The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-10
Tradesman Finds Lifeless
Bodies Of Max BrOdy and
Helpmate Of 50 Years.
KILLED AS he SLEPT?
Authorities Convinced That Old
Woman, Despondent, Waited
Till Then to Garry Out
Double Tragedy.-Feared
They Would Be Parted.


Mary Brody, aged TO- and her hus-
band, Max Brody, of 19S Broome street,
were found dead this morning, and the
open gas jets in the rooms occupied
by the couple told the story. The Brody
couple occupied the second floor of the
building, and retired as usual last
right apparently happy, neighbors
said. Some time during the night or
early this morning it Is supposed that
the wife, suffering from an attack of
mental depression, arose and turned
on the gas jets in their apartments
and death for both resulted.
People who were acquainted with the
couple said that Mrs. Brody was de-
spondent because she felt apprehen-
sive that she and her husband, to
whom she had been married half cen
tury, would in some way be parted.
just how she feared it would occur
she had not been heard to say.
Shortly after o'clock this morn
ing a crowd of people eongregated in
fro~' of the house after someone had
detected the odor of gas coming
through knot hole from the door OF
room. Jacob Lacker, grocer. at 1873
Broome street. was attracted to the
scene by the crowd, and when he en-
tered the hall and climbed the stairs
to the second floor he saw that some-
thing was wrong. He forced in the
door, which was securely locked.
JGn entering, Lacker found Brody
I. Il e,efcsed OF a couch and covered with
! ouiltea comforter. In the room ad-
5oining tn room in which he lay,
d,acker found Mrs. Brody in kneeling
nosition and half stretched across her
he'd. In the room where Brody was
found two windows faced into the
street and both were closed, and in
the room where Mrs. Brody was found
there was but one window, and it was
also closed.
Lacker, thinking that both of the
victims were unconscious, sent hurry
call for DIR. Bernard II. Wolf, who
lives a block and q half away, and
DIR. Wolf hurried to the house, but his
visit was useless, for both were then
dead He notified the police of the
Fourth Precinct Station and County
Physician Elliott.
Plainclothesmen Kaas and Sebold
hurried to the house, and after learning
that Mrs. Brody had been under the
care of a physician and labored under
the impression that she would be taken
from her husband and committed to
an asylum, they concluded that she
had turned on the gas after her hus-
band dozed into a sleep and then de-
cided to end her own life
County Physician Elliott, after re-
ceiving the report, and after closely
examining the premises and closely
questioning those who happened to be
about, concluded that Mrs. Brody had
turned on the two jets
No letters or note was left behind,
but a number of letters of recent date
received by the couple from members
OF the family were found on the kitchen
table. 1t appeared as though the
woman had reaP their contents before
committing the supposed deed.
Max Sternig. of SO Hillide place, and
Max Goldsmith, of 20 Avon place,
sons-in-law of the old couple, were
among the first to arrive. Before 1eav-
ing the county physician left word that
ARRANGEMENTS for the funeral could be
made, but left instructions with tho
undertaken not to embalm the bodies
until word was received from him to-
morrow morning.
DR.. Elliott stated that it was evident
that the woman caused her death and
that Of her husband while in a state
of dependency, but he desired TO look
into the case further to prevent any
suspicion.
The Brodys came to this country from
Russia eighteen years ago, after closing
a successful business there. A son in New
York city another in Denver and two in
Russia, with four daughters in this city,
survive Mr.. Brodys advanced years pre-
vented his taking part actively in business,
and the old couple were supported by the
son in New York city. who sent them $50
monthly.
The couple moved into the Broome street
house several months ago, and had three
rooms at their disposal. One was used
simply as a storeroom, while the principal
one. which was the kitchen, and the only
one with gas In it, contained Wood
couch, ON which Mr.. Brody slept. In ad
dtion to the kitchen stove. the couple
made practise of using what is called a,
.'hot plate" The latter was heated by gas,
and was handy for cooking purposes.
When Ia use 1t was placed on the stove
and a rubber tube connected with ii and
the burner on the gas pipe which
descended from the ceiling. The same pipe
contained second jet for illuminating
purposes. Iouay the not pldts was Oh
tie floor and the tube close by 1t, and both
Of the jets, as previously stated, turned
on.
The conclusion of the county physician
was that the couple had been dead several
hours. He suspected that Mrs. Brody re-
mained awake until after her husband
went to sleep and then turned on the
deadly vapor. the Brodys lived up 10 tho
usual Russian customs Mr.. Brody wore
long gray beard and had snow-white hair.
The woman showed signs OF care by nu-
merous wrinkles on face and forehead.
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