Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 October 1879 — TO THE LOWEST DEPTHS. [ARTICLE]

TO THE LOWEST DEPTHS.

From a Brown Stone Residence to a Orave in the Potter’s Field. New York Bun. On the 25th of March Coroner Croker, with a Jury of six men, held an inquest in the case of one Adele Smalling, who had died on the 18th of that month in a “coffee and cake” saloon at 161 Leonard street. The only testimony taken was that of Robert H. Spriggs, the keeperof the eating house, and Dr. MeWhinie, who had made an autopsy on the woman’s body. Spriggs testified that on the night of the 14th of March the woman had come to his caravansary, which is in the basement at 161 Leonard street, to lodge. She soon became ill, and complained of pain in her chest and limbs. The next day she was worse, and, despite what care he was able to give her, she died on the following Tuesday. Dr. MacWhinie’sautopsy showedaeath to have resulted from pneumonia and alcoholism. The woman, who was supposed to be about 37 years old at the time of her death, although drink and degradation made her appear much older and had ruined her features which had once been regular, had been u buried in tpe Potter’s field. The jury returned a verdict that pneumonia and alcoholism were the cause ot death, and an end was put to what was supposed a commonplace case of sin and suffering. Yesterday brought to the lighLthe fact, however, that Adele who had died of drink in a Leonard street cellar, was no ordinary unfortunate. According to the story told by a surviving sister, who visited the coroners’ office yesterday to inquire con • cerning her death, a bequest of several thousands of dollars had been left to the pauper who was buried in the Potter’s field. An uncle had died leaving over SIO,OOO to be divided among a brother and two sisters, of whom the dead pauper was one. Adele Sm&lling had long since been lost to the sight of her family: but as the money could not be divided until she was found or satisfactory proof of her death obtained, search was everywhere made for her. Record was discovered that a woman bearing the name of Adele Smalling had been sent to Blackwell’s Island, early in March, on a ten-days’ sentence for drunkenness. This Adele Small in g was traced to the Leonard street basement where it was said that a negro, vho kept a rival coffee and cake saloon in the neighborhood basement, had beaten her so that she died. This man, when questioned, said that he had not beaten her, but that the policeman of the Mulberry street station, who had arrested her, previous to her visit to Blackwell’s Island, had : “smacked” her with his club. The woman had a sharp tongue, he said, and all the policemen thereabouts were in the habit of “smacking” her.

Inquiry at the coroner’s office furnished the sister with proof of Adele Smalling’s death, required to procure the division of the property left by the uncles between herself and her brother, who resided in New Jersey. With much natural emotion she told of her search for the dead woman, the story of whose wasted life she gave as follows:

Primarily educated at the public schools. Mary Adele Smalling had early developed a taste for music, which was accordingly cultivated to a higher degree than provided for by the city. Attractive in person and possessing more than ordinary accomplishments, at an early age Miss Smalling was married to E. J. Wiuuey, then, and for 14 years previous, head salesman in the school book firm of Ivison, Phiuuev, Clokeman, Taylor & Co. The newly married pair lived in a boarding house until the brown stone house no was building in East Seventy-ninth street could be completed. It was here that Mrs. Wiuuey contracted a love for liquor. 'j After a time the Winneys moved into their new house, and filling it with 008 tiy furniture, proceeded to entertain in a style hardly compatible with even the handsome s&lapr Mr. Winney received. It was not hb will that thb should be so. but the few months’ stay in the boarding bouse had worked a change in the young wife, and not satisfied with indulging her now ungovernable craving for drink, she persisted in thb career of extravagance. In the eight years that followed their taking possession of the house in Seventyninth street, she expended $60,000 over and above ordinary expenses. Long before thb was done, a false friend of her husband’s had taken advantage of her being under the influence of liquor to dishouor her. Having thus taken the first step, she no longer endeavored to restrain herself, and plunged into indiscriminate excesses. Bankrupt in fortune and good name through his wife’s falling away, Mr. Winney obtained a divorce, and died soon afterward almost a beggar. Hb former wife now married a petty officer in the United States marine service Her new husband’s frequent absence when at sea with hb ship left her without restraint, and soon she made no pretense of being, faithful to him. She finally became a women of the town, and died from exposure and drink, as has been narrated, in the Leonard street oellar.