New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-01-07
ASSASSINATION AND SUICIDE.


A WOMAN KILLED by POLICEMAN IN N1NTH-AyE.-
SUICIDE OF HER AURDEITR-A STORY or LOVE
AND JEALOUsY-COEoSER's NQCEsT-vERDICT
or THE JURY.
On Saturday afternoon, about o'clock terrible
tragedy occurred at clearinghouse of Mrs Wander
mark corner OF Twentleth-st and Nlnthave., resulting
in the death OF two persons Mrs. Fannie Gray Willard,
ah autloress and editress and Roundsnan Thomas W.
Burke OF the Sixteenth Precinct Police. Tho clrcnm-
stances were foows Mrs Willard had been boarding
the house of Mrs Nandcrmak since October 1865, and
willie had receiving the addresses OF the de-
ceased Burke whether willingly mwilngy IL l. not
known IA yet Mrs Willard had been supeintendmga
table at tho Masonic Fair la Crosbyt ana 1t was her
intention Ia have been present during Saturday evening
Mrs Willard in addition to being an cdress Of The Sun
day To,Cs, ut few weeks alsO forowomap of
me World wOmans composition al the time Of her
death, ard at ate hour on Saturday aeIn0on LETT me
World Office to her home, whether with escort or
not IL il not II seems however that young gen
teman handed Mr. willard from an Eghth.aye. car TO
the sidewalk NJ Twentethst, and ~ - probable that
Burke tins act ~ the stranger and felt Jealous Mt the
attention Mrs. Willard went direct nom te car 10 the
boarding house. aud but few minutes had elapsed when
Mrs. Willard ana Burke, who had followed her, were
heard auafrelng IL Is supposed by the inmates Of the
house, Burke speaking loudly and harsly aud Mrs VII
cut FOR the Osensbc purpose OF getting coal Tor her phi
vate paror As sle approached the head OF the staircase
the landing Burke, Dadcned 10 fury by her cold and
contemptuous conduct drawing slNbarfcled revolver
from his pocket fired at Mrs Willard lodging bullet near
her heart Mrs. acknowledgement forward blindly crop
Ing in mortal agony, Burke sti following aud as she en-
time the shot missing and passing through the door
lodged In the fire screen Mrs Willard was then carried
to the bed where she died almost instantly. Burke then
feeling the responsibility Of the bloody deed staggered
forward and, with the pistol ented another bar
rel by shooting himself through the head. lie fingered
while lie was being carried 10 tho Jewish Hospital In
Twenty-eighthst by some OF the policemen OF the Six
teenh Precinct when he died Although an Inquest has
been held the identity has not yet been proved OF the In
dvidnal who escorted Mrs. Willard from the car TO her
An inquest was held yesterday morning upon the body
Of Mrs Willard by Coroner Gamble az which the follow
occupied the adjoining room 10 deceased, testlfed as
follows; saw deceased at o'clock saturday evening
on her return from down town; about 10 minutes after
wards she into my room after match; about 81
o'clock heard the report OF pistol and heard the
In when heard the report OF pistol at the second time,
tie ball passing through the door; when let her IN she
said shot heard the report of the pistol third
tme did not ~ out Of my roon she lived only two or
Burke deceased has told that there a annoy
ing her great DEAL but did not mention his name telling
that ho was desperate man; when deceased inquired
for tho match she Informed that a gentleman had
called OF her went into her room and saw man lying
the floor bleeding soon after he was taken away by
Charles p Willard brother Of deceased, who resides
at No 81 GTeenwicbnye. testified: Tho last time saw
her alive on Saturday afternoon al A o'clock at me
World office where she was employed; learned satur-
day evening that sho was dead went TO her house
and saw her; hever Thomas Burke but once; he
was In the habit " visiting my sister, saw him ut my
sisters house Sunday night last left him there
have not him since have heard my sister say that
Burke had proposed marriage TO her that she hnd re,
ccted him and told hlIa several times that she would
rather he wond keep away from the house, but he per-
sisted IN coJning my sister has been mared her hus-
Mrs. Sophia a. Vandeimark, win whom the deceased
boarded, testified that deceased had lived with her ~
boarder since October 1865, occupying the front paror
Thomas Burke In the habit OF visiting the deceased
about OcOc Saturday afternoon he came to the house
dressed IN citizens clothes; when he came his face
appeared 10 be flushed and he somewhat excited
heard him IA 1y 10 deceased, but did not hear what he
said; about IL minutes after Mrs. willard came down
stairs TO get some coal but dd not get she leit the
coalscuttc md cnde the foot Of the stairs and went
back 10 her rnom she had just time enough 10 get there
when wtnes heard the first pistol shot 1T the same time
heard the sCroam witness ran 10 the foot OF the
stairs and heard her running through the hall and the
report OF the pistol again.
The witness said: have had conversation with the
deceased In regard to Burke she said he had proposed
marriage 10 her and that she had accepted him; last July
Thanksgiving bay; since that time she told that she
h9d altered her mind and was not going to marry him
testified-rat, hearing lady had been shot, he went
into the house, aud there saw lying In the front
his side with three chambers empty.
Joseph @. Shaw, NJ d., testified that he had made
post norton examination OF the body OF deceased The
BAH passed through the heart and found lodged in
the posteror part OF the body near the spine: Death
caused by internal honorThage resulting from tho
The jury rendered verdict that the deceased came to
her death by means Of pistol shot at the hands OF
The following letter was found on the person of Burke
by the officers:
Ian disappointed IN falling :. find today 5s1I .l,, hay.
year Of ny lie sight your face and the onch Of s
@s Sas S yoi s s and U Do pleasant smile 70 welcome me-
You cannot imagine how miss you at these little Why,
felt Ike heavy stone In bosom when came back 70 the
Office win thnk Of me tonight wonder Please fancy you
sST I. s s .nd S Sss S Of s' moo. Gs love-
How 20 without seeing for little whei am
evening which time suppose, will be on duty dear now
that only couple OF blocks distant IRON
me now and cannot dary bird that
is Well Is something TO know what Gear patient
for must know that consider that
belong exclusively aud one else has any ngh 70 eau You
bet 10 either Aud jealous OF my posses
sous assure Jou wish would think eHOagh TO write NE