The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-05-28
MRS. HHNNESSYS CASE
Cumulative Evidence Which
Goes to Indicate
HySteria.
low HER CLOTHES WERE TORN.
Rips That Suggested the Use Of
Shears-A Dress Ripped Down
the Seam-A Next Door
Neighbor's Story.

Detectives McNally and Doyle. who
We're assigned to investigate the alleged
assault upon Mrs. Hennessy. who was
found bound and gagged in the cellar Of
her home. No. 1215 Waverly street, early
thursday evening, had, up to last
evening. been unable to throw any
satisfactory light upon the mat
Ter. The investigation thus far has
been thorough, and its results so far as
made known at Police Headquarters last
night, led to a general impression that
The NEWS was not far wrong in suggest
ing the probability of another of those
remarkable cases of hysteria, so many Of
Which, OF equally strange a nature, are
upon record. Those who opposed such
theory asked how could she tie her hands
behind herr
John l. Smith, next door neighbor.
says he saw Mrs. Hennessy before she
was un bound and ungagged. That he
cut the cord which bound her wrists,
that it wasn't cord. but simply bit Of
common twine such as is used in gro
cerles, and that the woman's wrists were
tied in front of her body, aud were
at least six inches apart, and very
loosely bound. But he did not seek to
discredit Mrs. Hennessy's story of the as
sault. The report of the assault was not
made to the police until several hours
after it occurred, ana then only at the
solicitation of DIR. Steele.
When Detective McNulty asked Mrs.
Hennessy II she had screamed while in
the clutches of the man she could not
answer positively, and the Smiths, al
though they heard Mrs. Hennessy chop
ping klndling wood at about five O'Clock.
heard no sound later of struggle, and
could not understand how they could
have helped hearing an outcry. or the
noise of scuffie, through the thin divid-
ing partition of the houses.
The statement OF beth Mr.. and Mrs.
Hennessy is emphatic that Mrs. Hem
nessy's hands were tied behind her.
HENNESsY WILL NOT TALK.
Mr.. Hennessy declines to talk about
the matter except to the police. He is
1ncensed at the idea that anyone should
question his wife's story.
The police have obtained a statement
from DIR. Steele to the effect that he had
not discovered any marks or bruises to
indicate that Mrs. Hennessy had been
handled as severely as she was.
The result of the investigation thus far
leads to the belief that Mrs. Hennessy is
a young woman who has suffered more or
less from hysterical delusions as a result
OF nervous temperament. 1t is inti-
mated by disinterested parties that she
has been acting queerly of late, complain
ing at times Of hearing peculiar noises
and mysterious tappings at her window.
1t has also been learned that Mrs. Hem
messy is subject to catalepsy, and one
time was prostrated by an attack of that
nature which Lasted two weeks. The po-
lice say they have positive evidence on
this point.
MRS. HENNEssY's GARMENTS.
Mrs Hennessy's clothes, in which she
was attired when the assault is said to
have taken place. have been critically
examined by the officials and detectives
at Police Headquarters. The skirt of the
wrapper, which Mrs. Hennessy claims
to have worn, was ripped along a seam
running waist to hem, and so cleanly
done MS TO intimate the use of pair OF
shears. Nothing about 1t indicated the
dragging of Mrs, Hennessy across the
floor. The corset waist or cover Is torn
and so is blue skift which Mrs. Hem
messy wore. but the waist she wore -over
the corset cover is intact.
The detectives are thoroughly satisfied
that the motive of the alleged assault
missing have been foundNone on N
the kitchen floor and the other
on the cellar stairs. They may possibly
have been torn out during the alleged
scuffle, but no MARKS on the ears, accord
ing TO DR.. Steele's statement. show it. A
pocketbook containing $50 and diamond
ring were lying on stand in the par1or.
A neighbor by the name of Pratt. when
questioned by Detective Doyle, said that
he stood opposite Hennessy's home from
$50 until els. He saw Mr.. Hennessy
pull the door bell and 60 away. He thought
it somewhat queer, but did not give
sure no man went in or came out of Hen
nessy's house from half past five until
a quarter past six, and Mr.. Pratt Is sure
he would have seen him if he did So