Catharine “Kate” Maria Nehrwein (1887)

Identification and inquest

After a woman’s body was found near Atsion/Mount Holly, papers and religious cards in a satchel pointed to Mary or Catharine Maria Nehrwein. Jacob Nehrwein and Mrs. Mary Bernhardt of New York recognized the papers as their sister Kate’s. Other relatives named in the coverage include brothers John Nehrwein and Peter Bernhardt (apparently a brother-in-law); Mrs. Sano or Susan Weiler of 160 First Avenue remembered Kate’s religious-society membership. A savings-book entry connected her with John J. Murphy of Grand Street, Brooklyn. Early estimates put her at about 25, but a brother’s statement supplied a different age that the OCR does not preserve.

Railroad workers had fed her. James Doran said she stayed about a week at his woodland shanty, then declined poor-relief assistance and left toward New York; he and Sally Doran said she departed in sound clothing, more than was found with the body. An unexplained cloak later appeared on the first grave. Drs. Richard S. Braddock and Reeves found decomposition too advanced to distinguish exposure from violence. Coroner Samuel Carr’s jury at Small’s Hotel returned exposure or another unknown cause. The family reinterred her in the Catholic cemetery at Mount Holly, while some residents continued to suspect foul play.