Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1911-03-06
SAYS She IS THE
WIDOW OF MAN
DEAD WITH BRIDE
Harry D. C0x's Dual Life Is Dis.
closed by Gas.heater
Tragedy.
FOUND LIFELESS BESIDE
GIRL HE Welded IN JUNE
Other Claims Marriage Ten
Years Ago and Points
to Son.

Investigation into the mysterious
death of Harry D. Cox and of the
young woman with whom he contract
ed a possibly bigamous marriage last
June failed today to establish the truth
of any of the conflicting statements
which have been made since the bodies
of the man and woman were found
yesterday in the gas-filled kitchen of
the apartment at 81 South Twelfth
street, where they were preparing to
begin housekeeping.
No more complicated case OF do
nestle relations was ever revealed by
tragedy than that which was laid bare
when Mrs Mary Mckee. of 142 South
Thirteenth street, mother of the young
woman who is said to be Mrs. Cox NO.
2, and Miss Rosadale McKee, sister,
found the bodies when they entered
the South Twelfth street apartment
yesterday morning after attending
mass at St. Rose of Lima's Church. $,
Cox's aged mother, who conducts a
boarding house at 17s Fairmount ave.
that house as Mrs. Harry D. Cox, in
sist that the woman who was found
dead could not have been the legai
wife Of Cox. The younger Mrs. COX,
at the Fairmount avenue address. says
she was married to Cox ten years ago,
and that he is the father of her son.
But for the unfortunate fact that she
lost the marriage certificate and does
not remember the name Of the church
where she was wed, nor the name OF
the pastor who performed the cere-
mony she could easily prove her claims
she says. The elder Mrs. Cox cor
roborates these statements.
Mrs. Mckee. on the other hand, ans
the members Of her family declare tina
they knew all about the alleged Mrs
Cox No. l, and the boy; that Cox hal
told them everything and that thel
had thoroughly investigated the cas-
and found that the woman who wal
known as Florence Sinclair, had n,
legal claim on him. Mrs. Mckee say
she had letter from the alleged Mrs
Cox signed by her maiden nams
Meantime the bodies of the man AM
the young woman whom as Miss Wini
fred Mckee he married last Jun
just before the marriage license Law
went into effect, are awaiting buria
at their respective homes.
1t was comparatively a simple mat
ter for the authorities to read in tn
tragedy its bald, pitiful details. Their
seems to be no doubt that the woman
while preparing her new home for oc
cupancy, was accidentally overcome b
gas, which leaked from a defectiv
water heater in the kitchen. 1t is be
lieved that Cox, who had been absen
from the house on an errand, returne
and found the young woman dead, and
moved by powerful motives, which, a
yet may only be guessed at, deliber
aterly stopped up the doors and win
dows and lay down on the kitchen foo
by his wife's side to die. It is con
ceded that he may have been inf1u
enced only by sorrow, but 1t is believes
he foresaw that the death of his al
legged wife would bring to light the fac
of his dual life.
Little Girl with Second Wife.
Helen Withers, years old. cousi
of the alleged Mrs Cox No. 2. was wit
her Sunday morning as she WIS puttin
the house to rights. She and the NAL
she believed to be her bsr d were t
have occupied it in a. ~ days, an
furniture. and even groceries, had beel
ordered. The little girl says that afte
Cox left the house her cousin mad
several Intellectual attempts to light tn
water heater. Small explosions re
warded her efforts. The child left tn
house before Cox returned and it wa
perhaps an hour and half before Mrs
Mckee and her daughter arrived an,
made the gruesome discovery
Cox, who was formrly clerk, ha
engaged in the livery business for tn
past few years. Mrs. Mckee says h
had been living in a room in the stable
but Mrs. Cox, the mother, says he
son lived in the Fairmount avSnu
house.
Mrs. Cox No 2" was Miss Winiffe
Mckee before her marriage and wa
employed as a buyer by a large Broa
street store. Her mother said tina
Winifred and Cox were quietly mar
ried June 21 of last year in the rector
of st. Joseph Church by Father Cor
rigan, and that the marriage was wit
messed by a Mr.. and Mrs. Haggert,
She said the marriage was yer
quiet one, as they were not prepare
to begin housekeeping at once an
wished to establish themselves in thei
own home before announcing thei
marriage to their friends.
She said she had called upon Flor
ence Sinclair" before the wedding. an
had been able to see no proofs of tn
alleged marriage of Cox to the woman
She said she knew all about the un
fortunate fact that the couple had
boy years old, but that the womal
had no legal claim upon him.