absence from home, had passed
through his house into tho back yard; had
crossed to the rear Of Madame Laurent's
house, had entered this at the second
floor; had remained there for two hours,
and had then gone away. Mr.. Clark was
anxious that the place should be searched,
as he had seen no one 60 from Athc house
since that time, and he did not know but
what the occupant wis dead.
Capt. Gunner, with Detective Campbell
and MIR. Clark, then entered Madame
Laurenl's house from the rear by means OF
the second floor balcony 'and5the window.
a All The doors Of the building were llocked.
Ihcy went from room to room, from the
cellar up, until they reached n door ON the
second floor rear, which, was locked. On
breaking this open. the Captain found that
he lad entered Madame Lauren,'s bed.
room. She lay in bed in an apparently
unconscious condition, She appeared to
DC woman about thirty years .of age, "a
hrnnettei Of slender form, and Of handsome
lace. The Captain attempted TO rouse her,
and succeeded after several attempts. The
woman, ior u few moments, seemed in
dazed condition.; but Mt length regained
power OF speech enough to Tell the Captain
her STORY. 5aOfS. s!Tst .{liiAld.
Madame Laurent said that on Wcdnes.
day morning she had locked up her house,
fastened herself in her room, and had then
gone to bed with the intention OF starving
herself TO death. II was tired Of living,
and desired only to die, said she. She
sent away her only servant OIL Wednesday
morning, aud then began the process Of
starvation She remained in bed until Sat.
utday morning, having eaten nothing. q In
the forenoon of that day Madame Laurent
lay in semi unconscious condition, when
she wasaroused by the euppeamnce Of man
lnside the rear window OF her room,
which he had evidently just entered.
She was startled, but was too weak
10 cry out. She then recognized
the intrudcra rs James II. Elliot, a LAWYER,
whom she knew. lie had been sat3 her
house on the Tuesday evening before with
Elliott Smith, q lawyer, who has rooms Mt
The University building, and an Office at
No. 80 Wal! street. Madame Laurent had
been living with Smith and his wife for
over year. and since May | ut No. Sc
East tSeventy.seventh street. She was too
weak 10 speak above II whisper, and Elliott
approached her bedside, wien she said: II
am going. TO die: l desire to live no longer;
when Lam dead send my body 10 France
for burial.n n4afH.ril .SI d. ,,fe 'el.Itl iii7'
Elliott declined to do this, and then
added, '"lf You wish to die you can; it is an
easy matter, only a question OF minute or
two" Finding TINT Elliott would not &c.
cede to her request, she then pointed to a
pet cat which was in: the room, and asked
him 10 take care Of it., which Elliott prom.
ised to do. Elliott then proceeded 10 ex.
anime Madame laurent's legal papers,
whlch!were scattered about the room. She
was too weak 10 make any opposition.
and Elliott prosecuted his search at
his = leisure. After remaining some
two hours, the lawyer departed,
taking transfer deed OF certain
property in Twentieth street made out in
the name OF Elliott Smith 10 Emeline Lal,.
rent, which was valned mt 10000. Madame
Laurent said she had purchased this prop.
erty, paying S20,0 900 ior il, in Smiths name,
under what Inducements sheidid not say.
Smith in return had drawn up this docu
ment for the nominal trlnsier OF property
TO ller.a.This paper Elliott had takcn.. It
Ind been'drawn up by'hinl and by Smith,
Nhu MAS MS cOuSlu. 9lauanlo Laurent
claimed that Elliott had taken other papers
also. He carried away the pet cat in a
basket. = :; !4S ''5! +, .,5I.,i ~,
After obtaining the woman's story Capt.
Gunnersent for M ambulance and surgeon
ut the Presbyterian Hospital. The latter
on his arrival finally induced Madame
Laurent TO take some nourishment, and
then advised, in accordance with her wish,
that she be left at her home. Capt. Gun
ner and Detective Campbell were unable
TO find either Elliott or Smith on Saturday
night. They did'not leave Madame l.aur.
enl's house until nearly midnight.
This morning they went to'the University
buildingand arrested Elliott. ~,
He acknowledged having gone 10 the
house, and having taken tle:transftr deed,
and admitted that lie probably had done
wrong in entering the Building, and secur.
ing the paper US he did The document
md the patent we're found in his pocket.
Smith was not 10 ue found. Mr.. Elliott
stated that his cousin had been out Of the
city forseveral days. 81 '.t5S. ~ s.
anI IIt,,r q. Y Hs,.