New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-20
HER DEATH A MYSTERY.
MRS sCHAEFFER WAS EITHER MUIR
DERED OR ELSE COMMITTED SUICIDE.

FOUR MEN ONE MERE BOY. HELD. CHARGED
WITH THROWING HER FROM A PIER BUT 1T
is ALSO THOUGHT THAT SHE MAY HAVE
JUMPED oFF-HER HUSBANDS STORY
John Gill; twenty-three years old. OF No. 70
Greene-st.; Charles O'Hara. twenty-seven years
old. of No 90 CIay-st.; John Nelson, nineteen years
old. OF No. GO Greene-st.. and Thomas Barrett SIX
teen years old OF No SO Freeman-st. were ar
raigned In Even Street Police Court yesterday.
charged with homicide. The prisoners were arrest
ed at | o'clock yesterday morning by tho police OF
the GreenpoInt-ave. station on Information fur-
nished by Michael Schaeffer. who lives at No. 1876
Huron-st. Schaerer charges the men with be-
Ing responsible for the drowning Of HIS wife Louisa.
thirty eight years old. The woman Is believed to
have either Jumped into the river to save her honor
or TO have been thrown overheard The drowning
occurred late on Saturday night at pier In
3reene-st where the and the woman were
drinking beer from a can
According to Schaeffer, he was sitting on the
Frecman-st pier with his Wife when John GIL ana
the other men approached them. GIL bought sew
eral pints Of beer and Mt II o'clock the party start
ed for the Grecne-st pier where the can was again
put into use. Toward midnight all hands were In
toxicated and SchaefYer says the men began TO at
tempt liberties with his wife.
scHAEFFER SAYS HE WAS ATTACKED.
He then started with her for home, put was
stopped by the men and was assaulted by Gill; ne
alleges who backencd his eye. Schaener says ne
then ran toward the street. crying. Police! Hep
and meeting Policeman Wsrham, told him what
had happened.
He did not see his wife again until he saw her
dead hodv later on the pier when he returned with
Warham II had been taken from the "a'eS' anu
Gil was rolling 1t barrel Gill was at ohoo
arrested and taken to the police station' ana MS
compa mons were taken into custody later. All &c.
nicd throwing the woman overheard ana declared
she Jumped into the water.
GIL declared that when they had waiKed nan "a!
~ tho ,ior the woman turned suddenly around.
ran 10 the edge ard jumped into the water ne
followed her and seized her dress just as she WIS
about 10 make the plunge. but the Dress .o'e anu
sha wont into the water lie plunged In after her'
he says and with the assistance OF saiiol nun, "
schooner. managed to get her on the pier' .'
woman was then unconscious. and died IN ie"
Later he told another story to the police In whiS S
he sai1 he was asleep on pile OF lunlpcr az t,.7
end of the pier and was awakened ny d sta LII,
Looking into the water he saw woman struss"n5
and Jumped overheard and dragged her out
DECLARES HE HELPED RESCUE HER.
Nelson. one OF the other prisoners, also told the
noIic. that he assisted in getting the woman UP on
the pier
scbaerer stu insisted that he was assaulted by
Gil and cut over the right eye upheld MS story
He believes he said an attempt was maze 10 as
sou,t his wife. and she jumped into the water 10
save her honor. IL
,'ra dead woman was Schaeners seconu WIZ
scbaener at one time was wealthy and turned over
=, -. ro, r,v IN his wife before she died. AT her
daa,h {, was given to her two married daughters
who. it is said, have since refused to recognize
their father This preyed greatly on schae"er
mind and he soon became dssipateo
The police aege to have learned tnat 'ne u.a.
woman robbed man OF so IN me me heen souander.
nd cir
ing the money for beer: , ...o,,n,sd IN conn
It ia said the woman had twice Attempted ~ ''
NIT suicide. ....a,,sn+ n Coroner
schaeer last night made STATE lie 20 declared
,hat CHI after assauting him.. struck ms W. 20.
Knocking her down and while ne ran ,or5 ne
n np and he heard her mufled screams He sa,a
his wife was good swimmer ana o,pe overboard
or she could have saved herself