New-York tribune., 1921-09-29
WOman's Body
Found Hidden
In Attic Closet
Husband of Mrs. Fay,' Who
Was To Be Mother, Left
Lodging House Last Fri.
day, Saying She Was Sick
Gag Placed in Mouth
Police Search House for
Clews; Friends Who Oc-
cupied Room Left Monday

The body of a woman. known only
as Mrs. Fay" in the house at 341
West Twenty-second Street, where she
and her husband had roomed for a
few weeks, was found last night in a
low clothes press under the slope of
the roof, opening from q room dag
onally across the hall from that which
she and her husband had occupied.
According to DR.. Benjamin Schwartz.
Assistant Medical Examiner, the young
woman had been dead about week
Ihe condition of the body was such
that DR.. Schwartz refused to commit
himself concerning the probable cause
of death until after he had made an
examination at the morgue. A rag had
been stuffed in the woman's mouth and
white stocking had been tied under
| the chin and over the head SO as to
close the jaws firmly. towel had
| been laid over the face.
The man known as her husband left
the house last Friday. When he de-
parted he called on c. r. Hughes. of
465 West Twenty Street. owner
of the rooming house, and told him.
according to Mr.. Hughes, that his wife,
an eXpectant mother, had not been we'll
and he had sent her to a hospital
Friends Departed Monday.
On Monday a couple who had occu-
pied the room in the closet of which
the body was found left the house.
They were known as MIR. and Mrs. Bou-
langer. They left word for their mail
to be forwarded to them at 379 Drolet
Street, Montreal
They had been on friendly terms with
the Fays, whose room was diagonally
across the hall from theirs. The Fays
came to the house August 25 and
about a week later the Boulangers
came. SO far as other lodgers in the
house knew, neither Boulanger nor Fay
had any employment in New York nor
any particular reason for being here.
Bann McKenny, whose room also was
| on the top floor said that he had gath
cred from talking with the two men
that Fay was an assistant engineer,
either in the merchant marine or on a
merchant vessel and that Boulangor
had been a chief engineer on some
vessel. McKenny and other residents
of the house commented upon the af-
fection which seemed to exist between
Fay and his wife.
Appeared To Be Happy
"They were always talking together
happily" said McKenny, "and when
they went out to dinner together, as
they did every night, they always were
laughing when they came back"
1t. was McKenny who identified the
found the body. Mrs. Katherine Gan
| non, housekeeper at BAL West Twenty
second Street, had asked him to come
to the house and try to discover the
source of a disagreeable odor of which
tenants on the top floor were complain
ing.
He saw the body after he had opened
the low door of the closet in the
room the Boulangers had occupied. 1t
lay among a heap of newspapers, some
yellowing with age and going back as
far as 1919, and one of them. at least,
as recent as September 81. There wa;
faded, discarded bit of headgear which
may have been there for years.
Mrs. Fay's body was dressed only in
| nightgown. She wore wedding
ring but no other jewelry. Clothing be-
longing to her and other articles were
found in the room across the hall,
which had been vacant, supposedly
since the departure of her husband last
Friday.
Had Relatives in Boston
There were said to be some letters
and other papers among the things
found there, and, although the police
were most secretive about them. there
was said to be ground for belief that
the woman had relatives in Boston and
perhaps had come from there herself
One Of the letters contained phrase
somewhat to this effect: Don't worry;
it will be all over in a few months"
Photographs were taken by the po-
lice before the body was moved. AS
sistant District Attorney Mara and
detectives from the District Attorneys
Office remained at the house until early
morning seeking some clew to the smys-
terry.