New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-23
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
DYING WITHOUT A WORD.
CLOSE OF A DIssIPATED LIFE.

INJURED.
Another mysterious death was added yester-
day 70 the large number that have occurred In this city
in the last few years. and usual liquor the
About q. IN. policeman a wel-dressed man sit
ting the wall built about st. Paul's churchyard in
vesey-st., Broadway. Thinking that the man was
either intoxicated asleep, the officer gave him the
usual advice to move on" he did do it
was discovered that he had been injured hs face
bruised and blood flowing from the back Of his head
Another policeman was summoned TO remain with tho
injured man, and the officer who had first him
TO the police station in New-Church-s ST. and sent
ambulance call to Chambers Street Hospital When tho
ambulance arrived the surgeon pronounced the
dead, and his body, still taken to the poce
station. where it remained until morning.
In answer to the inquiries Of the policeman who dis
covered him, the wounded man refused to tell his
| or to to make any statement At the station it was
learned from papers found ais pockets that he
George ID. Phelps, and that he lived at No. 2S7 Fifth
ave. Coroner Merkle took charge OF the case, and
Messemer made autopsy Of the body.
He found that the base of the skull fractured. tho
nose and upper lip bruised, and the eyes
blackened The certificate OF DEATH given to the rela
tiges who claimed the body, stated that death
caused by shock resulting from fracture Of the skull
and conclusion Of the brain The body was taken
| an undertaker's shop in East Forty-hrst-st
THEORIES OF THE POLICE AND THE CORONER.
Captain Berghod, in whose precinct the death took
place. said yesterday that he had doubt but that it
caused by Mr.. Phelps's intoxicated condition.
have known him." continued the Captain for years,
and know him to have been habitual drunkard His
was familiar figure about the Astor House. and when
his body brought here this morning that no
had been drinking excessively OF late. How do sup
pose he inturedi Well, my theory based long
experience with similar Deaths is that he fell the
sidewalk or from car and then staggered to the place
where he was found by our officer Had be been
assaulted there doubt that the act would not have
escaped notice. the is well lighted at that
hour Of the morning, and because OF the number OK
street-car lines centring about the Asor House. His
money, jewelry and papers found untouched. His
watch gone, but friend has just informed me that
that and the chain and ocket two weeks ago
while in a condition similar TO that In which he last
night" While DR.. Messemer agreed with these views
regarding the death OF Mr. Phelps he said that Coroner
Mere had another theory-that the man had been MUIR
dered This opposite theory based the appear
of the face which the Coroner said could not result
mond later il he had ever known man to fracture his
skull by simply falling IN the street He said that such
protruded ard dscooratons would at set in
was the with the face of Mr. Pbelps
Mr.. PHELPS CAREER.
The house where Mr.. Phelps lived in Fifth-ave. is
leased by Mrs. Pierce who formerly kept boarding
house at :No. So West Twentythrd-st. The reporter
was informed that Mr. Phelps had been with the family
for about eight years He said TO be quiet in
his habits, and spent great deal OF time In reading
He had excellent library aud also owned stable at
No. 30 West Forty y-fourth-st, at which he has now
span of horses, carriage, and road wagon. When
not in his room driving in the Park and the
Boulevard, but he seldom attended the lie was
died about len years ago His mother is also dead but
his step,nother the Kensingon in Porkave. He
East sxtlet'st Graduated from Yale College in 1860.
Mr. Phelps stnded law ana was almt,ea @ 70 tae nar Dus
time lie had farm at sins0ury Coil twelve miles
Hartford the birthplace and place OF burial of hs
parents lie lot married and was said to avoid tho
company OF ladies'
WHAT SOME OF HIS FRIENDS SAY
Charles oNeiil OF Bond s. o'Nei. talors No. 252
FiftA-ave. was with Mr.. Phelps after p on TburI-
day night. and invited MIN to the Grand Hotel to
drink with him. The invitation accepted
and Mr. oNeill left him at the
hotel about O'Clock. To the reporter
Mr. ONeill described Mr.. Phelps tall, thin aud
apparently wesk-kneed lie was also sighted aud
wore glasses. Although only forty-tvo years Old he
was partly bald and wore mustachc aud side whiskers
brownsh tinge His which had been dislocaed
was slightly side and the end moved
he excited. Que side OF his face affected
by muscular contraction. Hts somewhat peculiar
and unfortunate FACIAL expression caused him to be
a woman sitting opposite TO him imagined that he
insulting her by making faces at Der and gallant
young who volunteered to resent the supposed in-
suit received severe pummelng from the rate passen
gers, Mr. Phelps was arrested, Dut MI ONeiL became
IN the jefferson Market Police Court, it
woman Mr. Phelps WA was U customer OF Mr oNe
who said that he somewhat cloud"
dubbed az @ the EaglisS couat" OF late, however, bis
tastes had been less hasny Regsrdng the cause o. bis
said that he had been attacked by footpad, who had
been unable 10 rob him after having assaulted him.
Michael Mulyany, the cOschman who has been IN
the, employ of Mr.. Phelps Tor n. nearly four yeas,
or twice every day, that he drove hnselL "I
went to his room - continued Mulvany. every morning
pany Very frequently we would dine together at the
Astor House or the Continental Hotel. He rarely ever
went out evenings without taking me with bin. He
seemed rather TO evade company, 1t wogld not do
or me to say anything about nus nsoi1s, Dat ne usually
any money last night for he never carried much with
,esGerday morning, there So fouad him.
His jewery was also safe. There were three checks
,eing the union Trust oOmpany. and the third
N the Central National Bank When he attended
Peter Mitchell, Of No 237 Broadway, was one OF Mr..
s3anse ana 0esa T ss s st Tr % be had ~ sS %
helps years and had heen employed by him
%SSst Sr T5es Colonel faSk j. consy q PSaGepa
horse dealer, who was accused Of having
fSs arrested and confined in Ludlow Street jail in do.
Ault of $1,000 bail. When Mr. Phelps saw that Con-
sked his lawyer TO consent TO reduction OF $4,000
rosecule him his unfair deaiug The bail was
uced aud the prisoner was released
RUM THE CAUSE OF HIS DEATH.
The curse OF Phepss life" said intimate friend
his night his inherited wealth and his lack
occupation. He very wealthy and he never
luandered a cent OF his money He was in fact
money matters, treating a friend while he
msef drank TO excess. 1t within three years thas
been drinking heavily. fully
how he died; there is no
ystery to my mind lie was dead drunk, and in step
ng on the sidewalk from the street he fell upon his
ee producing several bruises He then staggered to
feet and being unable to stand fell backward, frac-
ring his skull This theory based ths condition
the sidewalk, which presented sckening sighn
s morning. Ee was formerly member
the Union League Club, but resigned
Az the Grand HOTEL where Mr. O'Nei said he treated
s friend aud customer the TWO men were well known.
le bartender in attendance last night said