|
a.
|
Note: MYSTERIOUS DEATH. A Young Lady Found Dead on the Floor.
A Spurious Note Found on Her Breast.
Miss Martha Mansfield, who resided with Mr. John Clise, of Miller Mines and who was a daughter of the late James Mansfield, of Midland water station, was found lying dead upon the floor of the above named gentleman's house at about 5:30 yesterday evening.
A jury of inquest was summoned by Squire Isaac Cavanaugh, of Ocean, who viewed the remains and heard the testimony in the case. Dr. J. K. White made the examination of the remains. From the testimony of some of the witnesses it appears the a note was found upon her bosom after her death. The Times man was also informed that it was also in the testimony before the jury that the note found on her bosom did not reach the magistrate but another one substituted, hence the mystery.
Miss Mansfield was a handsome young lady, about 20 years old.
The jury will endeavor to determine whether it is a case of suicide, murder or accidental death. The note found on her person indicated a premeditation on the part of some one, and will be followed as far as possible. The verdict is expected tonight.
Published Wednesday, August 12, 1896 in THE EVENING TIMES, Cumberland, Maryland on page 1, col. 2.
HER DEATH WAS MYSTERIOUS
Excitement In Midland Over the Case of Miss Mansfield.
Special to The Post
Cumberland, Md., Aug. 12
The little village of Midland, remotely situated in the mining region new Lonaconing, this county, is all in excitement over the mysterious death of Miss Martha Mansfield, a handsome young woman, aged about twenty years, which occurred yesterday evening about 6:30 o'clock at the residence of John Clise, a relative, whom she was visiting. She was a daughter of the late James Mansfield, of Midland, and made her home at Tannery, a village but a short distance away.
Shortly before her death she told some of the children at the house that she would not be alive by the next morning. She expired in fifteen minutes after sickness came upon her, surrounded by members of the family. A note was found in her clothes, in which she intimated that she had been wronged by a young man named Buskirk, who had broken is promise to marry her. The sudden death gave rise to many rumors, some attributing it to foul play, the other to suicide. The matter was reported to Justice Isaac Cavanaugh, who impaneled a Coroner's jury, which was in session until 1 o'clock this morning, and adjourned to meet again this evening. In the meantime as autopsy was held by Dr. Smith, assisted by two other physicians, and it is believed that this might clear the mystery. After the doctor's report, it is believed the jury will reach a verdict. Midland is so situated that it is impossible to obtain information from there in the evening.
Published Thursday, August 13, 1896 in THE WASHINGTON POST, Washington D. C. on page 2, col. 1.
THE CORONER'S VERDICT
Pretty Martha Mansfield's Death Caused
By Convulsions - No Trace of Poison Found.
The coroner's jury in the case of pretty Martha Mansfield, who was found dead, or died very suddenly, at the residence of Mr. John Clise, at Miller Mine, Tuesday evening, as stated in the paper, rendered a verdict to the effect that her death was due to "convulsions".
The physicians who held the autopsy stated to the jury that they could find no trace of poison or anything else that would have produced death. It was supposed that poison had either been taken or administered by some one else, as a note, it is alleged, found on her person, led to those conclusions.
The autopsy, however, revealed nothing of the kind, and while the wildest kind of rumors are said to be afloat in that section it is fair now to presume that the girl met her death from a natural cause.
One story was to the effect that she had told some of the children about the house that she would not be alive the next morning.
The girl is said to have borne a good reputation, and nothing since her death so far as can be learned has tended to change the high esteem in which the young women was held.
Published Thursday, August 13, 1896 in THE EVENING TIMES, Cumberland, Maryland on page 6, col. 2.
|
