, 1865-02-04
4HB WASHINGTON TRAGEDY.
Further Developments in
the Case.
THE PRISONERS STATEMENT OF
HER RELATIONS WITH THE
DECEASED.
REPRESENTATIONS OF FRIENDS OF THE
DECEASED.

From the Washington Chronicle, Jan. 31.1
Throughout the entire day, yesterday. the
excitement Of this community concerning the
killing Of Mr.. Burroughs, was intense. Many
tunate, misguided woman, Who had ncrpe-
trated the dreadful crime, of which NC YES
terday gave the particulars, as disclosed ut the
corcncl's s inquest on the evening OF Monday,
the fatal day Various reports were also N
been married an4,having abandoned another
wife before be weddt d the one now his widow.
The sympathy for the prisoner manifested
Itself IN vehement expressions Of iustifca-
lion by those who believed she Ind been &C.
duced. and In emphatic demonstrations Of ex-
tenuation by those who regarded the case as
sides these evidences Of the tide of popular
feeling, there were number Of visiss%o the
Jail for thet purpose Of ameliorating the sui.
ferings OF the unhappy woman, by proml-
nent gentlemen and ladies, some Of whom
carried to her various articles calculated to
those who visited her vera said to have been
Senator Hale, Mr. Wilson and four other Rep
resentatiyes from Iowa, Mrs. Cornelius Wen.
dell, and number Of other ladies'.
Desiring to acqualnt the public with the
version OF the case which the prisoner might
ton By careful observations, we visited the
jail and sought an interview with her. At
first we were told she had declined to sec any
one. : But. Ehe subsequently consented, and
Mr. Mi1burn, the Deputy Warden, vent with
!. us to the cell she occupied.
the confinement Of criminals 81 tie higher
grade, but barely furnished, and though there
was fire IN It, the entire aspect Of the apart
ment WAS indeed most chee1less. During our
stay some Of the attendants came into the
apartment, and were engaged in repairing
the cot, which had broken down, aud other
wise to add to the comfort Of the room.
Upon entering the room we found Miss
Harris pacing the floor in evident severe men
tal distress. and her entire appearance gave
unmistakablc signs Of the terrible agony
Of the few hours which she had passed within
the prison walls. Ne obtained the first view
OF her face and form Us she ceased her steps
for an instant, and in = glsnce, while greeting
ue, eDdcaTored to read our feelings and the
purpose Of our visit That view instantly
impressed us wildly with the belief that she
had long been nursiug an earnest conviction
Of the grievous wrong, until her physical na;;
reflections distorted, and she had virtually
become monomauiac. This conviction
was strengthened by all Of her looks and
words throughout the interview.
Miss Harris appeared to be few years
older than shc is aaid to be-; is Of good figure,
rather eight; has Il we'll formed head dark
hazel eyes; lne hair, which seemed In the
light in which we saw 1t 10 be black, cut short,
and worn in cnrls is graceful In her manners,
naturally intelligent, with highly sensitive
organization, and appeared, as she said, to
have but few educational advantages. She,
however, employed good language, and was
not superauous in the use Of words.
By earnest expressions Of sympathy, and
careful inquiry, ne gathered from her story,
frequently interrupted By choking sobs. but
expressed with seeming a1tlessneas which
Wonld have excited the sympathy Of the most
stoical listener.
The following is the substance Of her state
s'afy name is Mary Harris am the daughter
Of William Harris, Of Burlington, Iowa my
parents IRE Irish, and are quite poor; am
nineteen years old ); about seyen years ago
frst became acquainted with Mr.. Burrough ghs;
WAS then In store in Burlington; Mr. B. was
residing there he came frequently to see me
at NY tather's house, from an early period in
our acquaintance until be left Burlington
was very fond Of him, and for long time
frequently sat In his lap in the presence of
my parents; he always manifested great inter
est IN me; as grew older, and his attentions
became more Of the character Of suitor,
NY parents opposed them, and continually
told me that bis family was too high for me;
that be would never marry me, and that l
should not Keep company with him. I disre-
gnrded them, persisted in seeing him, and
When he left Burlington did not ask him to
write to me, but he had not been long gone
when received letter from him, which
answered, and correspondence was contin-
ned, which was some times interrupted BY my
retraining from writing to him. But he would
perseyere in renewing 1t, until would be
persuaded to write to him. Before he left
Burlington he asked me to marry him.. re-
fused because I thought was too young to
dis.bey my parents In such'a matter. He al
ways protested his ardent affection and his
determination to make nc Ills wife.
About two years ago be wrote me that he
WIS raiRing men for the war, and expected to
get commission, and then he was determin-
ed to marry NE. Not long after, I received a
letter from Miss Deylin, who keeps store on
Clalk street, Chicago, requesting me to come
there, saying that she was friend Of Mr:
twenty months ago I went to that city.
Meantime, Mr. Burroughs, who had FaIaed 9
company Of troops, injured his ankle, could
not 70 TO the field, and resigned his commits
sion. saw him frequently, and received
notes from him regularly until within week
In August or September, q year ago, T re-
cciyed an anonymous note asking me to meet
The writer at house which 1ascertalned was
ono Of ts,lc most notorious IN Chicago"
Miss Deylin said she believed the note was
from Burroughs, and determined; i p II poss,-
ieayored to ascertain who put the note IN the
most of1lce. / answered it, at hcr suggestion,
promising to meet tho writer at tho place ap-
pointed. a friend Of Miss Devlin, In the post
office, watched for the party who came Tor
tho reply, and his description confirmed Miss
Deylin's supposition, and inclined one to the
belef.that Mr.. Burroughs was the person: L
then determined to 50 to the house appoint
cd. and Miss Devlin went with me. We told
her Of the appointment, and that my friends
would not let NC sec him elsewhere. Inc
person in charge OF the house stated that Inc
gentleman was not there at the time, but
that he had walled there before, and had In
stEucted her not to answer the door bell, out
to permit him to do so, saying that unless
The party ha wished to see SOW. him, she
would not come in, nud we did not remain.
Her description further confirmed me tn the
belief that Mr. Burroughs wa4. tho person
who had made tho appointment. Another
note Was received, stating that The writer
had unayoldably been absent from the city,
and making another appointment. I re-
solved togo again, meantime taking meas
ures to have the house watched. The person
twhom believe to have been Mr. Busroughs)
there again 1t was closed, and We could not
obtain admittanee.
For some time before this had not seen
Nj, Burroughs. The writer Of the anouY-
nous letter said he had seen me often, was
much prepossessed in my fayor, and wanted
to be friend to me. Mr. Burroughs vas g.
man Of such marked appearance ns not to be
easily mistaken for another. still felt most
intense anxiety to be further satisfied, II pos
sihIe- whether he whom had SO loved and
who hna en protested his 1oyc for u1c, could be