New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-21
BROOKLTN MURDER MYSTERY
A BABY BOY KILLED IN HIS CRIB BY HIS
MOTHERS BEDSIDE.
SHE SAYS THAT SHE WAS STRUCK ~ BURGLAR
But NO MARKS OF A ROBBERY HAVE BEEN
FOUND - SUFFERING FROM THE
EFFECTS OF CHLOROFoRM.

But no MARKS OF A ROBBERY HAVE BEEN
FOUND - SUFFERING FROM THE
EFFECTS OF CHLOROFoRM
The police Of the Clymer-st station Brook
lyn have a mystery to clear up. Early yes
terday morning Joseph De Witt, twenty
months old the son Of James De Witt.
musician was found dead in his crib. and MIS-
De Witt is in critical condition. suffering. 1t
is believed. from chloroform. The FAMILY &C.
cupy the parlor and basement floor OF No. Il
Penn-st. which is a three-story brick house
and on the two upper floors lives Joseph
r. Hodgson. jr.. with his wife and young infant
Mrs De witt, who is twenty five years old
with her child. her father-in-aw and other rela-
tives. had spent seven weeks at the Ocean
House. Patchogue. where Mr.. De Witt Is en-
poyed. They all returned to Brooklyn on Fri
day. leaving De Witt there. as his contract with
the hotel did not expire until last night Mrs
De Witt with her child went to her apartments
She retired early. sleeping in the rear parlor
Beside the mothers bed was the crib In which
the child slept on the second floor slept Mrs
De Wits brother Joseph r. Hodgson, jr, who
is a veterinary surgeon. and Hodgson's wife and
young child occupied the top floor with nurse
1t was on account Of the nurses presence that
Soon after o'clock the nurse. who had been
UP the greater part Of the night with Hodg-
sons child which is III, was startled by cries of
ooh Joe, Joew She ran downstairs and
aroused Mr.. Hodgson. He hurried to the parlor
hall where Mrs. De Witt was standing in
dazed condition
Some one has been here. joe" she said, be-
cause have been struck" Hodgson assisted his
barb nod nd
the bed There was strong odor Of chloroform
in the room. Hodgson went to the child's GRID
and found the little one dead. with the white
crib sheet wrapped about 1t.
Hodgson pulled the crib with the child's body
into the parlor and closed the folding doors lie
then went back to his sisters room and found
her unconscious After alarming the household,
Hodeson ran to the home of DR.. Kerner. at NO.
1j4 Rodney-st who administered antdotes 70
the mother to revive her, but she is said TO have
regained consciousness only az snort Intervals
up to a late hour last night
There are many theories advanced as to the
child's death. One is that it was the work OF
burglars who chloroformed the child and al
rinlstered the drug 10 the mother when she
avoke and the burglars became frightened. The
womans pocketbook containing little money
to the burglar theory. although the rooms were
not in disorder and nothing is known 10 DE
missing. The doors OF the house were all found
TIGHTLY locked. Had it been the work of bur
glars the thieves must have escaped by jumping
from the windows OF Mrs DeWitts bedroom,
which had been left open Another theory ad-
vanced was that the woman had had quarrel
with her husband and returned to her Brooklyn
Iota n and
the life Of her child.
The police. II is said have information upon
which they are working. telegram was sent
to Dewitt. az Patchogue. requesting him to
come at once as terrible accident had hap
pened. Two hours later Dewitt called up the
druggist at Bedford-ave and Penn-st.. half a
block from the house. and asked FOR informa-
ton His first words were, is little Joseph
dead"
The druggist told him the boy had been muir
dered. and his sobs could be heard over the
telephone
Coroner Delap went to the house yesterday
afternoon but did not see Mrs. De Witt. on
the advice OF DR. Koerner. who feared that the
woman might succumb from shock on learning
OF the death Of her child which Is said TO nave
been kept from her. The Coroner will visit the
house to- morrow, when the woman VIII De
closely questioned. Inc DOuy OF Nut ShiiN ""
taken 10 an undertaking establishment az No
4O1 Bedford-ave.. where DR.. henderson maze
an autopsy yesterday afternoon. All the organs
we're found in a healthy condition. There was
no indication OF chloroform having been admin
istered 10 the child. and the certificate gave
asphvxia as the cause Of death. Coroner Delap
said last night that he thought the child had
been smothered with a pillow.
The body was removed TO the house or the
child's aunt at No 49, Wythe-aYe.. where the
funeral will be held tomorrow.
The father OF the child arrived from Pat
chogue late yesterday afternoon, and, while the
police we're awaiting him at the Penn-st house
relatives Il is said intercepted him at the East
New-York station. and took him to the house OF
his father law, James r. Hodgson. ST., NO "
keap-st. =,
No one has seen Mrs. De Wit except the
attending physician and nurse, as II is deemed
best 10 keep her quiet as possible for day OF
two Last night Coroner Delap learned that an
effort was being made to have the woman re.
moved from the Penn-st house. He declared
this suspicious. and at once ordered her placed
under arrest until the police had completed their
investigation OF the crime.
Resides Captain Corwin and his officers. De
tective- Sergeants Delehanty and Donovan and
inspector Murphy. from Headquarters, are work
ing on the case.