The New York herald., 1869-07-14
TRAGEDY ON STATEN ISLAND.
MURDER AND SUICIDE.
A Girl of Eleven the
Victim.
Intense Excitement at Tomp-
kinsville.
CORONER'S INQUEST.

Staten Island the victim being girl eleven years o
age, named Emma Harrington and the murderer a
man by the name of Garrett Roche The iacts relat-
ing to the case are as foows:-
BEFORE THE MURDER.
About year ago the man Roche called upon the
father OF the young girl, MIR. Cornelius Harrington,
who Keeps a boot and shoe store corner OF Griffin
and Main streets. and stated that he was first class
workman and desired employment. Being in want of
assistance just at that particular time Mr.. Harring-
ton engaged him, and in a short time became quite
taken up with his new empoye, who appeared 10
be not only good workman but also very sober
and industrious. As he was stranger on the
is and Mr.. Harrington, in order TO make him as COM
Portable possible, had a room atted up for him in
his own house, and, at his request boarded him at
his own table. a few months ago, however,
change seemed TO come over Roche, for instead of
attending faithfully TO his work lie got IN the habit
OF absenting himself from the shop Tor days at
time nor ala he delgn to give his employer any ex
pianatlon whatever OF his conduct on his return.
Moreover the latter began TO perceive
that Roche came home very often under
the influence OF liquor and, although he felt very
much annoyed at the circumstance, ne did not for
some time take him TO task about the matter, and
when he finally did so he spoke TO him kindly and
advised him TO change his ways Mr. HaTrlngton's
every spree, he appeared to feel very badly about
his misconduct, and often promised to amend his
lie. But, Notwithstanding all this, he continued to
become more aad more careless about his business,
and finally totally disregarded the good advice OF
his employer. On Sunday the 27th ult, he left Mr..
Harrington's, and took the early morning boat for
this city, and did not return until last Wednesday.
His appearance then showed plainly enough that he
had been drinking to excess, although he was not
under the slightest influence Of liquor when he en-
tered the store. He exchanged a few words with
MIR. Harrington, who spoke TO him in his usually
kind manner and at once went up stairs to his
workshop, and asked one of tile other workmen to
go down and get some work for him from Mr.. Har-
rlngton. The work sent up to him, and he con-
tinued to work steadily all the day long. The fol-
lowing day he absented himself and returned about
eight O'Clock on Monday evening, when he entered
the store and asked his employer for ten cents to
get shaved. After getting the money he went oNt,
and at ten O'Clock Mr.. Harrington saw him go up
stairs to bed looking quite sober. About eleven
O'Clock all the family retired for the night.
THE MURDER.
The bedrooms IN Mr. Harrington's house are stu.
aed the third floor, and owing to the fact that
lady friend of his wife had arrived in the morning to
remain few days friendly visit, Mr.. Harrington
himself sept on Monday night in a front room ad.
joining another front room in which were his WIFE,
her visitor and his two children, Ella, aged six
years. ana Emma, very pretty girl, aged eleven
years Roche occupied small room on the same
floor but in the of the house, and in order to
reach either of the other two from the it
is necessary TO traverse small corridor About six
O'Clock yesterday morning MIR. Harrington was
awakened by slight noise in the hallway. as though
somebody was coming towards his room. while en-
deavorlng to move about as stealthiS az pos.
sible lie was about TO get up to
what was the matter, when Roche came along
at q W I'm Ia al 1lla
and although apparently not under the influence OF
liquor, looked rather haggard and gaZed about HIM
he was, when Roche, starting, as though he had not
been aware OF the presence OF any person in the
didn't feel at all unweu although he had not been
able to sleep during the night He then turned
about and went pack to his room, when Mr.. Har-
stairs, where he found that his wife and her
visitor had preceded HIM, and were busly
No sooner had Mr.. Harrington lett his room than
Roche giided out OF his and made his way sealthiy
along the corridor until he had reached the two front
rooms, and then, after hesitating for a moment as
though undecided which to enter strobe into the one
which had been occupied during the night by Mrs.
Harrington aud her visitor The two little girls,
Ella and Emma, were still in the rOom The latter,
as he entered, was standing by the bedside In her
night clothes In the act OF aeinR one OF her Shoes
Roche sprang towards and asked, "Where Is your
money boxP' The little girl turned about quick
when, quick as thought he caught her by the back
of the neck and brandished a shoemaker's knife
his grasp and had partially succeeded in doing 60
when ne made several passes at her with
cash IN the back Of her neck ana tearing several
ugly wounds IN the tender 1esh OF her arms as she
raised them, ehildllke, to protect her face. The
drawn the knife twice across her throat from
from which, as the child fell to the floor a corpse
the blood gushed forth in torrents over the night
gown which she wore and the bedcIothes which
she had grasped hold OF during the deadly struggle.
THE SUICIDE
Althouph the murder was but the work of an in.
stant, 30 intent was the murderer upon his horrd
crime that he did not see the younger child Ella,
VINO had been awakened by the struggle Of the muir
dereT with his victim Jump out OF the bed and flee
down stairs, where she found her father and
best she could what was being done in
the room above. On hearing the child, amid
her sobs, tell how Roche had entered the
room and attacked her sister with knife Mr.. Har.
rington rushed up stairs followed by his wife and
little Emma lying IN pool OF blood with her throat
o course on entering the children's bedroom, found
cut rom ear 10 ear. The poor father IN his agony
OF heart took up the CORPSE in his and ran
down stairs crying out Murder at the top OF MS
voice. A Mr.. Ambrose who happened to be In the
street, heard the outcry and rushed into the house
The father on seeing min gently laid the ifeless
form OF hls cnild on lounge, and taking up a club,
dashed up stairs. The two men entered Roche's
room at the same time but he was not there, aud
on gong into the workshop which Is on the same
moor as tue room, tney found MIN lying dead in a
poo OF blood with his throat cut and ashoemakers
knue tightly ciutched in his right hand.
THE EXCITEMENT IN THE VILLAGE
when the intelligence OF the terrible tragedy had been
DTulteu ABOUT was OF the most intense Charactrr
Many OF those who crowded about the house would
mot believe that the murderer mad taken his own
life and at once entered the place in search OF MIN
determined 70 make him pay the penalty OF nis
crime without awaiting the slow process OF law;
nor were they satisfied that the story OF his death
was not fabrication unu they had, 10
their horror, UNEXPECTEDLY stumbled over
the ghasuy corpse as they eagerly crowded one
another through the workshop door When the ex.
citement had somewhat subsided the body of the
murderer was removed To a vault and Coroner Har-
court empaneled jury, who. after viewing the two
a a INN
Ton had come TO her death by wounds inflicted by
Garrett Roche, and that Garrett Roche had come to
hs death BY wounds inflicted by himself while
laboting under temporary Ut OF insanity.
Roche was q wldower, and leaves four little
children nnproy1ded Tor, TWO OF whom now STOP
ping an Brooklyn
NUNS IN NEW ORLEANS CONGRATULATIONS
en Interesting nun abduction case Is before the New
orleans courts The Sisters OF the St. Josephs Con-
vent cnarge that three relations OF Sister Annie Of
Jesus iorcibly abducted her on Thursday, June "a