The national Republican., 1861-10-30
Deliberate Murder in Georgetown,

About halfpast two O'clock yesterday morn.
ing deliberate murder was perpetrated near
United States Infantry, Capt. Lowell, are doing
duty rs the provost guard Of Georgetown, and
have their quarters In the hall, around which
they keep guard, and, according to custom,
the victim, Joseph Brannan, who was the ser:
geant Of the guard, had relieved the guard
about two O'Clock, s,ationing man named
Michael Lanahan on post at the corner of the
alley in the rear of the hall and First street.
About half an hour later, tho sergeant went to
Lanahan and gave him scme instructions, after
which he started back to the quarters, but had
hardly proceeded ten PAGES. when Lanahan
called him. Sergeant Brannaa Immediately
turned around, TO see what was wanting, when
Lanahan leveled his piece and irod, the ball
entering the ccntre of the right breast and
passing obliquely through the chest, lodging
between the lower ribs on the left OF the back.
bone. Brannan dropped his musket and fell
dead instantly. The guard Immediately ar.
rested Lanahan, but not before he had com
menced reloading his piece, to shoot one of the
sentinels The cause of the murder Is thought
to be an old grudge which existed between
them.
Lanahan Is represented to be q very quarrel.
some man, being always on angry term, with
some of his comrades. He Is an old soldier,
having served In other regiments previous to
his joining the Second Infantry. We learn that
he will not be delivered to the civil author
tics, but will be tried by u courtmartal, which
will be shortly convened.
Tho victim, Sergeant Brannau, is about thirty.
five years of age, and has been connected with
ee army for some years. He Is represented
10 be an orderly and peaceable man, and WAS
much respected by those with whom he was
associated.
Another Murdor-A Man Beaten to Death.
On Monday, the police of the first ward were
informed that man named Patrick McCrosen,
who was recently II teamster, had died, that
morning, on the corner of l. and Twentieth
streets, from the effects of n severe beating,
which he had received the night before. They
AT onco instituted inquiries in regard to the
matter, and, acting On the information they
had received, they arrested man named Mark
Harrington on the charge of being the perpe.
traitor.
|, appears that McCrosen, who lived with an
od man named Gleason, had borrowed his hat
and cane, on Sunday evening, and went out for
walk, but did not return that night. On the
following morning, however, he made his ap'
rearance, beaten in a most horrible manner,
and having his skull fractured. He was taken
in the house by Gleason, but lived only II few
hours.
Coroner Woodward held an inquest on the
body yesterday morning, before whom Miss
Emma Kirby-who lives in the same house
with Harrington, on the corner of Twenty first
and streets-appoared, and testified that she
looked from her window, on Sunday evening,
anu saw Harrington beating McCrosen with n
stick, and draw him up the steps into the house.
Harrington's wife admitted that ho beat McC
with an axe. helve, which she afterwards burnt
up. Tho floor aud walls of the rooms in HIS
house bore the marks of blood, and the cane
which McC. had borrowed from Mr.. Gleason
was found under bed. The verdict OF the
jury was, that the deceased came to his death
by blows from an aXe.heve in the hands o
Harrington.
Harrington was taken before Justice Drury
who committed him to Jail to answer til,
charge.
Sergeant Hurley and officers Calhoun, Cal
vert, Garrett, and others of the police, deserve
much credit for the vigilance they have dis
played in gathering the facts of this case /
being the impression of many that the de
ceased had died natural death.