The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-11-23
WAS HE POISONED
Mystery Surrounds Death
of William Astor
in Hoboken.
HIS FATHERS ACCUSATIONS
Spanish Woman Who Nursed
Him Refuses to Give
Up His Child.


lived in constant dread of death by
poisoning. He died yesterday at his home,
No. so Adams street, under circumstances
strange enough to warrant the holding OF
an autopsy on the body to determine
whether or not his fears were well found
ed.
Astor was thirty years old. Five years
ago his wife died in San Salvador, Cen
tral America, after giving birth to baby
boy. Left With the baby and another girl
child, three years old, on his hands, Astor
engaged Vorhesha Was as nurse and re-
turned to this country with her The Was
woman is a typical Spaniard in appear
anee, dark and stately. She grew to be
passienately fond of the boy. caring for
him as though he were her own child.
To the girl she was indifferent.
Astor determined 10 make his will re-
Gently and sending for Justice of the
Peace Livingston Conkling had the docu-
ment drawn up making the nurse a third
beneficiary. He did this because of her
care for his son, he told the Justice.
Astor then sent for his father, Gustav,
and told him that he expected to die soon.
Il am being poisoned slowly but surely .
he said. Il expect to be at rest soon from
all cares. Look after my children when
am gone and be sure to have an autopsy
performed on my body. Don't forget this
if you care for me-"
The elder Astor told of this incident at
his home No. 50 Paterson avenue, last
night.
My son appeared to be resigned to his
fate" he said. He refused to tell whom
he suspected of poisoning him, and when
1 suggested that he have medical attend
ance he shook his head and said it would
be no use. This morning we were in
formed of his death-I and my wife, who
was his stepmother. We hurried to his
home and upon arriving there inquired for
the nurse. She was gone and had taken
the boy with her, tenants in the house in
formed US. We summoned DR.. Kaiser
then. He looked at the body but refused
to make out a death certificate. When
County Physician Converse called later
he authorized the removal of the body to
the morgue. That's all I know about my
sons death. I don't know what his
grounds were for believing he was being
poisoned. don't know much about the
Spanish woman, but 1 hope the police
VIII find her It looks suspicious that she
should disappear on the very day that he
died. We would like to have our grandson
with US. She had no right to take him
away with her. The whole thing looks
strange. 1 don't know what to think of
it,
A sister of Astor said that the Spanish
woman had a husband living in San Sal
vador.
nafa faI4f +1aI ar
No. 90 Adams street at two o'clock this
morning when the nurse returned with
the boy Carlos She was visibly agitated
but told a straightforward story, 80 much
so in fact that she was not taken into
custody.
when my master died." she said, 81
instantly sent a messenger to his parents
with the news. I did not wait for their
coming but hurried to New York to see
one of his married sisters, Mrs. Kate
Singeheisen, who lives at No. 952 Collm-
bus avenue. did this because regarded
her as his best friend. His parents sell
dom visited him because they did not like
ne. I do not know the reason for their
prejudice. l always was attentive to Mr..
Astor and the children and tried to be
respectful to the old folk. But they
wanted none of me, they said, and would
cut me every time we met.
81 lost my way coming home and did
not meet a policeman until after midnight
who could direct me to the right ferry.
/ took several street cars that carried me
further out of my way and was ready to
drop with exhaustion from caring for the
boy when L finally got aboard the right
one and was landed in front of the Chris
aopher street ferryhouse. This was past
one o'clock and had to wait for over
half an hour before 1 could get boat.
THE Astor people may want the boy,
but they won't get him. He is as dear
to me as if 1 were his mother and I mean
to keep him. When Mr.. Astor made his
viii ne specified that the child should re-
main with me. No one can doubt my
claim to him. Justice Conkling has the
VIII in his possession and it will be pro-
duced at the proper time.
"All l know about the insurance policy
is that Mr.. Astor had it in his possession
a month ago. He showed it to me and
eaid would get one-third Of the money
to pay for his cremation and other
funeral expenses
The Spanish woman grew white with
rage when asAed if the statement made
by May Astor, sister of the dead man,
TO the effect that she, the nurse, had tried
to stab her with carving knife last week
were true.
It's false she cried. stamping her
foot, false as anything could possibly be.
don't know what impels my masters
family to entertain such hatred for me. I
never threatened anyone with a knife, and
if May Astor says that l did she lies
and she knows it--knows that she is tell
ing such story only to harm me.
III they want to t-row suspicion on me
why don't they accuse me openly of
poisoning him, of being responsible for
his death? Why don't they openly charge
me with murder? The idea that he has
met with foul play is ridiculous lie died
of consumption, and if the autopsy does
not prove this I am willing to be held
responsible for his death. know what
am talking about when I say this.
know what his malady was for / sat be-
side his bed for months and was the only
nurse he knew. I intend to stay here
until l am vindlcated from the frightful
suspicion cast on me by his parents. They
and they alone are responsible for the
whole affair.