The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-07-22
kept POISON BY HER.
And When Reduced to Pow
erty Mrs. Emma Reed
Committed Suicide.

her home, No. 200 Bergen avenue, last
evening by taking laudanum. She was
the widow of Captain Charles Reed, who
was owner and commander of the sailing
vessel Spartan, which is said to have the
best record of any sailing ship from
Havre to New York. He was exceedingly
fortunate in his business enterprises and,
when he died about three years ago In
San Francisco. was reputed TO be worth
considerable amount. When his
affairs were settled sum various
$4,000 in cash was deposited to the
Widows credit with Allan & Stead, a firm
of New York bankers, the senior member
of which is the grandson of old Com
modore Vanderbilt. Shortly after the
money was deposited with the bankers
the firm failed, and Mrs. Reeds money
was scheduled as total loss.
She employed a lawyer named Re-
inert. whose office is in the old Mutual
Life Insurance Company's building at
Broadway and Cedar street, New York,
to prosecute the firm, and a Judgment
was obtained against the bankers in her
behalf. subsequently Allan con-
tinued the business but he too
failed. Three years previous to her
husbands death Mrs. Reed took up her
residence with Mrs. De Alva in Green
vile, and later, when the family moved
to No. 200 Bergen avenue, she accom-
panied them.
FROM AFFLUENGE TO POVERTY.
As her entire fortune was in the hands
of the New York bankers she became
penniless and practically lived upon the
charity of her friends the De Alvas.
During her husbands lifetime she lived
in comparative affiuence and had
everything she desired. Her husband
furnished her with large allowance and
she did not know what it was to want for
anything.
pendent upon the charity OF her friends
she became Respondent and fell to brood
ing over her changed fortunes. She tried
to support herself by nursing, but her
engagements were few and she soon be-
came discouraged of accomplishing any
thing In that direction. She always told
her friends that she would reimburse
them for their kindness to her when she
obtained the money on her judgment
gainst the New York bankers.
Recently she learned that Mr.. Allan
had inherited large sum of money from
his grandmother'S estate, and thinking
that at last she would receive her money
lawyer, but did not receive much salts
faction from him. She conceived the
idea that because she was poor and una BILE
to pay him for his services he was
not interesting himself in her behalf as
he should. Yesterday morning she went
to New York to see her lawyer again In
hopes he might be able to do something
for her. When she returned in the after
noon she told Mrs. DeAlva she had not
received much satisfaction from her ooun-
sci, but she did not appear any more cast
down than usual.
FoREsHADows HER DEATH.
Mrs. De Alva was working button hoies
| and Mrs. Reed told her that she was not
| making them right.
"Well, rll wait until doomsday before
| you show me how, Mrs. De Alva said
| jokingly.
II gness you WILL remarked Mrs.
Reed, looking serious.
She then said she guessed she would go
| upstairs and change her dress for dinner,
past five o'clock and nothing more was
seen Of the unfortunate lady until seven
o'clock At that hour dinner was an
| nounced and Mrs. Cotton, a lady who oc-
cupied room on the same floor with
Mrs. Reed, stepped into her room to cal
her to the evening meal. When
she entered the room she saw
Mrs. Reed sitting upright in a
chair. her head dropping on her breast
and a look about her which filled Mrs.
Cotton with apprehension. She called
for help and Mr.. Frank De Alva rushed
up stairs. He saw at glance that some
thing out of the ordinary had happened
and summoned DR.. Bogardus who
lived on the opposite side OF the
street.
The physician responded promptly, and
saw at glance that the widow was suf
fering from an overdose of laudanum
and he at once set to work to administer
restoratives. He worked steadily ovel
he applied antidotes and Il galvanic bat
terry he was unable to restore her to con-
sciousness and at half past nine O'Clock
she died.
In the meantime Mr.. DeAlva had found
on table, at which Mrs. Reed sat wner
which smelled strongly oflaudanum, and
note in the widows handwriting. In
the note Mrs. Reed thanked Mrs. De
AIva for the kindness she had shown her
during the past six years, aud said that
the thought of becoming dependent upon
the charity of others was more than she
could bear and she had taken her
life. 1t further stated that Mrs. Reed had
carried the vial of laudanum in her trunk
during the past two years for the purpose
of having it at hand when the occasion
for taking her life should arise.
She also directed that word of her death
be sent to her husbands brother in Bra
zor county. Texas, and to her'cousn in
Worcester Mass. Telegrams were sent
to these people apd County Physician
Converse notified. DR.. Converse viewed
the body last night and gave permit for
burial. Undertaken Fitchl. of GreenvilIe
took charge of the remains and they will
be kept at Mrs. DeAlva's home until
Mrs. Reeds relatives are heard from.
LAWYER REAiNfERT' s STATEMENT.
called at Lawyer Remmest at his of
flee; No. 12S Broadway, this afternoon
and his statement places the story of Mrs
Reed in different light.
Mrs Emma Reed, +" he said, twas the
wife of Captain Charles H. f. Reed, who
was the captain of large clipper ship
The couple had been married about
twenty years. Ten years ago Captain
Reed happened to be in San Francisco
and he there met woman by the name
of Marcello Voigt and lived with her as
man and wife until August. 1888, wher
he suddenly died He continued to sup
port Mrs Reed until five years ago, wher
the remittances stopped.
"Mrs Reed informed me that her hus-
band had left will leaving the property
to the woman Voigt. / sent to California
and got a copy of the will. In it tn,
captain bequeathed all his possessions te
his dear wife Marcello.'
Upon examination | found that Cap
tain Reed left no assets except cash de
post of IS, ,90S rs with the bankers, Aller
& Stead. / procured judgement in Mrs
Reeds favor for the amount of s., ,90S 76
This firm is composed of Harr,
Allan the great grandson of th'
Iafa CoJnmodOre Vanderbilt and Harr-