The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-08-20
BODY FOUND IN A CISTERN
Where 1t Had Been Il Year-Dcad Mans
Wife in Jail.

W NJ III jan.
Flushing l.. l., Aug. 1G.-The dccom-
posed body of Edward Wilson. who was
an aged and respected resident here and
who disappeared Il year ago, was found
this morning in and old and abandoned
cistern in the cellar of his home.
1t was bound with ropes, there being Il
knotted loop around the neck. Mrs.
Phoebe Wilson. his widow, has been
committed to prison by Coroner Corey
to await examination.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilson lived here for
forty years, and ut the time of Mr.. Will
sons death, presumably in last August,
he was 60 years old and his wife 60. They
lived for thirty years in the house, No.
- Pine street, twO-stOry frame struc-
ture, with a deep cellar
Wilson was a carpenter and for many
years was in the employ of the Long
Island railroad, but, upon change of
management, several years ago, went to
work for the West Shore railroad. He
was Il sober and expert mechanic, but
his wife's eccentricities prevented him
from saving any money.
1t was her practice to collect all the
useless articles she could find and litter
the yard and house with them. She still
wears a shawl of pronounced design,
which she got thirty years ago. She was
sharp tongued, and it was only on rare
occasions that anybody was admitted be-
yOnd her front door. Even the men who
delivered provisions were forced to de-
post their bundles on the porch.
Exposure and old age, in September,
1894, had so affected Wilson that he was
forced to give up his position with the
railroad company, and in the early part
of that month he was brought home by
fellow employees Il cripple from rheuma
tism.
According to neighbours Mrs. Wilson
greeted her husband harshly, and, plac-
ing him on the stoop, refused to allow
him to enter the house until the men who
had accompanied him had started back
for New York city.
A neighbor in the latter part of the
standing on the porch of her home. heard
the beginning of the usual quarrel and
the sound of blows. Suddenly the man
shrieked
"My God! will no one help me?"
There was quiet for nearly Il month,
but in July, 1895. the trouble was renew
ed violently, the woman cursing her hus-
band for being a helpless drag. Again
sounds indicated beating. Wilson cried
out, and his wife was heard to exclaim,
IF you do that again, I'll kill you'll!
The disturbance suddenly ceased in the
latter part of August and there was an
| ominous silence in the dismal cottage.
The residents of Pine street wondered
where the old man had gone.
\ neighbor in the latter port of the
month heard Mrs. Wilson walking all
night Mrs. Fields and her husband,
getting up, saw Mrs. Wilson go into the
cellar with a big bundle.
There are two cellar windows on each
side of the Wilson house, and soon after
ward the woman procured lumber and
boarded them up so that there was not q,
| crack through which a curious eye could
peer. The fiat cellar door was fastened.
The woman barred her front door to
every one, and only answered callers
from the second story window.
These doings provoked comment. and
then there came from the house Il pro-
nounced odor.
Stephen Dubois. who lives at No. 81
Pine street. and Mr.. Fields complained
to Capt. of Police Hance, but they would
not make a formal charge, so nothing
was done. The odor this summer became
unbearable. and three weeks ago Capt.
IIance was again appealed to.
He saw Mrs. Wilson. She said her
husband had gone to California
The odOr grew so OverpOwering recent
ly that the board of health determined
upon action. and this morning Inspector
Rolf went to the house. Mrs. Wilson,
when she learned what he came for made
violent objections.
The smell is due to eel skin that I
have in my cellar" she declared but m
on being threatened with arrest she adj
mitted Rolf. He preceded her into the
| cellar, and while he was throwing the
rays of a lantern into the musty recesses
she was stealthily piling loose boards