New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-02-16
WAS MRS. BRANNAN MURDERED

q. s. Army, mysterioUsly disappeared. Her husband,
vas then at Key West, Flonds, on day, aud Mrs.
Branrsn wss residing With her mother, the widow Of
Col. Crane Of the L. s. Army at Chelsea, on Staten
Island Mfs. b. renamed at the North by advice Of
her brother, DIR. Crane Of the army, who suggested
this course as ndis pensbe 10 the restoration Of her
health, viii ,h had been tsrou'ly impaired by fever
contracted while she With her husband in Florida
One reu, Of the fever had been the renoer7g OF hei
subject TO severe and pros'rstng heada'he', which
occurred freqoently ard often compelled her 20 take to
her bed.
When Mrs. Braursu disappeared che was in the
.b;4vfrst wear Of her age and had been married 70
the Captain since the 10th OfSeptember 1850 The only
issue of their msrsge is female chilt named Aida,
low about seyen years old. who resided with her
mother At Mo. Col Cranes, and is now under the
care Of that lady.
II appears that on the morning Of the Doth Of July
Mira Crane, Mrs. Bcannap, DR.. Crane, his brother
William aud the Guild Aida rode together from the
house Of the former TO the steamboat landing, called
the Chelsea landing. There the two ladies' separa ed
from the child Mrs. Brannan kissing her daughter as
WAS Der invariabe custom when they partet,) and
took the 8 O'Clock boat for New York. Me- Brsnnsn
left her mother in the city to visit friend, agreeing TO
meet her on the boat which was TO leave for Port Rich
mond a. n O'Clock m. that day. She was seen at
that ferry by Mr. George vreelsnd, an express sgen,
shortly after the boat had left having arrived too late,
and was again seen at the ferry that evening at
o'clock under circumstances hereafter sisted. Mr..
vreeland knew Der WELL was recognized by her at
that time aud observed that she seemed disappointed.
As she did not meet her mother return homs that
night, her absence coon occasoned anxiety; and when
so much time had elapsed made it apparently GER
xuova oh on
30 discover what had become of her. To this object
her brother, DR.. Crane seduously devoted himself,
enstiDg the services Of toe police Of detectives, and
others irqurng at the various places where cars or
steamboats, left and otherwise investigating Whatever
might possibly furnish q clue to her whereabouts.
Rewards for this pur pose were offered by the Doctor
and also by the Supervisors Of the County of Rich
mopd; but no information as to what had become of
her was obtained. Various rumors as to her having
gene away voluntarily. and being at different places
stated then current, as many OF similar nature
have been since All of them have been Investigated,
and found groundless.
While the efforts TO gain some account of her were
progressing, Mr. Picker,gll, who, the day of her
disappearance resided Cd Staten Island. communicated
the following facts:
Mr.. PickersgI left New-York that evening for the
Quarantine by the o'clock boat. just after the Port
Richmond boat had passed out OF her slip, lazy
dressed in full mourning and attired Mrs. Brannan
is proved by her mother to have been that day. came
TO the ferry and finding that she too ae exhibited
some agitation. The boat for Quarantine had then
moved from the wharf and persons who noticed the
lady apprsed her Of the fact that thst was the last
boat for the island that night The boat was backed
10 the wharf she came board and passed into the
cabin-the collector having informed her that she
could ge. carriage at the Quarantine to take her to
Port Richmond These incidents, and the fact OF her
being unatte nded, drew Mr.. Pickersgs attention TO
her. He observed near her, at one time msn dressed
in black, whom be at frst supposed was acquainted
with her, but this opinion he abandoned as they
did not converse or communicate with esch other IN
any way. When the boat reached the Quarantine
landing she pa sed off it alone, and walked toward
livery stable close by, kept by Mr.. Matthew Carroll,
being followed at short distance by the man in black
she spok Mr. Carroll left him. aud went TO the driver
of public hack carriage then standing IN front OF
Mr. CAROLS stable Immedistaly after she entered the
vehicle. Then the man 10 black, after apparently
speaking to the driver also got in sad took seat be-
eide her, but they did not communicate with each other
Just about this time, driver of Caros named DAILY,
had started off with his carisge in which were tSo
servant women who had come down in the O'Clock
boat One Of the women had forgotten hat-box and
DAILY was obliged to return with his vehicle and get it,
He then set off again, following the carriage in which
the lady and gentlemen were seated, aud which was
but short distance in advance of him. 1t appears
that these hacks are used in the same manner as
stages or omnibuses, and it is common for persons
going in the came direction to ride in them together
although not acquainted with each other. Tbs car
rages separated at point distant about third of
mile from the landing ard went in different directions
that containing the lady and taking the road to
Port Richmond large part Of which is through q
dense wood.
This revelation being made by Mr.. Pickersgil a
complaint was, the 3st August 1857, made before
Justice De Forest of Tompkinsvle, Staten Island and
an investigation had. Pickersgil was examined, Mr..
Mathew Carroll bis son John Carroll, and all the
drivers and employees of Carroll well as the other
persona who on the day or evening in question had
vehicles at the landing. But it was not discovered
who drove the carriage containing the lady and man,
nor Whist had become of diver, horses, vehicle, or
Passengers. The elder CAROL, however, testified to
the important fact that the arrival of the seven
o'clock boat that evening lady dressed in black csue
to him. asked him how much he would charge TO take
her TO Port Richmond, and before he had answered
the question, inquired of him whether he knew Col.
Crane. lie answered in the negative, adding that ne
knew the Coonefs son, William. She then left him,
and he rever saw her again, he aware Of ever
havipg seen her before. There was no means by
which vehicle could leave the Island that night the
last boat from it having then gone aud there beng no
bridge carrsge way between any part Of tie island
and opposite shore.
Nothing in this state Of facts warranted the Justice