Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-07-30

BODY IDENTIFIED The body Of Il e
Young woman found floating i'll The
river yesterday aud which was brought
to this city was last night identified as
that of Laura Curry, otherwise known
as Bertha Williams, white inmate of
the house of Anne Moss, ID street, Wash
ington. 1t is generally supposed that
she committed suicide. Andrew Col
line young colored man, son of R. ].
Colline, dealer in wood and coal in
Washington, has been missing from
his home since o'clock Monday after
noon, and it is suggested that he has also
committed suicide by drowning. He was
known to have been intimate with the
dead woman, and was last seen in her
company at house on d street about
S o'clock on Monday night. The couple
left the house together. In response to
message, Detectives Helan and Boyd,
of Washington, accompanied by Anne
Moss and two other women, appeared
here about 9 o'clock and identified the
body as that of Laura Curry. Coroner
Purvis was on hand and decided to hold
an inquest this morning. The theory
of suicide was accepted, however, with
out question. There were no marks Of
violence on the woman's person. AS
she lay on the board at the undertake
ing establishment her appearance was
that of one who had died without suf
!ering. Laura Curry was the daughter
OF Mrs Margaret Despard, formerly
Mrs. James Curry, her first husband
being dead She is residing at Staun-
ton, Va. The Moss woman said the
girl had been living at her house for
some time She went to Washington
about three years ago and started on q
downward career by making her abode
in a house in the Division. She was
rather attractive in appearance, having
reddish hair and fair complexion. She
was generally accepted as white
woman. Some months ago she met
Collins, who is about twentyfour years
of age, and was much in his company
The girl was very often respondent.
The inmates of the house say that she
drank great deal, and was more than
once arrested for vsgrancy. She went
down the river Monday before last,
and on the way back to Washington,
on the steamer George Leary, tried to
commit suicide by jumping overheard,
but was held back by passenger just
in time. She had been very despond-
ent ever since.
Laura left the house of Madame Moss
about $50 o'clock Monday evening,
saying she would be back soon. She
left her diamond earrings, and her keys
with one of the inmates. 1t is said that
she met Collins at house near by. The
young colored man shortly before this
met hackdriver named Charles Doug
lass. whose stand is at Twelfth street,
and gave him seal ring to take care of
for him. This was the last seen of
either OF them. There was q rumor
which cannot be verified, that the
couple took rowboat from one of the
lower wharves and disappeared down
the river at nightfall. At any rate. it
is supposed that they plunged into the
water together. No boat has been
found, and nothing heard from Collins.
The remains OF the girl were turned
over to friend to day and inferred in
Bethel cemetery, after having been pre-
pared by Mr.. Domaine. Annie Moss
provided new dress and paid all ex
psnses of sepulture An inquest was
deemed unnecessary. Willis Madden,
colored, was here to-day looking for
Andrew Collins, the colored man who
was last seen with the drowned girl.
He left instructions to the effect that
should his body be found he would pay
all the expenses of his burial.
LATER.-The body of lAndrew Col
Inns, the man who was last seen with
the woman, was found floating near
the Long Bridge this morning. 1t is
now almost certain that he and Laura
Curry committed suicide. Two women
who came here this evening to attend
Laura's funeral say that Collins was II
white man.