New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-08-06
LOOKING into HER DEATH
Police Cannot Find Mrs. Lillian
McConviIIe'S Purse.
HUSBAND NEAR BREAKDOWN
Returns to Work Before Funeral
to Avoid Brooding Over
Loss of Wife.

The suspicious circumstances surrounding
The death Of Mrs Lillian McConTiile, VINO
Was found with fractured skull IN the
o.,,e- IF her home. at No. 81 Washington
Place. Tuesday night and died twentS-foui
hours later in ST Nincent's Hospital, as
told IN The Tribune yesterday. caused 'he
,,o,,ce 10 begin an investigation OF the
ease. Inspector Russell, head OF the oe
tertjz,e bureau assigned some OF ms Hfsh
70 the case yesterday, and he SAID last
night that they were still investigating IN
an effort to clear up some of the cir
c,,,,,etances which had not yet been eX-
planned
The case had been entered on the blotter
of tbe Mercer street police staten as an
accidental DEATH and was reported
10 the Coroner's office When the matter
was brought to the attention Of Inspector
Russell yesterday he determined 10 make
an investigation on hts OWE account
Coroner Holtzhauser said that an inquest
would be held In the case within few
days. He said he would wait for the police
report In the matter and then subpoena
all witnesses whom he thought might be
able TO tell anything about the manner In
which Mrs McConviiie met her death
Mrs McConviIle was alone in the house
that she had about so in a purse, which
has not been found. Her husband. harry
McConviIle, baggage master at the pier
OF the Peoples Line to Albany. gave her
SO when he left home on Tuesday morn
ing She paid the rent during the day and
had some $40 left when she returned home
She also had some money which she had
been saving for mission work at the Metro
rolitau Temple at Seventh avenue and 14th
street Of which she was a member A
careful search OF the house yesterday by
detectives and members of the family fa1led
TO reveal any of the money
The woman was found lying ct the bot
tom of a dark stairway, leading from the
kitchen TO the cellar, by her blind step
son Charlie" when he returned from
work on Tuesday night. He heard her
sroans and CROPPED his way down the
stairs When he could not arouse her he
gave the alarm and she was taken to the
hospital. She remained unconscious until
her death.
1t was learned yesterday that an older
etepson, who had not lived with the family
for some time. went to the house on Mon
day and saw his stepnother- He had some
words with her about going back home,
K was said, and left IN & huff when he
board and room if he returned
He turned I'D at the Peoples Line pier
Wednesday morning TO talk matters over
aith his father, apparently in ignorance OF
his mothers injuries His father is said
TO have reblked him for going TO him at
such time with his troubles He was at
the house yesterday when the detectives
called and vas closely questioned. The
detectives said afterward that they were
convinced he knew nothing about the man
rler IN which his mother was injured
The fact that the woman still wore dia-
fnond ring and some other jewelry when
she was taken to the hospital led the police
to ridicule the theory that any one had
entered the house for the purpose of rob
berry and had attacked her Furniture in
the kitchen and other parts of the house
ras found in disorder. but members of the
family said yesterday that the woman had
recently started to clean house
The father has been on the verge of
breakdown since his V-fe's death. He was
found at the Peoples Line pier Yesterday,
and said he had returned TO work he
could not bear to stay at home and brood
ever his wife's death
He said that he could not explain why
his wife would attempt to 80 down to the
cellar as she was a very heavy woman and
was always careful to avoid dangerous
Tlaces. They had once stored some carpets
IN the cellar he said. but she knew that
they had been taken away some time ago:
otherwise he thought she might have gone
down after them.
There were two ugly wounds on the
woman's head where the skull had been
fractured. on her forehead and at the base
Of the brain. DIR. William 81. Baker, OF No.
I5s waverley Place. who has been the Nc
ConvilIe family physician for the last three
years, said yesterday that while the in
itlries might have been received from fall
ing down the stairs he not at all salts
fed from the nature OF the wounds that
such was the case.
The funeral was held last night at the
funeral chapel in Eighth avenue where
the body had peen taken