New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-16
POISONING SUSPECTED.
THE FUNERAL OF A WOMAN STOPPED.


SHE WAS WEALTHY AND HAD MADE A SECRET
M,RRI ,GE-N Autopsy PERFORMED.
Coroner Crcamcr yesterday stopped the funeral
procession Of Mrs =. J. Phillips. of No. -
Devoc-st., Brooklyn, Just as the carriages were
about TO leave the house. Mrs. Phillips was Tor
mcrly the wife of the late DR.. James Sweeney,
who died year ago. leaving an estate valued at
$4,000 to her. The death of the woman may
develop into "A sensational poisoning. Til" cas-"
was first brought TO the notice Of the Coroner by
an anonymors letter signed Justice Tic letter
asked the Coroner to stop the funeral. Alrs.
Phillips died on Wednesday. and the funeral was
to take place yesterday at the Church of the
Annunciation, North Fifth and lIavcmcyer SITS,
Brooklyn. As soon as Coroner Creamer received
the communication he at once communicated with
the Health Department, and il learned from
them that the death certificate had been signed by
DR.. Fuchs. Of Jefferson and Tomkns avcs, and
DR.. GrcthcS, Of No. IS Mcscrolc-avc. Death WIS
attributed To hyStcria. DR.. Creamcr thought that
hystcria should not lse death, and he determine
10 have an investigation.
While the relatives and friends were preparing
to go 10 the church "A policeman appeared at the
house and stopped the funeral procession. This
caused considerable excitement, but IN" hcarsc
and carriages were driven away without the
corpse aud mourners.
DR.. Frank Frccl arrived few minutes later
AZ the house by order of the Coroner. and at
once began 10 make an autopsy on th" body. He
was assisted by DIR. Clavl1nd Of No. iIJ Pulaski
ST In'thc meantime the Church Of the Annuncia-
tion was Gllcd with the friends of the woman.
After a long wait the gathering dispersed
Tho husband of tie woman WAS greatly aSitatcd
over the proceedings, and made several inquiries
rs to whether signs Of n suspicious nature were
found by the physicians during the examination.
After the autopsy had been performed. Coroner
Crc,mrr gave permit for the burial, saying that
he would call the cause OF death asthcmia y
pending the investigation. Later the body was
taken t. Calvary Cemetery and buried. The true
cause Of death, DR.. Crcamcr said could not be
asccrtaIncd until an analysis was made Of the
ntcstinrs
4 Coroncrs jury was impancllcd. hut tho in
| quest was adjourned until the autopsy should be
| COMPLETED From what can De learned Mrs. Phil
lip. died after about four days illness. Her rela
! tivcs were not informed that she was Ill. IL was
| not until she was dead that they learned she had
been married to Phillips. Before her death sh"
was visited hy Fathers Ernest Corhett and Foley,
| Of the Church of the Annunciaton. III" husband
was present with Miss Curry when Sh" died. ~ II
| is SAID she complained of sever" pans IN IN, th'
| stomach and Vomitcd frequently Mrs. fnlillp'
WAS married 10 Dr. sweeney. who was a widowrr'
| in l-1O Phillips married TN" widow about nv"
months ago. He Is q member oi 'he Anpno,,
| Academy orchestra The ceremony was r"florlnei
by the Rev Father Sands, Of the Most Holy lrlnIty
| Church in Montro>c-avc., and the marriage was
Phillips said 70 Coroner CsSamcr that he know
| nothing about his wiics plvat" hiaTs. MIS-
| Iohn smith her sister said that -hr knew nothing
about her sisters marriage until She was Sd dean an
| Mrs Margaret O'llara, another slNt'r' also "o'
| clarcd shc was ignorant OF the marriage