Newport daily independent., 1903-07-01

Peete were brought down from St. Louis Tuesday night and taken to Batesville, where the funeral was held at o'clock Wednesday after noon. J. R. Steele was called to St. Louis before her death, having gone up last week and returned with the remains.
 STORY OF POST DESPATCH.
 Tuesday evenings Post Dispatch states that an inquest was begun at Il o'clock Tuesday on the body of Nancy L. Peete, 26 years old, who died Mon- day afternoon at 3 o'clock at the Gen. tenary hospital, 2945 Lawton avenue.
 The death was reported to the coro- ner and at his request the police ar rested Mrs. Nevada Costley, doctor living at 2S41 Franklin avenue.
 Miss Peete is well remembered as the fascinating cashier of the E. J. Ar mold Turf Investment Company, with which she was connected up to the time it suspended business last Feb ruary.
 The young woman also possessed some ability as an amateur actress and when Richard Mansfield was playing "Julius Caesarn in St. Louis last winter she joined the chorus. DID NOT LIKE THE STAGE.
 She left St. Louis with Mansfeld's company, but returned a short time later, as life on the road did not suit her.
 It is said the young woman was well connected, her father being judge of the circuit bench of Little Rock, Ark. Her mother, it is said, died several years ago, and she had no other rela- tives except sister, Mary Lee Peete, who until recently made her home in St. Louis, but several weeks ago ob- tained employment as demonstrator for a corset company and went to Bellville.
 Before getting employment witt the Arnold company Miss Peete resided at | 522 North Garrison avenue. She had 10 money at the time and Mrs. Bettie Hopkins, who conducts rooming house at that number, allowed the young woman to make her home with her without charge.
 "Miss Peete told me she was an or phan,' said Mrs. Hopkins, 'and as she appeared to be such a lovely girl I felt sympathy for her and took her lin.n
 Miss Peete after leaving Mrs. Hop kins' house went to room at 3209 Washington avenue. She remained there several weeks and then with her sister moved to 3142 Washington avenue. Later the two girls rented a room at 3147 Locust street and re- mained there until few weeks ago.
 TAKEN TO CENTENARY HOSPITAL. Nancy went to the Centenary hos pital a week ago. She was taken in there on the advice of a physician to whom she had applied for treatment after being attended by Mrs. Costley.
 While Arnold was in the heydey of his success and was employing only the best looking women he could find, Miss Peete occupied the important position of cashier with his firm. MRS. CosTLEY SAYS IT WAS ACCIDENT.
 At the inquest, which was conduct ed by Deputy Coroner Boogher, Mrs. Costley denied that she performed an operation on Miss Peete, and claimed that the girls death resulted from an accident which occurred in the Cost ley home during Mrs. Costley's ab- sence.
 Dr. John J. Hoffman, the physician who ordered Miss Peete removed to the hospital, stated that he found her suffering from the effects of an opera tion which she told him had been per formed by Mrs. Costley.
 The ante mortem statement of Miss Peete was that she had paid Mrs. Costley $25 to perform an operation, l and that the latter had done so.
 Mabel, the IS yearold daughter of Mrs. Costley, whom, the latter testi- fled, she left at home in charge of Miss Peete while she (Mrs. Costley) visited the summer garden, was wanted to testify, but it was stated that she was in Raymond, H., on a visit. Mrs. Costley was requested to send for the girl and the inquest was continued until Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock.
 Miss Mary Peete, sister of the dead girl, testified that Nancy told her that Mrs. Costley performed the opera tion.
 Mrs. Costley is still in the custody of the police.
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