The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-04-03
M'GRATH MYSTERY.
Dead Girl Bought Chloro-
form and Talked About
Effects of Poison.
LANGDoN THREATENED HER LIFE
Trying to Solve the Philadelphia
oase-Tragedy Of Dual
Life.

PHILADELPHIA, April 8, 1896. The
coroner's inquest in the McGrath case
was held this morning.
Because of the sensational features of
the case and the consequent morbid cur
iosity of the public, only persons directly
interested in the case and newspaper re-
porters. were admitted to the coroner's
Office. The hearing ROOM however, was
well filed. Samuel P. Langdon. who
was arrested on suspicion of having
McGrath, occupied a seat beside Detective
Kettier. Although somewhat pale the
accused appeared to be composed.
he was represented by Attorneys A. s. L.
Shields and Arthur Moore
Coroner Ashbridge conducted the inves-
tlgation, which began at 1915 O'clock.
Ihe first witness was Henry McGrath.
fsther Of the dead girl He testified
ms daughter with Langdon, and did not
know that the couple lived together at
2926 Grrard avenue, where the girl was
found dead on March 23
Mrs. Efhe Butterfield sister of the vie
tim, stated that Anna told her she was
engaged to be married to Mr. Langdon.
Tne witness objected to Langdon because
Of his age, Mrs. Butterfield further tes-
titled to her sister admitting, about a
week prior to her death, that she had
dwelling at No. 1928 Girard avenue,
but did not say with whom she lived
When the witness declared that she
would tell her father of this Anna plead
ed with her to not do SO, and said she
would inform the father herself The
witness told of the purchase of two
ounces of chloroform, by her sister, from
Drug Clerk Howard F. Sausser, on the
Wednesday before her DEATH and of the
questions she (the victim) asked Sausser
as to the effects of poiSons
Miss Annie Griffiths a friend of Miss
McGrath, told of the latter buying chlor-
lieve toothache. The witness testified to
the girls Cheerful disposition
Miss Florence Stewart the next witness.
created mild sensation when she de-
elared that a month ago Miss MeGrath
stated to her that Langdon said he would
kill her Miss McGrath) should she keep
company with any other man.
The next important witness was Frank
Brockman,, drug clerk. at 1898 Girard
avenue. who testified that he sold Miss
McGrath five cents worth of chloroform
on March 10, presumably for toothache.
DIR. Charles E. Bricker, who was called
upon when the colored servant, Bertha
Stewart, discovered the body, told of his
examination of the remains and that
MISS McGrath had then been dead for
twenty-four hours.
Bertha Stewart the servant narrated
the finding by her of the body of Miss
McGrath, and she dwelt at length upon
other well known features of the case.
1oWdru SdusSer, the drug clerk, from
whom Miss McGrath purchased tive
ounces of chloroform for the alleged pur-
pose of killing a canary bird, and after
ward questioned as to the effects of diff
ferent poisons, was the next witness.
He declared that although he feared the
girl intended committing suicide, after
she obtained the poison, she dispelled
his fears in this connection before leaving
the store.
The CoCroner's Jury held Langdon for
the Grand Jury. although DIR. Lehman
testified that he was unable definitely to
ascertain the cause of death.