The New York herald., 1871-02-11
THREE EXECUTIONS IN ONE DAY
A W0NAN on TEE sCAFFOLD.
Hanging of John Howard, tlae
Murderer.
A FHNDrsH CRIr1E EgrIATED.
EXECUTION OF MARY WALLIS.

tTOWOS OI UNTyiuhuSrb ~ AAcF
wAsulHsToN, Feb. 10. 1871.
Mary wallis, colored servant girl, was hung to-
day at Upper Marlboro, Prince Georges. Nd. Her
crime was poisoning an infant nine months Old be-
longing TO the family OF Albert NJ. Read clerk in
the Treasury Department. Last summer Mr.. Read
removed his family from Washington 10 the resi-
denoe OF Mr.. b. ID. Fabian, near Beltviie,
Nd. on Saturday, July ., Mary Wallis, employed
a domestic In the house Of Mr.. Fabian was de-
tecfed in the act OF appropriating to her own use
clothing belonging 10 Mrs. Reads chlds
nurse aud being charged with the theft became
very snilen and threatening in her manner Mrs.
FABIAN was informed Of the facts, aud told
Mary that she would have To leave tho house
on the following day. For The remainder OF the
day and evening she continued sulen and distracted,
snd The nurse seemed to be the particular object OF
her hatred She had, it seemed, taken strong DIS
ike 10 the nurse from the time she came into the
house. and being detected in the attempt to
steal her clothes intensified this dislike. In the
evening SHE was directed TO boil some milk with
which to feed the child, If necessary, during the
night, and a small boy who was employ cd about the
place saw her take some powder from bottle and
place II IN the milk.
THIS POWDER WAS sTRycHSISE.
The theory developed at the trial was that sno
placed 1t In the milk. expecting that the nurse would
ipred or Killed the child, the woGld I've charged
with tie deed so that in either she would have
her revenge. As usual, on the family retiring the
milk was SET IN a convenient place.
About one O'Clock sunday morning the chd's
CRYING awakened Mrs. Read, and Mr. Read gave the
httle one some of the milk, OF which it took but
little. Mr.. Read found that the milk was bitter aud
ealing the attention OF Mrs. Fabian 10 it, she tasted
H. as dd Mr. Read aud suspected that something
IaI rlxal ltUh n IL TnaIr
were soon confirmed, or the child after
wRTrHISG IN AGONY
about half an hour, died. The lady was also taken
with violent pains. Dr. Belt was summoned at once
and tried TO save the life OF the child but could not
and on examining the milk he at once detected
strychnine iii IL. Inquiries were Immediately
made as 10 who could have put tae poison
III the milx ana it was ascertainea that
small quantity Of strycanine had been
brought to the house for the purpose OF killing
rats, and the boy employed in The house said that
he had seen the gri Mary take some o. it frem the
bottle. She was therefore detained IN the hou ,s
until tie matter could be Investigated. An inquest
was held, when verdict in accordance wuh
The facts was rendered. The accused was
present al the inquest and sirenuously doned
having any hand III the business. notwithstanding
she was closely questioned; but subsequently, she
admitted that She did pot the poison In the milk so
sHdi the tuJSHt De VIII tue murder
thc c0llu Tue corpse o The little one was brought
10 Washington on the following day, ana the funecal
sooA pace ifom the residence OF irs grandfather,
MI W. II. Moran. No. S4i massachusetts avenue.
The accused was taken 10 Marlboro Oh tue Monday
following The murder.
HER TRIAL
took pace on the oath and 25th Of August last she
was assigned Judge Samuel ii. Berry as her counsel
Oy the conrt; Judges BreniieTd and McGruder on
the bench, and Mr. George c. Merrick, States Az
lorney was the pro.eeutor. me smau boy alluded
10 was the principal witness and he testified posi-
lively 10 having seen her take some or the poison
nom the bottle. Mr. Read testified that the mix
prepared by he accused was given 10 the infant and
convul 5lons followed He described the symptOns
and Doctors Aniisei anu uartigan testified that they
z chemical analysis OF pertion OF the
mix administered and detected a quantity
Of stryclnine IN tile proportion Of hall graIn to he
ounce. He believed the child die from The Effects
Of strychnioe, aud this theory coIroboraled by
DR.. Hartigan. verdict OF gun was found and the
girl vas sentenced 30 be executed. Ia December
Governor Bowie signed the death warrant desig.
mating this as the day Of execution. Mary Wallis
was
FORMERLY SLAVE,
belonging 10 the late Richard u. Hall, whose
pace near Good Luck, about rc miles cast OF Belt.
vile, she was raised and her life spent in the
country, most OF IT in me neighborhood whore
the war sne WAS employed asa as house house
servant at various residences IN tie neignborhoOd
OF Betvliie. After her Incarceration she did not
exhibit much concern as TO her fate II Is supposed
fon that the Governor would commute her sentence
and therefore did not exhibit so much concern as
6it usbcAoAoc Htuiu nave uUut. AS u cnl,u size
GIVEN TO FITS OF sULLgyNEss
When she grew up they were not frequent, but
were more threatening in their character Ber
rliling conduct IN the court room and seeming In
either an imbecle or was insane. and hence a
Recommendation for mercy which was presented by
inc Jury: Alter the trial she was renanded 10 jail,
and still continued TO wear the same uncolceTned
BELIEF IN HER INSANITY
gained ground so RAPIDLY that petition Was drawn
up, circulated ana signed by numbers OF the best
citizens OF tie county, and presented TO Governor
Bowie last week, ior conmutation OF her sentence
10 Imprisonment in the penitentIary for life, upon
ne,o the ground ao nat nie Jury which con
sane, and recommended ne: to mercy, In
the belief tnat imprisonment and not hanging
would therefore DC tne punishment inflicted. The
Governor informed Mr. Brent, the State Attorney,
on "Wednesday iast, hy letter. that he had weighed
this petition with the counter petition Of respectable
citizens, setting forth that she Is inst the reverse
insane oeng bright and Intelligent but malicousiy
ends Of justice demanded the enforcement OF
the sentence. he therefore declined TO accede
10 inc request. Sheriff Frazier about one O'Clock
OF the same day Oh which this communication was
received by Mr.. Brent, proceeded 10 her cell and
Rbd she seemed AZ to realize the true state of
the case aud soDDe1 Violently ier attendant spirit
laH seemed 10 incnnc strongly TO he opIninn ,haf
the prisoner was nor OF aouud rand; hence the
alpeais 70 tne Governor ior mercy IN her pehali.
Tie JAIL says that she eYhih ed during her i'm mprIgon-
ment more than ordinary intelligence IN converse.
uon, and that IN his opinion she was sane "a any.
body. she once remarked ~ hl,r that before anyy
body could bring her out on the scafTold and uut q
rope around her neck she -
WOULD KILL HERsELF.
But she suDseqaeniy moulded that remark by say
Ing sDe did not mean 10 take nec own lie Her
spiritual needs have been attended 10 py Rev
Fathers Dwyer and Mcdonald OF the Caihoiic
church, In charge OF that circuit VINO have fire..
qnently visited her since seneucc was passed She
however paid bnt little attention to tnen at INST
interruptnG their cxhortatons by laughing and
singing. but recently she seemed 10 gain realizing
sense Of her terrible position, and was quiet and
attentive
THE DOOMED WOMAN
yesterday refused ali food brought to her ana ate
nothing at all during the day. Fathers Mcdonald
and Dwyer, OF the Carinelloe order, were With her
the entire day. administering spiritual consolation
They are about the only visitors she had daring her
Acarceratlon as none or her relatives iflc1ds
have called on her Last night she slept very WELL
having retired earg, ana arose this morDl9g about
..a.aL. -. LIZ