New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-07
HOLD FOUL PLAY THEORY
McConviIIe Neighbors Differ with
Detectives on Case.
INQUEST NO LONGER LIKELY
Police Report Expected To Be
That Death Resulted from
Accidental Fall.

The Central Office men VINO nave been
investigating the case Of Mrs Lillian Nc
ConviIle. of No. 81 Washington Place, who
Died In ST. Vincent's Hospital. without ~
gaining consciousness, from fractured
skull. received under suspicious circurn-
stances at her home last Tuesday. reported
to Headquarters yesterday that they had
been unable to discover sufficient evidence
of foul play to warrant further invests
cation at this time
About $50, which Mrs McConviiie fs
known TO have had in the house On the
Cay that she was found nortally injured
at the foot Of the cellar stairs. is stifl
missing Inspector Russell, head OF me de-
tective bureau, said last night that Harry
McConviIle. the husband OF the dead
woman, told his men that he believed the
money would be found somewhere in tEs
house where his wife may have hidden t.
The husband said he would make a thor
ough search for II as soon as he had more
fully recovered from the shock % his
wife's death. Aside from that circuu-
stance. Inspector Russell said the police
investigation seemed 10 support the theory
that the woman had received the injuries
which caused her death by accidentally
falling downstairs
Friday without disclosing the missing
money Mrs. NcConvilie was alone in the
house at the time she was injured. and :.
probably never will be known just how L
happened.
While other suspicious circumstances
which appeared in the case have apparently
been cleared UP TO the satisfaction o. the
police, some of the relatives and reighbors
of the dead woman still believe that she
met her death at the hands Of some one
who entered the house. knowing that shs
was alone, for the purpose Of robbery.
There was a large attendance OF neigh
bors and members Of the metropolitan
Temple, where Mrs. McConyille had been
an active member, at the funeral. which
was held from .he chapel OF an Eighth
avenue undertaking establishment or FRI
day night, and some OF them accompanied
the body yesterday 10 it's place OF burial z
Kensico Cemetery. The whole neighboc-
hood has been greatly exercised over tire
worian's death, and there was much COM
rnent heard among the nlourDers as 10 thsi-
suspicious OF how she was injured
The McConvilIes moved into the Wash
tngton Place house a little over a year ago
A woman who had known the family when
thew formerly lived IN ztf street and had
heen 4 friend of Mrs McConville for TWEEN
tv-two wears said yesterday that she had
demonstrated with Mrs McConvills 1oc
moving because Of the Unfavorahle sur
rouud1ngs Of the new home The back room
Of a saloon on the corner opens into the
ward In the rear OF the Washington Fiaes
house. and she had feared. she SAID, thar
some one might easily get into the McCon-
Vile house. where the dead woman was
alone much Of the time, and attack hsT-
She had spoken 70 Mrs McConvile ABOUT
nee fears several times, she SAID, but hef
friend had only laughed at her IoF en-
PERTAINING them She said Mrs AcConFiue
usually worked in her kitchen, with the door
open into the back yard
Other friends OF the dead woman SAD
she was always proud Of her strength. as
she was a woman OF powerful build. weigh
ing more than two hundred pounds, and
o<ten said she could take care Of hersei1 n
case of emergency. .
II was said yesterday thar the ponce re-
mort would probably preclude the neceSs,C
of holding the proposed cOronerS Inquest
in the case Coroner Holtzhauser said. now,
ever that If future Developments snOuiV
Justify an investigation by the CoToners Or
ice he would promptly take the matter up
and hold an inquest