The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-23
LIBBIE GARRABRANT.

The Murder OF Ransom +. Burroughs
Finding the Corpse Alone In An
Empty HOusc-Story OF the Crime
First Day Of the Trial and Legal
Qufbbles Delaying II for Two Days.
The Burroughs tragedy of last December is still
well remembered by the readers OF the daily press.
Constable william Monks, of Paterson went to the
house of one Ransom F. Burroughs in Franklin
street, near River, armed with warrant of at
tachment on his goods for non-payment OF rent,
which he was instructed to execute. The place
was used as saloon and 'house OF assignaton,"
similar to the one which the wife OF Burroughs had
previously kept before she sent to the State
Prison. Among his "boarders' was young girl
OF seventeen, named Libbie Garrabrant, who acted
as his housekeeper, but
SHE FELL IN LOVE
with young man named Van Wrinkle Bogert and
they were evidently getting ready for marriage
when the tragedy became known. 1t Is believed
that the desire to possess come OF Burroughs fur
niture the incentive OF the crime OF which
Libbie Is accused. Constable Monk found Bur-
roughs In back room in his house seated In chair,
apparently asleep, with "A blanket thrown over his
head and face. He shook him to awake him, when
he found him to be stin and cold. Removing the
covering from his head he saw sight which made
his hair stand on end with horror. Burrough was
corpse, and had apparently been dead for some
time. On his person was found IA note stating that
he had committed suicide. and giving reasons
that I'm the absence OF his wife and the approaching
departure OF Libbie Garrabrant,
LIFE HAD BECOME ABSOLUTELY UNsrPPoRTABLE.
IL was signed "Charles +. Burroughs" This sigma
ture excited the suspicion or Coroner Quinn, and
the cause Of the investigation being prosecuted
Libbie was arrested and charged with writing the
letter. she having always been in the habit of call
ing him by the name of "Charlie." Upon the hand
writing having been found to be hers she acknow
edged the charge, but said that she did it his die
tation. At the inquest herself and numerous other
witnesses wove about her a strong web OF evil
dence, until she at length acknowledged that
SHE HAD PURCHASED ARSENIC
and given it to Burroughs in some pudding. and
that her lover, Bogert was present at the time she
did IL. They were both arrested and indicted
for murder at the December term. Their trials
however. were postponed until This spring term,
for which Judge Bedle ordered panel OF 100 jurors
THE TRIAL
which Judge Bedle presided, with Associate Judges
Daggers, Terhune Barkaow and SANFORD. At
torney General Gilchrist and County Prosecutor
John Hopper represented the State, and Socrates
futile appeared for Libbie Garrabrant The Court
was crowded when the case was called at ten
O'Clock. The prisoner was for the first time in
public since her arrest, and was visibly affected
bursting Into tears. Aiterward, however, she
wore an air of calm Indifference Her cheeks were
still red and fresh-looking and from her dark eyes
she shot forth the look Of defiance that Is so
strangely her CHARACTERISTIC. When everything
was ready 10 proceed her counsel. Mayor futile,
said that she had not been furnished with the panel
Of Jurors in the form precrbcd by the law which
required that the residences should be given well
as Cue names. This was
AN CNANsw ERABLE TECHNICAL POINT
which the prosecution did not attempt to deny.
The Conrt would not take the responsibility or de-
Gliding against the defence on the point, az II could
throw the case into the Court 0f Errors. IL was
therefore adjourned without further remark until
Thursday morning to allow the panel Of jurors 10
be legally prepared.
bill is now before the Legislature having for its
object the erection of reproof warehouses and the
construction Of bulkhead railroads leading TO them
along the wharyes OF the city. Mr. Gardiner the
promoter or the measure, was in the city yesterday
canvassiDg for its support and the result OF his
efforts meeting Of the Grocers' Board OF Trade Is
to be held AT three O'Clock this afternoon 10 take
the bill into consideration. The Corn Exchange re-
fuses to move IN the matter, considering the bill to
be in the interest OF the charter company and
therefore not entitled to support. The cotton
brokers have also had the matter submitted TO
them.