The sun., 1894-12-16
MISS wILLMAUTS DEATH.
HER BoDY FOUND UNDER AN OPEN
FOURTH-FLOOR WINDOW.

Tks 1asnne Daughter OF = Fhnsaelphts
Ciereyynsn Apparently wsu 70 no
Her Only Friend Ciintoa Roosevelt
The dead body of Miss Elisabeth NJ. will
maui y mlddle-aeed woman who lived In a six
room hat on the fourth floor Of the
apartment house at 270 West Ninety
sixth street, was found ct 6:30 o'clock
yesterday morning In vacant lot on the
east side of the house by Watohman John Cos
tello who is employed by John d. Crimmns.
The body, which was still warm, was lying face
downward, and the head was twisted to one
side. One of the windows Of Miss willmaut's
fiat looking out on the lot was open. There Is
little doubt that she committed suicide
Costello notified Mrs Hoefer, the house
keeper, and the body was brought into the
house. Mrs, HoeHer said last night that she
was sure Miss Willmant had jumped from the
open window Of her fat, she had attempted
TO do the same thing before.
Miss Willmaut led q strange life, and her
doings have been the main topic of conversation
in that part OF Ninety sixth street ever since
she went to live there about year ago.
She lived alone, keeping no servant, although
she was apparently woman of means. She
had no visitors and apparently no friends, with
one exception.
An old man named Clinton Roosevelt, who
lives at ALI West Twenty third street, called at
regular intervals on Miss willmont. lie was
her man of business as we'll as her friend, and
whatever income she had she received from
him. She always seemed to have . great deal
OF ready money.
whent Miss willmaut moved TO the Ninety
sixth street house she brought with her a lot Of
costly furniture, which she said had been stored
away for years in a strange warehouse.
She had the stun, boxes and all, brought to
her rooms, and large part OF IL was never un-
,lu1 ..lA .aAIa S1sr
and had the appearance Of q woman ct 90, al
though her hair not gray.
Her actions were eccentric as her appear
ance was odd, and the neighbors soon began TO
say that she was unsound mentally. The only
person In the house with whom she was at all
friendly was Mrs. Hoefer, and to her she said
but littlo about herself.
At infreQuent intervals she talked In garru-
lous way about her friends and her past life,
she was the, Daughter Of q clergyman. Before
the SheiseS Sa in West s street
As the days went by Miss Wilmarth's eccen-
continued to call, but he never said anything to
any one In the house about his friends queer
About two weeks ago one Of the tenants COM
erty, about the way Miss wiilmuth was acting.
which she rushed up and down the halls, at all
hours OF the day and night, mLttering to
in her room who would not leave her in peace.
Mr. Miller wrote n letter to Mr.. Roosevelt, de-
failing the woman's strange actions, and the
latter promised to send some one to take care Of
her. -
rushed down the stairs and, bursting into Mrs.
II can't stay there any longer; they will kill
Mrs. Hoener succeeded in calming her; after
which Miss Willmaut said her room was full of
al has. .tn0n nNN
them when she got chance. Mrs. Hoefer went
upstairs with her to the fiat and found that the
s BY CHM bing out out on on the hrs escape Mrs Hoener
got Into the room through an open window just
As she was about to step into the room Miss
out Or you viii step on nj them ru.u
struggle, Mrs Horfier got, her away from the
thoughts upon another subject
on Tuesday last a strange woman came, and
mont she had been sent By Mr.. Roosevelt. she
said. and she thought she would have no trouble
"ssR She M stayed i ali that day and night, but on
Wednesday she left the house. Since that time
Miss willmaut had been alone, save when Mrs.
Her fiat was in the widest disorder. and the
foor was strewn with paper boxes. dresses,
packing cases. travelling bags and rubbish OF
Miss Willmsnt spent most Of the day on Fri
talking to herself in a loud voice. Occasionally
she went TO her rooms and began TO pack her
furniture in the wooden boxes.
Again she rushed into the hall, screaming
with fright and begging to be protected against
the men who were hiding within. At night she
grew quiet. and nothing was heard OF her after
o'clock.
When the body found in the morning II
was clad In linen duster and \ pair OF stock
ings The police of the West Tooth street sta
tion sent note to Mr.; Roosevelt at his house
telling him of the suicide.
He was not st home when the note reached
send IL TO him at his office. Whether he got It
not 10 not known.
He went to New Rochelle yesterday afternoon,
and II was said at his house that he would not
be back until tomorrow morning.
At the Chelsea Hotel IL was said that Miss
Wellmaut had lived there about six months
She acted strangely at times, and she was
spoken Of as very eccentric person.
She never talked about herself. nor did she
ever make friends with any OF the guests, and
her only visitor was Mr. Roosevelt. He often
called on her and they frequently went out to-
gether.