Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-02-10
THE TRAGEDY in WASHINGTON.

count of the homicide of Andrew J. Burroughs. a
clerk in the Treasury Department, on Monday az
ternoon, the 30th ult-, by Mary Harris The Jury
baying been empaneled, consisting Of James Lau-
renson, foreman w. G. Finney, Edward G. Han
! dy, JAS. Croggon, Roosevelt Woodward, Han c.
Addison, Samuel Cornelius, Joseph E. Davis, Mel
son Tneaker, g. E. W. Sharretts Edward W. Hale
and Charles II. Bissell, the case was proceeded
with. The Chronicle says
Mr. Burroughs, for eighteen months past, has
held the position Of clerk in the Office of Comp
troller Of the Currency, and, at the time Of his
death, was receiving a salary of ST, l,60o He was
man Of remarkably fine form, and bore every ap.
pearance Of correct habits and exemplary deport
ment.
The evidence adduced showed that Mr.. Bur
ropghs occupied desk in a room on the west range
of the Treasury Department, and near the hall or
principal passage on the second foor. About mid.
way in this passage and by the side of one Of the
room doors, there is clock fixed During several
hours Of the fatal day, young female, somewhat
prepossessing in figure and general appearance, was
noticed saunteFing about the hail. but for what pur.
pose, OF course, none could surmise. The hour of
four arrived, at which time the clerks close their
duties for the day, and u few minutes thereafter
the passage referred to became thronged with the
retiring employees. The female stranger then took
position in the doorway next to the clock.
Mr. Burroughs, apparently full Of life aud hope.
not more than thirty years of age, left his room.
and when he had passed the clock but two or three
feet the sharp crack of pistol was heard he
looked around discovered female form. exclaim.
ed 'f0h" and quickened his pace towards the stair
way; but, in less than ten seconds second report
announced another fire, and another wound. He
reached the baluster and reelined against it. when
one OF his comrades returning from below and igno.
rant OF all that had transpred supposed he was fn
hng inquired "What is the matter 81 to which the
sinking man replied. II don't know" He was CON
veyed to room nearby. and expiredih about fifteen
minutes.
The young woman, who gave her name as Mary
Harris, and whose age is supposed to BIZ about
twenty-five years, having fred twice. and appearing
confident that the work of death was accomplished.
remained, and evincing no excited feelings. slowly
put her pistol in erpocket. and awaited further
developments
To Hugh Mccullough, Esq, chief of the Curren-
ey Bureau she stated that the deceased had viola
ted his marriage engagement with her. He had
done her no harm, but was engaged to her for many
years, even from her childhood, and had continued
a correspondence until within month Of his mar
riage. He had not seduced her; and she added
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Miss Harris was about leaving the department.
when Mr.. Sengstack, the doorkeeper, desired her
to remain awhile, which she readily consented to
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and committed her to jail for investigation. She
told the justice that she had killed Burroughs and
then, taking the pistol out Of her pocket handed ii
to him. 1t was small Sharp's patent, four barrels.
two of which were yet loaded, the other two dis
charged.
Officer George H. Walker conveyed her to the
jail in carriage. On the way she told him that
she asked no sympathy for herself All the sor-
row to be felt was for her aged parents She
charged that the deceased had betrayed her, taken
her from home and friends, and placed her in a
house of i'll fame in Chicago, and that therefore
she had determined upon this deed. For this pur-
pose she had purchased the pistol in Chicago, and
had arrived here on the morning of yesterday She
gave officer Walker an address asking himto tele-
graph the fact to Louis A. Devlin, Janesvle, Wis
consn, which he did She also added that her father
resided in Burlington Iowa
One of the clerks testified that sometime during
the last summer young woman, resembling Miss
Harris, called at the room Of Mr.. Burroughs and
inquired for him, when she was informed that he
was spending that day in Baltimore with his wife
The person expressed great disappointment at not
seeing him. and intimated that she was poor and
did not know where she could remain during that
night.
Another clerk had recollection of similar in
qniry at more subsequent period, when the person
calling again failed in seeing Mr.. B.
The jury rendered the following verdict
That the said deceased left his room in the Treas
ury building about o clock p NJ, on the 8oth day
of January, 1865 and that, while on his way
through the hail. he came to his death by ball fred
from a pistol in the hands of woman said to be
named Mary Harris, said ball taking eject about
two inches to the left of the spine in the region of
the fifth rib.
1t appears that Mr.. Burroughs was married, less
than a year ago, to an interesting young lady.
IT is said that the deceased was at one time a
member of the Presbyterian church in Chicago
He had not united with the church since his removal
to Washington.
The correspondent Of the Philadelphia Inquirer
telegraphs:
Miss Harais is very young and handsome, with
long black curly hair, and Of very prepossessing
appearance.
There are many conflicting runors as to the cause
of shooting, but all agree as to the point of his hav
ing been very intimate with Miss Harris, and hav
ing promised her marriage she visited him once
last winter, but he postponed the marriage, and f
ually married another She says he refused her the
position she had a right to, and bat one thing re-
mained for her
Burroughs has been here about three years, com
ing from Illinois, aud was very efficient officer in
the currency department
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