North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-04-24
Horrible Murder.

Ice on the BODY 10 Aeep 1t BeRe0th TIE
Surface-Zhs Child Of A,,sther Neigh
Dor IhroUn tnto the Vault Of an Oat-
house.
From the Chicago Times, April l0l
Twenty first street, between State and
Burnside streets, was the scene of series
of inhuman outrages yesterday afternoon
For many months past, woman calling
herself Mary Brannagan has been residing
in small frame cottage in the locality in
dicated. She represented herself as amarf
ried woman, but rnmorS refeeting upon
her character have been current connecting
her nsIne with that of q negroin the neigh
borhood, consequently she has been shun-
ned by her former neighbors. This wo-
man has always been an eye sore to the
entire neighborhood, and lhe female por-
tion of this community have even stood in
dread for the safety of their lives, as her
threats of murder were both loud and fire.
quent. During these brawls she had fre-
quently threatened the lives of the children
living in the neighborhooda The family
of Michael Kavanagh, residing at 1871
Twenty first street, her next door neigh
Dor, has been in the habit of receiving
something more than their share Of her
animosity, and these people have been full
ly aware of the state of her feelings to-
wards them. Yesterday afternoon their
little girl, about four years of age, had been
allowed to play in the yard, and for few
minutes the attention of both parents was
directed from their offspring, by being call
ed to the front of the building. On return.
ing to the rear ofthe house, to look after
the safety of their child, which for the mo-
ment had been neglected, it could nowhere
be discovered. Instant search was institu-
ted about the house and yard In the
course of these researches, which were
participated in by a number of persons, in
cluding two policemen, some one advanced
to the vicinity of an clubhouse situated in
the yard, and beheld little girl crawl from
beneath the shed-like covering, which had
been raised on posts little above the or
dinary level of the ground 1t proved to
be the daughter of Mr.. Kavanagh's next
door neighbor named Patrick Pidgeon,D a
child about five years of age. AT first it
was unable to speak and, of course, could
give no reason for having been in such a
fearful predicament, but when it gained
sufficient consciousness and breath to artic-
ulate, the child instantly accused Mrs.
BranagaA with the commission of the exi-
dent intent to commit murder. When
Mr.. and Mrs Kavanagb heard this recital
their fears increased even ten-fold, and
the search for their own child was prose
cuted with redoubled energy. Adjoining
the low fence separating the yards from
the inclosure of Mrs. Brannagan stood a
barrel three fourths full of water while on
the top there was floating large cake of
ice. More for the reason that the search
should be thorough, than under any expec.
tation of finding the body in that locality,
the ice was lifted out of the water, and
there to the horror of the bystanders the
body of child came to the surface. 1t
was the little daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
Kavanagh and life was not quite extinct.
But its condition was sIch that no medical
skill could save it, and it died within few
moments. The body bears evident marks
of great violence done to it, and the neck is
aln ost black from the effects at stranguIa-
ton. The fearful news spread like wild
fire about the neighborhood. Among all
these people there was not even a doubt
expressed as to who could be the perpe-
traitor of this secopd outrage. The author
of the fist was unanimously accused of this
and this feeling became only more decided
when it was known that she had endeavor
ed during the afternoon to coax several
other children within her yard. Crowds
of excited people began to gather about
the premises. Everybody living within
block or two was there with the excep-
ton OF the alleged criminal. She barrica-
ded every avenue of ingress to her DWELL
ing, and then placing herself at q window,
with bayonet for weapon she threaten
ed instant death, should any one possess
the hardihood to come near her person. A
strict surveillance was instituted over the
premises. Evidently for the purpose Of
making her escape being under the i'm
preston that the police had abandoned the
vicinity, she made her appearance in the
yard, and was instantly secured by Officer
M. E. Barrett. But not without severe
struggle was she at last confined within
the walls of the Twenty-second street sub
station. Although in charge of two off.
Gers, this demon fought and resisted all the
way TO the station, and the air was filled
with her voice as she uttered fearful oaths
and blasphemies against both the living and
the dead. This inhuman creature is about
fifty years ofage, and represents in every
respect the most fearful type of low, de-
graded womanhood. The little girl whose
life was saved by nothing less than mira.
Gle, is most positive in her story. She
states that having been coaxed by Mrs.
Brannagan into her yard, she was sudden
ly seized by this woman, and while her
cries for help were stifed she was cast into
the vault With remarkable preseneesof
mind. perceiving small opening at the
rear, she struggled her way towards the
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