The evening world., 1905-11-09
SAW TWO MEN
PUT MRS. TODD'S
BODY ON TRACK
Story of Young Coutant
Confirms the Muir
der Theory.
ARRESTS MAY FOLLOW.
Son of Rockefeller's Doctor
Casts Light on Philadel-
phia Crime.

That Mrs. Margaretta Todd, the aged
and wealthy New York woman found
dead on the railroad tracks leading
through Nairmount Park. Philadelphia,
was the victim OF a murder plot was In
dlcated to the Philadelphia and New
York police to-day. when Richard Bay
and Coutant. a chemist, told of seeing
what he now believes to have been her
body dragged to the tracks where It was
found later.
coutant came to New York and Is
now with Sinclair Touscy. whose sister.
in-law, Mrs. Rosaiie Tousey, is the
daughter OF Mrs, Todd. When Content
had told his story Mr.. Tousey issued cir
culars offering a reward Of 1900 for the
arrest and conviction OF the murderers.
Coutant is q son OF DR.. Richard
coutant, OF Tarrytown, one OF John d.
Rockefeller's physicians. The young
man was married 1--WE years ago, but
last year he said he had become e.
tranged from his wife and had rome to
Philadelphia where he became a chemist
for John wyeth q Company. manufac-
turing druggists.
coutant's Own story.
Il have been living at No. s7i North
Broad street." he said to an Evening
World reporter to-day. "The night Of
oct. H-the night on which Mrs. Todd
Is believed 30 have been murdered
/ went out with a friend who had a
felon on his finger and who was suffer-
much pain. We sat In a saloon until
about $50 p. NJ, when he went to his
The evening was pleasant and 1
TO take a walk ! reached Fair
mount Parf, and when I came to the
railroad tracks / found q bench up over
the cut through which the tracks run.
Il sat on a bench lighted a cigar and
was comfortable when I heard a car
drive up on the other side Of the
,ut.
Il could not see the carriage. as the
we're too thick. But I heard the
door open and slam closed
In a few seconds two men came
through the bushes aud started down
the em~bankment OF the cut. They were
carrying something heavy between
them.
Carried Bundle to Track.
AT the time It did not occur to mo
that what they carried could have been
A human body. but now I am sure that
what II was"
Partially oorroDrative OF C~outant's
story is a discovery made by the Phlla-
delphia police. They learned that a
named Patrick o'Hara had
been missing since about the time OF
the tragedy in Paramount Park.
They found him and his wife In a
s1ualid room, both the worse for dis
SO the police reported, and
locked them up. o'Hara's condition
did not permit him to make a state-
ment
Woman's Queer Statement.
According to the police, the woman
said that her husband had had a Mrs.
Todd as a passenger and that since
then he had not worked, although he
had plenty OF money.
When morning came and O'Hara and
his wife we're In a normal condition.
nellher would make a statement.
Following the developments IN phIla-
delphia and New York It was said to-
day that at least two arrests might be
made at any lime and that the motive
for the crime would be ascrlbed to an
effort 70 gain possession OF the aged
woman's estate, which is said to be
worth about n.0oO.OOO.
Assistant District Attorney smythe
this afternoon took statements from
Mrs. Julia Howe. step-daughter OF Mrs
Todd; Miss Pane. formerly her COM
pa1lon. and Miss Knight, who accom-.
panied Mrs. Todd to the ferry on tha
trip which resulted In her death.
From their statements' said Mr.
smythe. II DO not believe any. crime
was committed IN this Jurisdiction
When DR.. Richard Coutant was oaIled
on the long distance telephone BY The
Evening World he said be aid not WISH
TO say anything concerning the stnrs,
told by his son. He said he had been
away from home q considerable time
end the hmlly In Tarrytown knew
nothing whatever about him.
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TT G yITADCuTpC nEE