New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-30

SIT DEAD ON A PARK BENCH
TWO MEN THOUGHT TO BE ASLEEP
SIDE BY SIDE COMMIT SUICIDE.

Two dead men. both poorly dressed and bear
ing every symptom of abject poverty. sitting
side by side a bench in Central Park.
shoulder touching shoulder were foun6 late last
night by Policeman Devanuey. of the Central
Park Squad. He at first thought they were
asleep. on the walk at their feet lay two
empty whiskey TASKS. An ambulance surgeon
from the Presbyterian Hospital said that beth
men had died of some sort of poison, but just
what he was not able to state on superficial
examination. The bodies were sent TO the
Morgue.
On the body of was found discharge papers
from the United States Army. bearing the name
Barney Dolan. on the same papers was the
name William Dowuey. On letters found in the
pocket was the address William Downey Wood
bury Conn. There was also a letter found
signed by Mrs l.. z, Gibbons, of No. 52S
Quincy-st,. BROOKLYN. The letter read in such
manner. the police said. as to lead them 10 he
lieve that the writer was sister IF the dead
man. on the body of the other man were found
letters addressed TO Frank T. Schwartz. of No.
f35 West Twenty-sixth-st. Twelve pawn tickets
bore the same name There was also card
issued from some union, the name of wh.ch had
been torn off, bearing the same address.
Devanney said the men had been found
bench Just opposite the Seventy -ninth-st. ell
trance the park about three hundred feet i'm
from F1fth-ave Back of the bench were two big
trees, the branches of which oVerhung the bodies
of the two He had not seen the two men
enter the park. Several times in the early part
of the night, he said, he had noticed them sit
ting on the bench and had heard them talking
to each other in low tones. He had paid no
attention TO them. he said because he supposed
them to be in hard luck. and he did not want
to disturb them until he required 10 do so
by the park resulat atiOns.
Once he passed them, he said, he saw the
two men lurch toward each other. their should
touching. SUPPRESSED they had
asleep, and started to tell them they would have
to leave the park
He reached and shook them by the
shoulders. Then he discovered that they were
dead. Thinking there might be life left
he sent a hurry call to the PRESBYTERIAN Hos
pital DR.. Van Ingen responded with the am
bulance the run.
Poison: both stone dead he said, after
moments examination
He could not tell what poison the men had
used. There soaring of the lips and
mouth as is the when carbolc acid is used
The police later learned that the wOrkmans
card on which was found the name Schwartz
had been issued by the Adams. White and Webb
Press Printers Association No. II. of New-YOrk
a watch. for shoes, coat and vest, overcoat and
the like.
AT No 49, West Twenty-sixth-st. it was
learned that a man named Schwartz had lived
there with his wife. The ianitor said she had
last seen Schwartz on last Saturday. and had
last seen his wife day or two prior to that
time.
The police later found slip of paper in Dow
ney's pockets which written in pencil:
II fought in the Civil War under the name of
Barney Dolan. but that is not my real name.
1t is William Downey.