The herald., 1896-01-22
FOUND DEAD ON THE FLOOR
Mrs. Della T. Heath's Most
Mysterious Departure
DIED DURING THE NIGHT
She Was the Aged Widow of an Old
Soldier
The Cause Of Her Taking Off Unknown,
Although No Bruises Were Found Upon
Her Body-The Story

Mrs. Della L. Heath was found dead on
the floor of her room at 900 East First
street between ~: 80 and l o'clock yeser-
day afternoon. The discovery was made
by the policeman on the First street beat.
Mrs. Heath had been last seen alive at
about 6 p. IN. Monday. The people who
resided in the house with her, and to whom
she had sublet several rooms, missed her.
She had failed to appear in the morning as
usual. The attention of the po-
liceman was called to the fact
that she had failed to appear.
he came to the house, which is little one
story cottage near the viaduct. He tried
the door, but it was locked. He then went
around to the west side of the house and
peered in through the window.
Upon the floor, stretched at full length,
still in death, was the body of Mrs. Allen.
At first it was supposed that she was
either asleep orr ill. The policeman jumped
in through the window, and was soon con-
yinced of the fact that the lady was dead.
Ihe coroner was notified, and today at 10
a. m. he will mold an inquest at Orr IL
Hines, undertakers.
The cause of the death of Mrs. Heath
VIII perhaps remain a mystery. 1t may
may have been the victim of foul play.
She wss last seen alive by the tenants
who sublet a portion of the house at 900
East First street of her about .. IN. on
Monday. Later she was heard moving
about in her room.
Mrs. Heath was about 60 years of age.
An old man named Allen, a furniture re-
palrer, having his shop in the little shack
in the rear of 500 East First street, was
intimate with her. and the dead woman's
tenants say that he lived with her. The
two seemed to get along amicably and
were apparently congehial company for
each other.
Old man Alien was with Mrs. Heath on
Monday evening until about $3.50. They
were drinking and having good time
generally. About the hour above named
he left the house.
Shortly after this Mrs. Heath's tenants
in the adjoining room heard noise as if
body was falling to the floor. They
thought nothing of it, however, until the
dead body was found yesterday afternoon,
1t was not until 6 o'clock last night that
Allen turned up at 900 East First street.
He was then informed of the death of
Mrs. Alien, and he was apparently over
whelmed with grief, and did not seem to
be at all alarmed or frightened, although
much grieved. The old gentleman went in
and viewed the body. He said nothing and
then departed.
Later he was interviewed by the police,
but he claimed that Mrs. Heath was ap-
parently we'll when he left her. There was
no reasonable ground upon which to detain
him, SO he went his way and will appear at
the inquest to testify today.
Mrs. Heath formerly resided at 1889
Brooklyn avenue, Boyle Heights, where
she owned piece of property. She was
soldiers widow and drew pension of Sl2
per month from the government. In add;-
ton to that, she rented the property at SO5
and 900 East First street. This she sub
let and made money. From her Boyle
Heights property she received a small in
come. She was always quiet and peace
able, and was never known to quarrel with
anyone. There are no marks on her body
to indicate the cause of her death. The
coroner has full possession of her papers
and effects, but he could not be found last
night. The case is a rather peculiar one.
A Later stcry which throws some light
upon Mrs. Heath's death is to the effect
that they had quarrel in her room on
Monday evening. Loud and angry words
passed between them, and suddenly one of
the two fell to the floor. this being ind-
Gated by the noise of the fall. Allen is re-
ported to have said to Mrs. Heath, well,
| will put II couple of pillows under your
head" This he apparently did. for the
pillows were found there.