Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-04-27
enILB MuRDER.
fs ~ fa

From the Chicago Post, 10th.
Foe some months past woman nam
ed Mary Braaagau has lived in a small
frame house-oa Rwsnty.first street, be-
tween State and Burnside streets. A
few weeks ago she was ARRESTED and
fined on thecomplaint of her neighbors,
for cohabiting with a negro. Since
that time she has neglected no opper-
tunity to revenge herself. She has used
the foulest and most abusive Language
to- those whom she. met, has pulled
down their fences, and striven In every
possible way TO do them. harms
Both In manner and IN language she
was actually ferocious, and most of her
neighbOrs, especially women and chill
dren, were greatly IN fear of her.
Yesterday afternoon the little four
year-old daughter of Michael Kava-
naugh, who lives. next door to Mary
Branagan, went into his back yard to
play. She was out of sight of her pa
rents for a few minutes, and then, when
they looked for her, she could not be
found in the yard. The search was
continued in the neighbOrhood, and
severalpersons were engaged in it, when
some one, VINO was near the privy, saw
little child come from beneath that
building, half covered with filth. and
so frightened that she could hardly
speak. This child was not Mr.. Kava-
naugh's daughter, but the child OF an
other neighbor. She said that Mrs.
Branagan had tried to kill her, and had
| thrown her down In the privy vault
The story of this child gave rise to the
| suspicion that this bloodthirsty woman
| had made way with the daughter of
Mr. Kavanaugh, and consequently her
premises were searched very closely
Adjoining the fence which separates
the lots, a barrel was found about threess
| fourth filled with water, on the top OF
| which fioated heavy cake of ice. The
ice was removed, and underneath it
was found the body of the missing
4 child. 1t was still alive, but did not
long survive. Evidently the woman
had checked it, for the neck of the lit
tie innocent was black and bruised.
| As yet no one had entered the house.
| 1t was soon surrounded by an excited
\ crowd among whom were several police
officers. But the woman, although she
made no attempt to escape, evidently
did not intend to be taken. She barrl-
caded the doors of her house, and APP
peared at the window armed with a
bayonet and threatening death to any
one who should approach her. After a
| time the crowd was withdrawn, and
the woman evidently thinking the coast
clear, opened the door and walked out.
Officer NJ. E. Barrett, who had been
left on the watch, at once stepped up
| and arrested her. She resisted savage
ly, and if was with great difficulty that
TWO officers succeeded in dragging heI
| to the police station.
1t seems, from the story of the chill
dren, that the little Kavanagh girl wa
at play near Mrs. Branagan's door
when that woman cried out, IF yoT
don't move away / will send you tt
| hill" She then rushed up 10 tbs
child, dragged her through hel
house by the neck, threw he
| into the barrel of water, and put the
heavy cake of ice upon her to cover hel
from sight. This taste of blood seemed
to make her frantic. The next child
she saw she shook till it was powerles:
and almost breathless and threw 1t into
priyy vault, whence it escaped almost
by a. miracle, l....., ..... -
| Not long afterwards she saw the little
| girl of Patrick o 'Brien near her house.
Her she attempted to coax within hel
reach by offering her candy, but the
child feared her and would not be
tempted.
| A more terrible example of crime
Committed out of pure malice, and fol
the sake of pleasure which the crime
gives, has seldom been recorded.
An inquest will be held on the child
| this afternoon. p" HEAF