, 1872-12-16
THE MAUD MERRILL MURDER.

The Assassin Snrrcndcrs Himself to
the Brooklyn Police and Admits the
Shooting-Rae Proves to Ese the dsirl's
Uilclc-A Strange Story Told by
Him.
From the Ne,o Fork Herald, Dec. II.
The tragedy that occurred on Tuesday after
noon at the house of Emma Cozzens, 10 Nelson
Place. resulting in the death of Mary Ann
Smith, alias Maud Merrill, one Of the frau
boarderB, created much excitement in the Fiji
teenth Ward yesterday. During the whole Of
Tuesday night Captain Byrne and his officers
secured Brooklyn in search Of the assassin who
committed the deed, but they were unsuccessful.
They, however, ascertained that his name
is Robert ?. B]eakley, and that he lived at one
time in Navy street, Brooklyn. On proceeding
there, they found that he had removed, and al
traces Of his present residence were lost. Still
the search was not abandoned, and the Captain
vaa earnestly at work endeavoring to fathom the
mystery, when his labors were happily expedited
by tue voluntary surrender of tie accused to
Captain Smith, Of the First CBrooklyn) Police
Precinct, about 8 o'clock yesterday morning,
by whom he WAS turned over to Captain Byrne-
To the police of Brooklyn Bleakley made the
following statement:
ssAIy name is Robert Z. Bleakley. I am 3S
years of age and l. blochmaker by trade. I have
worked in the Brooklyn Navy Yardfor some time
past. WAS born in Cork, Ireland and came to
America 20 years ago. I WAS sent out here by an
uncle Of mine, who was an Episcopal minister.
Since have been out here have worked at my
trade. have also served as musician in the
Union Army. My uncle's reasons for sending
me to this country was to get anything which
Was coming to me- and my sister through my
fathers death. In 1866 I visited my sister in
Ireland to bring her out to this country but found
her sick when I got there, and in consequence she
wasunable to come with me. a little over three
years ago visited her again for. the same pur-
pose. and on seeing my sister the first thing
which attracted my attention WAS pair Of black
eyes she had from brutal husband and WAS
within month Of her confinement at the time.
1was compelled to postpone the object Of my
she requested me to bring her second eldest
daughter with me her name WAS Charlotte
Smith, now residing in Brooklyn, After arriv-
ing in the United States could not get work
there my sister requested me- BY letter to send
her money enough to come here, as she could NOT
stand the treatment of her husband. I eent
her E12. Instead Of coming herself, she sent
arrival here abe chose q life Of shame, which
was slow to find out until she tried to ruin the
character Of clergyman now living in this city
(Brooklyn), whose name withhold for the
present. Had it not been for few friends Of
mine would have been in the State Prison in
consequence of her actions. Last week my at
tention WAS called to paragraph in the Irish
American of the alleged death of my sister,
Charlotte E: Smith, by suicide, which, in the alb
sence Of letter, can hardly believe, and I
husband. + sent the sister Of the deceased to
tell her OF her mothers tragic end, and
request her for Gods sake to leave of her
life Of shame. The sister vent over to the
house, No. 10 Nelson place, where deceased WAS
then living, but Was informed that she was not
in. I determined then to see her myself as soon
as possible. I had frequently visited her, re-
questing her each time to give up her life Of
shame, but all to no purpose. Yesterday Wis
tied her in her apartment, and was met by her.
She received me in most defiant manner, and
said if did not go to hi out of that abe would
have me put ont. Her sister told me five weeks
ago she had bought pistol to shoot me With,
and il she did not do it she would get some Of
her friends to do it for her. This put me on my
guard, and I prepared myself for the worst.
When I first spoke to her she was ly-
ing on her bed; she got up and went
to the mirror and combed her hair.
She then approached me and seized hold OF
NE. begged her to desist and implored Of
her again to give up her way Of living. She
then told me that she 'would see me and all be-
longing to me in hi before She would do so.
After that she made movement toward the
door, putting her hand in her pocket, which
supposed to be with the intention Of drawing
pistol or some other weapon, and at that mo-
ment, in the height of frenzy, shot her. No
one but myself was witness to the affair or in
any way implicated simply say this for the
purpose of removing any suspicion that might
1est upon any other party. Well" continued
tho I-1soner, "she killed her mother; I've killed
her, and low am willing to die myself"
On being p,cced in the custody of Captain
Brine. BleakleV -nAie similar statement, and