The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-01-07
the SIXTEENTH WARD TRAGEDY.

The horrible case OF murder and suicide which TOOK
place at the house Of Mr. John W. vandsmark, No l4o
Ninth avenue, on Saturday evening, the partic-
ulars Of which were reported yesterdays HERALD,
was investigated yesterday BY Coroner Gamble at the
house where the tragedy occurred Il appears that Mrs.
Fannie G. Willard, who shot by her former lover
Thomas n. Burke. forewoman Of the female CON-
posing room in the World newspaper Office, and also
editor Of the fashion department Of the Sunday Times
and Messenger. She was q lady OF ane attanments
and Of eproachable moral character Her murder was
the result Of jealousy and disappointment the part Of
the whom she formerly regarded with great favor,
but whom she had recently discarded and refused TO
marry.
Burke was roundsman attached to the Seventh pre-
cinct police and FOR many weeks past had been exceed
ingly annoying in his attentions 10 Mrs Willard, who
had repeatedly requested him to cease visiting her. but
be refused to comply with the request Calling at hor
house Saturday evening and meeting with ve7t|D0
reception Burke became desperate and after si5Ssng
her twice. in the breast and in the shoulder
placed the Of tho revolver his right temple and
discharged IT, thus buryng bullet in his brain. Mrs.
willard died in few moments after being shot, but
Burke who taken to the Je~s' Hospital in Twenty
ing when he expired. He was about thirty years Of
age and lived at 1875 East Twenty ninth street.
coroner the verdict Of the jury and also copies OF two
eters which were found in the pockesof the deceased
lparties-
TESTIMONY OF ELIZABETH LEEDS
Elizabeth Leeds residing At lao Ninth avenue, being
duly sworn dsposed and said saw the deceased at
FIVE O'Clock last evening, when she came home; about
fifteen minutes after she came home, she into my
after match; about half-pas i've O'Clock heard
and o. a1 % y ns
the door to let her in, when heard
report Of pistol the second time the ball passing
let her in; heard the report Of the pistol the third
time: did not out Of the room went to the assist
1883 lsvvnAo 1.N,t A,rno
minutes after let her in; not acquainted with
Burke and never him; deceased has told that
mention any name, and said he was a desperte !;
when deceased came TO for the match she told
me that gentleman had called on her went into the
front room, and saw man lying on the floor bleeding
soon afterward he was taken away by the officers
TESTIMONY OF CHARLES r. WILLARD.
Charles r. Willard, residing at No 81 Greenwich ave-
nue. being duly sworn deposed and said The deceased
was my sister; my sister was married: her husband Is
husband or not; last saw tho deceased .. the World
half pas. four o'clock, P. NJ, January. s, 1857;
that she dead went to the house where she lived
and saw her; have seen Thomas Burke, and he was
habit Of visiting my sister, Burke al house
on Sunday night last; left him in tho house l have
Burke had made proposals Of marriage 10 her ba. that
she had rejected him, and told him several times that
she would rather he would keep away from the house.
but he persisted in coming In relation to the shooting
know nothing about il.
TESTIMONY OF SOPHIA A. vAyDENARK.
Sophia A. vandemark, residing at No. 140 Ninth
avenue, being duly sworn, deposed as follows AThe
deceased has lived with boarer since last Octo
hor place Il business yesterday morning and cane back
between four and five O'Clock r. saw her when she
that Ss w % uu
ofcer; shout I'VE o'clock yesterday Afternoons he came
to the house, let him in; he asked for Mrs Willard
when he came, aud went into her room !;
he was dressed in citizens co,hee when he came here
yesterday his face appeared TO Be flushed and he was
but did not hear what he said went down stairs and
In about fifteen minutes after Mira Willard down to
gel some COAL she tsat she hoped the candle
left the coal scutte and candle at the foot Of the stairs
and went back TO her ROOM the deceased had about
shot; heard the deceased Scream TO the loot OF
the stairs and heard the deceased towards the stairs
when heard the report of the pistol again; heard the
report of the pistol the third time and then came up
stairs and into deceaseds paror and Burke ".
ing on the door bleeding from the had looked round
the TO see the deceased but she there;
then went into the back and then into bedroom
adjoining and the deceased lying the bed when
went into the front room saw pistol lying near
Burkes head the shown now looks like the pistol
saw; the police were notified and the tody removed
Willard in regard to Burke; she said he had proposed
marriage TO her and that she had accepted HIM last
July she told me that they were going 70 get married
Thanksgiving Day; since that time she told that she
had altered her mind and was not going 10 marry Burke
TESTIMONY OF OFFICER JACKSON
officer OF the Sixteenth precinct about FIVE min
utes past I'VE O'Clock last night, boy told that
lady was shot corner Of Ninth avenue and Twenteth
the front psrlor and saw man lying the floor with
pistol lying NEAR HIM examined the pistol and found
that three barrels had been discharged then went into
the back room and saw Mrs. Willard lying the bed
she dead reported the TO the station house.
and the captain and myself had the body Of Burke
moved 10 the Jews Hospital, where he died this
ing
MEDICAL TESTIMONY
Joseph e. Shaw, N. D., being duly deposed and
said:-l have made post mortem examination of the
body Of the deceased now lying dead at this place;
find pistol shot wound the left shoulder second
one in the left breast inch and half from the
dian lne and three inches from The npple the ball
passed through the heart and found lodged in the
posterior part OF the body the spine; DEATH in my
opinion was caused by internal hcmorrhage the result
OF wounds n
The case was then submitted to the Jrry who 4 y
dered the following
" That Fannie G.. Willard, the deceased, TO her
death by pistol shot wound IN the hands OF Thomas
NJ Burke on the 9TH day OF January, 1857 corner Of
Ninth avenue ana Twentieth street. Deceased was
twentyeghth years Of age, and native Of Connecticut
LETTER FROM MRS. WILLARD TO BURKE
The police on entering the house Immediately after
the aeca occurrence found and took possession Of two
letters, one writ ten by Mrs Willard and the other BY the
murderer and suicide Subj oined will be found copy
WORLD OFFICE NEW Yoak May II, 1865
am 20 disappointed In failing to find you to-day, dear,
that have been indulgng IN good cry !. seems
your dear face and the touch Of your lips to NINE
looked for you this noon but in vain There no
smile 10 welcome You cannot imagine how miss
you even in these little ways Why my heart felt like
heavy stone In my bosom when came back to the
Office will you think OF tonight wonderY Please
fancy, you can, that am with you, would
be II could, and send you hundred kisses, and
heart full OF the most devoted love.
How can go away without seeing you, even for Just
littlef am tempted TO delay until Saturday evening,
30 may see you tomorrow evening" at which time
suppose you will lie on duty Oh, dear how provoking
u TO know that only couple OF blocks distant
from me now, and yet cannot you, but must 60
home drcary bird that has lost It's mate Well,
II IL something to know what dear. patient, good
hearted darling have got, for you must know I
slider that you belong to exclusively and else
has any right 10 call pet Names TO love you
either And am Jealous OF my possessions, assure
you wish you would think enough of to write me
letter while am gone. Direct 10 Mddlstown, Conn
VIII you, dear
All II you were only going with me- Tom, should
be the happiest little in the world. We should
be happy together for would tease you In the
least. Don't you believe its Well I shall have your
picture, and looking In It's eyes will try to fancy tho
original me. expect shall have 10 quite worn
1