The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-06

rousd Desa n = Vacant Lot Near His
Home Yesterday Moraine.

Home Yesterday MorsinE.
JOSEPH b. Coe. who for over twenty-iour
years had held the ofIice Of Clerk in the Court
Of Common Pleas. was found early yesterday
morning lying dead IN a vacant lot at the south
west corner OF 1l5th street and Fifth avenue.
Mr.. Coe left his home, at IL West l 9Th street,
about IL O'Clock on Sunday night saying that
he was golng out on business. The police be-
lievo that he fell into the lot, where the body
was found some time between midnight and
| o'clock. They and the members OF MIR. Goes
family think that the case is one OF accidental
| death.
The lot Is only a few yards from Mr.. Goes
house Its surface is fully twenty feet below
the level OF the sidewalk. The lot IL oiled with
large boulders and Jagged pieces OF rock. A
himsy board fence surrounds It as . protection
to passing pedestrians When Mr.. Coe left
home on Sunday night and did not return the
family thought nothing Of It, as he was some
times in the habit q spending the night Nth
yesterday morning Policeman James Nolan Of
the 10!th street station. while passing the lot.
he looked through the opening he discovered
the body Of q wcll-dressed man lying among
Al 1rst the policeman thought &c was a
drunken man who had stumbled against the
climbed Climb d1 down the en- bank ment however, and
tried to arouse the PROSTATE figure he discov-
cred that the man was dead; There was cut
on the head. and on one OF the dead mans
body was removed to the police station. where
II was identified By papers found in the peck
eta Then a policeman was sent to netiiY MIR.
Coos family Of his death. .
II is believed that while returning home Mr.
Coo was seized by a 1T OF dizziness and leaned
against the fence for support. In its rotten
condition the latter gave way. throwing Mr..
Coe headlong among the rocks beneath, Mr.
Coo had Tor some time been troubled with
vertigo man who lives in shanty near
the vacant lot said yesterday morning that
about = o'clock he thought he heard voices
police place 10 faith in the story. however.
Mr.. Coo was born in this city fiity-two years
ago. During the war he served In the United
States Navy on the gunboat MONTICELLO. He
was u memoer OF Lafayette Post q. A. X. and
formerly WAS Lieutenant in the Ssventy-frst
Regiment. At one time he held the office OF
Supply Clerk for the Board OF Education. In
1863 he was appointed assistant clerk by
Nathani ell Jarvis. Chief Clerk OF the Court OF
Common Pleas. and since that time Mr.. Coe
had been continually associated with the
court His FIRST assign m emit was In Part l. In
1889 Judge Jones Apo Mt ed him deputy clerk.
which place he hold until the time Of his death.
Col Alfred WaRstAd the present Chief Clerk
Of the court said Yesterday that Mr.. Coo was
one Of the most faithful and able deputies who
had ever held that post
In 1884 Mr.. Coo served under John Kelly In
the Sherifs office. He was an active member
OF the Lexing ton Avenue Baptist Church. and
was for thirteen years Superintendent Of the
sunday school At one time he vas member
OF the Tammany General Committee for his
district. Mr.. Coe leaves widow and six chill
dren. one OF his sons has been clerk in the
Court OF Common Pleas for three years. Mr.:
Coo was a nephew OF Thomas Boese. clerk OF
the Superior Court