New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-16
is IT SUICIDE OR MURDERi
A WEALTHY WOMAN AlISER FOUND DEAD II
HER ROOM
SHE LIVED ALONE IN BROoKLYX-MoNKY,
JEwELRY AND BANK BOOKS UND:srURBED.


Mrs Mary Larsen. an octogenarian who lived
the life Of recluse in an Od-fashioned frame
house which she owned at No. 73s Grandst,
Brooklyn, was found dead yesterday in her bed
room under circumstances which leave no doubt
that she committed suicide. The police of tho
Sixth Precinct and Coroner Lindsay however. are
making an investigation This action is due.to
the fact that the woman lived alone, and it was
only few months ago that she the victim Of
thieves who, after binding and gagging her. robbed
her of $4,000 which she had pinned inside Of her
dress. Mrs. Larsen was found By the police after
the robbery lying near the window Of her bed.
room, still bound and gagged.
Mrs. Larsen was Of the noted characters
Of the Eastern District Of Brooklyn. She lived
in the midst Of filth and squalor although ex.
tremely wealthy She was eighty-two years old.
and was the widow Of Christian Larsen, an old
type-founder, who died about thirty years ago,
leaving large fortune They had no children a.
far is KNOWN and after the death Of her husband
she lived alone. She was seldom seen on the
street, and no one was ever permitted to enter
her home
On Saturday evening Mrs Larsen was seen
to leave the house, but she soon returned. While
In the street she met Harry Goode. the son Of
Policeman Goode, of the Sixth Precinct. Mrs.
i+dIocu hHcW tnc D0y ana accOSted him.
when you go by the house tomorrow" said
She. look up at the blinds in my window for
something may he wrong"
The boy thought nothing Of the remark made
by the woman until he passed the house Yesterday
morning on his way to church. lie then glanced
up at the window and saw that the blinds werc
tightly drawn. The words Of the old woman at
once flashed upon his mind. and running to the
Sixth Precinct told his father. Roundsman
McDevitt and Officers Madigan and Swecny were
sent to the house. They found the house tightly
closed, and an entrance was effected by forcing
the basement door. When the officers entered they
found that trapdoor prevented them from goinS
nrstairs. This door was forced. and on reaching
| the bedroom they found Mrs. Larsen lying on her
back on the floor near the bed. She had evidently
been dead for some time The womans head
rested pillow and her face bore traces OF
much pain. On the bed lay an old picture. on
the back of which written:
Il have made mistake. have taken poison.n
On small table near the bed stood glass half
full of milk. while another glass contained .
mixture of Rough on Rats" package Of paris
green lying the shelf IN the closet. When
notice sent TO Coroner Lindsay he ordered the
house to be thoroughly ransacked, the result Of
which the finding of 81 .?76 in gold under the
sill Of the bedroom door In other parts OF the
room were found two gold watches three gold
bracelets, four pairs of earrings, four gold
rings. and seven bank books representing 81 900.
The books the Brooklyn Savings Bank.
Seaman's Bank, New-Yorg: Williamsburg Savings
Bank, Kings County Savings Bank. Bank Of Sav-
ines, New-York; and East Brooklyn Savings Bank!
There were also lot of letters. deeds Of sale
| and deeds Of property. and deed for . plot In
Greenwood Cemetery. Papers were found showing
| that the dead woman had done business with
Weinberg and Reilly. lawyers. Of Brooklyn.
As soon as the body was found telegram was
sent to the woman's relatives in Illinois. TELLING
them of her death and asking for instructions as
to what they wanted done with the body. The
police refused to permit the reporters to enter the
house despite tile fact that they carried an order
from the Coroner The body was removed to
Ruoff's undertaking establishment in Bushwick,