Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-01-25
The Utica Tragedy

THE ACTHOR OF TIE TRAGEDY-soME
FACTS OF HER LIFE.
Mrs DIR. Burleigh. murderess of Mr..
Hall, is well known in this CITY. where
she has resided for seven or eight years.
In 1862 or 1868. she was kept mistress
of noted political leader Of thisSState.
and lived in elegant style, Ia Mansfield.
at one of the principal hotels in this city.
The legislation of these years is sup
posed, and is generally conceded, TO have
been largely Influenced by this woman.
She disappeared from here. very sud
denly, early in the year 1863. and she
was next heard of down on the Potomac,
where she was engaged in smuggling
quinine through cur lines over to the
rebels. She was dressed in mems clothes,
and was known as johnny McCarty,
the blockade runner"
In 1864, she was brought to the atten-
ton of our authorities here by the pres
ence of a gentlemanly appearing man
giving the name of McCarty. He said
he was the husband of the woman, but
had not lived with her for some years.
He wished her signature to some trans
fer of property. One of the officers, de-
tective Hale, we think-was given the
case TO work up, and finally discovered
Mrs. McCarty" at Greenbush, where
she was living in a quiet and mysterious
manner, none Of the neighbors knowing
anything about her or her business, other
than that ''many ladies visited her house
after dark"
Our authorities next heard of her at
the extreme western end of Clinton ay-
enue, where she occupied a house in a
lonely Eaocitiofa ar,H rUl,ara 81 10 FE-ae laFaf
busy at her nefarious practice. While
living at this place she assumed the
name of Mrs. Virginia Seymour, from
Richmond, Va" Her business was con-
Quoted so secretly that no hold could be
obtained on her, though her terrible avo-
cation was well known TO the people
Finally one morning she appeared before
Justice Cole and complained that man
named John Cady, to whom she had en-
trusted bill of $50 for collection, had
obtained the money and would not pay
it over to her. 1t was ascertained at
this time that the $50 was paid TO Cady
for an abortion performed on the wife
of merchant of this city.
In the trial of Cady sufficient facts
were obtained to show that the doctress
was carrying on the business of an abor-
ZIONIST, her house being the recognized
Headquarters for all women who desired
treatment; after nightfall her den being
visited by females, who came very mys-
teriously, and, after remaining a few
hours, went away. Finally she was in
dicted by the grand jury for carrying on
the business of an abOrtiOnist. She was
bailed out by a well known citizen who
said he had acted for two political lead
ers whose names are well known through
out the land. These two indictments
were never tried, because the witnesses
were spirited away.
Business prospecting with her, she re-
moved to the west side of Broadway, a
few doors above Clinton Avenue, into a
retired looking house, before the door Of
which grew three large elms, whose
dense foliage in the summer time, and
the tightly closed blinds of the dwelling
concealed from the passer by all traces
Of the crime daily cCnmitteG-inside the
house.
While living on Broadway, her ITO
children attended private school, kept
by an excellent woman, who. on one
occasion. demonstrated with Mrs. Bur-
leigh for the terrible life she was leading
and of the danger she was continually
running of killing some poor unfortu-
nate. To this the doctOress replied Il
have no fear for should anything oc-
cur, | can send for two doctors and a
coroner. and. on their testimony, can
have the matter closed up at once"
We next hear Of her at No. 60 How
ard street. whe she hes apparently done
a profitable and thrhing business, no
doubt sending many poor unfortunate
female to her final home, a.. in the case
of Maggie Campbell for, despEe the
testimony to the contrary, the public be-
lieve the woman Campbell came to her
death By an abortion performed by Mrs.
DIR. Burleigh '-the name the doctoress
assumed on removing TO Howard street.
At this place she won her great reputa
ton as a successful asortiOnist, and her
house was known Throughout tht lang.
uER ACQUAINTANCE WITH MR. THOMPSON.
Possessing an intelligent face, dark
eyes, pitt figure, and dressing in ele-
giant costume, she was a woman that
attracted attention whenever met with.
Ii appears that while on board one of
the river steamboats,, bound for New
York, while living on Broadway, she
met Mr. Thompson, and they occupied
her room on the boat that night The
a little girl On her return home, hav-
ing asceTtained the name and residence
of her companion, she commenced Sc
ries of Matchmaking operations, at times
drawing on Mr. Thompson Git is claimed)
for $500 or $500. He arranged for her
removal to Howard street, purchasing
the property for her to liveein. Her de-
mands became larger and more frequent
and some months ago he refused TO hon
or them. saying that he had already done
more than She ought 10 ask of him. She
then visited Utica and told the story in
public, which finally reached Mr.. T.
family. Not needing her repeated de
mands, she continued her opportunities,
when he finally sold the house on How
ard street. and Mrs. Burleigh refusing
to leave the premises under an allotted
time designated bv the courts. her effects
We're taken from the house by the sher-
iff
Az INSTRUMENT or DEATH.
Among her effects was found a bunch
of wire, the various threads Of which
were covered with blood This instru-
ment is in the possession Of the author
titles and is supposed to have been one Of
those most used IN the practice Of her
terrible business. Such are the rumors
we have obtained after dilligent inquiry
until an early hour this morning. OF
their truthfulness as far as they relate
to Mr. Thompson, VIC know nothing
but so far as the statements relate 10
Mrs. Burleigh's history, they are correct.
She has been before our courts the past
few years number Of times, but gener-
ally on complaints Of lawlessness to-
words her neighbOrs. Being a sharp,
shrewd, intelligent woman she has man
aged to escape having justice melted out
to her.
There are many leading men IN or
midst who know much of the woman,
she being almost continually in law.
MHTOS ". THOMPSON,
her intended victim, IS leading citizen
of Utica where he enjoys the rpeDect