Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-09-13
Execution Of a Murderess

Bridget Durgan; the murderess &c
Mrs. DR.. Coriell, was executed ~
New Brunswick, N. j., on Fridar
She met her death without emotion
whlskey having been administered to
her In large quantities to keen ber
nerves quiet. She left a confession
behind her, in which she states that
she killed Mr.. Coriell that she migbt
take her place as wife of the d ocfon
Her account Of the transaction woa
as follows:
lived at DR.. Coriell's about for.
months. Mrs. Coriell was very kira
to me. Inever had any quarrel with
her. She was very pretty woman
At about ten o'clock on the 25+b a.
February last { | will not be nositive
as to time) Mrs. Corien was WING On
the lounge in the sitting room. Re-
fore lying down she complained Of not
feeling very well and said she would
not retire, but would throw herself on
the lounge, and wished me to sit m
to take care Of little Mamie, who was
lying in the cradle in the small bed.
room. As Mrs Coriell was living an.
parently asleep, [ came out of the kit.
chen with the bread-knife in nv hand
that was exhibited on the trial, and
picked up the kerosene lamp on the
table, not lighted, and coming up to
her struck her with the lamp on the
neck. She started up in bewildered
manner and Immediately went into
the small bedroom adjoining the sit.
ting room, and | followed after. She
was sitting up at the side Of the bed.
and as l came near her she grasped
the knife out of my hand. I turned
round and picked up another knife
with a white handle that lay upon the
table in the bedroom, concealed by
tablecloth which [ had thrown over
it. The knife | had placed there,
having found it in one of the drawers
in the bureau in the bedroom; | then
turned upon Mrs. Coriell and pushed
her back or the bed, and with this
white handled knife struck her re.
peatedly. The other knife had fallen
upon the floor, so she could not use it,
and | did not use it that night, and
cannot tell how it became bent. She
made all the resistance she could, de-
Tending herself with the pillows. At.
ter striking her very often as she lay
on the bed, and supposing she was
dead, Ipicked up little Mamie out Of
the cradle and went with her into the
sitting room and sat upon the lounge
for few minutes. | then rose and
went into the kitchen, having Mamie
in my arms, and washed my hands in
the iron pot of water on the stove. |
then came back into the sitting ROOM
went into the bedroom, and found
that Mrs. Coriell had left the bed
and gone out Of the house. immedi,
ately went out and found her going
along to the gate in front of the
house. | told her to return. She
said nothing, but went back; and as
she was passing through the sitting
room she stopped down and kissed
little Mamie, who was standing by
the lounge where | had placed her
when ! went after Mrs. Coriell. Mrs
Coriell then sat down on the fOol
between the sitting room and the bee
| room; and while she was there
took the small child's chair, which
was exhibited on the trial, and strucl
= her two or three times on the neck
| never bit her on the neck, as was
said on trial. I then drew her into
e the bedroom and laid her down OIL
/ the -four. | then came back into the
sitting room. | then took NAMES
: dress and took fire and lit it. Mrs
), Corieu was not in the bed, but on the
: floor. | did not change Mamie
e dress, but carried her out of the hous
i with the same clothes she had Oh
v when 1 put her in the cradle. There
S was no truth in the story that | told
l. of two men coming to the house Oh
" the night Of February 25th last
The men, Patrick Doyle and Michae
Hunt, and the girl, Anna Linon, tina
d | accused of the murder, are innC
n cent. l am only guilty. There wa
1t no desire nor attempt to rob. Tn
e murder was for another purpose,
n, killed Mrs. Coriell thinking that
v might take her place. This was tn
n. motive. The idea Of killing Mr.
il Coriell did not come upon me sudder
W ly that night. | have told a tru
y story, am sorry, and hope that Go
H. will forgive me.