New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-11
THINKS WOMAN MURDERED
Detective Reports on Freeport Mys-
tery-To Reopen Inquest.

The woman was murdered in her own home and
Her death was caused by shock from blow oyer
the eye. WILLIAM NJ CLEMENS.
The above statement received yesterday by Judge
Archer B. Wallace of Freeport. from Mark Twain
nephew. refers to the woman whose body was found
April IL IN the woods near Greenfield Cemetery.
Freeport, Long Island. by two boys. and which
was buried under the of Martha Laimbeer.
The use of that name was adopted at the sugges-
ton OF anonymous writer who inclosed lOo-
dollar bill to defray the expenses Of the burial
When Judge Wallace received the communication
from Clemens he at once announced that he would
reopen the inquest Friday next at o'clock at
Freeport. Clemens is to appear, and report
will be received from the chemist who has been
engaged IN making minute examination OF the
internal organs of the dead young woman. Judge
Wallace said last night to Tribune reporter that
he had never altered his belief that the woman
had been murdered. Judge Wallace said that ne
did not know the name of the alleged murderer
and expressed the opinion that only Clemens knows
who II IS
Judge Wallace would not tell the full contents
of Clemens's letter. but stated that the alleged
murderer lives in Brooklyn. is Of light complexion,
with blue eyes and brown hair. He had been
traced. he stated. by fountain pen marked 90
NJ, 1903.' and by the anonymous letter containing
the money for burial. After the alleged murderer
was Swallowed it noticed that he was possessed
OF feverish interest in the extras shouted through
the streets and that he bought all that appeared
in the vicinity of his home.
Mr.. Clemens could not be seen last evening nav
ing gone to Westchester for few days District
Attorney James r Niemann. of Nassau county
who has never believed that the young woman
was murdered went yesterday to Esopns TO see
Judge Parker The District Attorney, because OF
his absence has not yet been made acquainted
with the contents of Clemenss letter. Dr. j. H.
b. Denton who performed the two autopsies on
the woman's body stated at that time that ne De-
ueved the blow over the eye sufficient TO nave
caused DEATH but that he did not think she hao
died from that blow.
Benjamin A. sprague. jr. and Percy van oe
Water on April II found the body Of young
woman seated on the ground, her head oeht SO iaF
forward as TO rest between and against hef iee@
Her ,tps were burned by carbolic ACID, ana la'er
investigation showed traces OF the acid II. ner
stomach over the eye a deep cut maze mace oy
soyne hunt instrument. Scarcely any one
tha wound could have been selr-innicteo or l -
the woman could have administeree the EoIsoh ~
bersef after receiving the blow. InosS VINO Lls,a0
the closest scrutiny of all the surrounding clICu5
stancss and subsequent developments have peneVsd
Young woman was murdered. Near the oouy NaS -, =
little handbag containing some toilet eTucies 80
w. founfan pen An open knife with olooo statls
AZ Two blades. was afterward found among tne
leaves near the body. Three days aiteI InS
inc ~ the body DR. Denton received an aIollS NJ
letter begging him for the sake OF distIdc'S1
tives who shup publicity to save the poor Wo'l ~
800 nauner's grave and directing that ths
inciosed sIOo be used to defray the expenses Oh
hurtaI ,,pdar the name of Martha LaimbeeF.