The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-06
STRANGLED and BURNED.
A Startling Case Of Probable Murder
and Arson in Williamsburg.
A CaARRED CORPSE.
The Suicide Theory Already
Exploded.
STRANGE CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
Arrest of Mr.. and Mrs. James NJ.
Merrigan.
THE INQUEST YESTERDAY.
The Theories Of the Police and Of the Neigh.
bors and the Testimony Of All Parties.
THE CoRoNER's INQUEST

has occurred in Williamsburg. About halI-past
nine O'Clock on Thursday evening an alarm OF fire
was sounded from the corner OF North Second and
Ninth streets. The residents In the neighborhood
fastened to the place. narrow passageway
through No. 100 Ninth street gives access to o
small yard In the rear, on one side OF which stands
o dilapdated red brick tenement. From the Sec
ond story windows OF this building, in rooms
pied by James N Merrigan, smoke and lame were
seen issuing. There did not seem to be the
slightest c0mmOtion within the house and the
usual number OF terrified women were not to be
seen. The officers and citizens headed by young
man named COe, rushed up the stairs, and finding
the door to the room in which the fire was raging
locked, burst 1t in. Not imagining chat any one
was
IN THE ROOM,
the officers proceeded at once to extinguish the
fire. which was found TO be burning in clothes
press. The floor OF o small room In the rear was
found to be ablaze, and upon entering the aparts
ment the charred body Of young woman was
seen on broken-down bed. The body was en-
tirely nude. While the legs were found perfectly
rigid the feet remaining upon the bed, the head
and shoulders were hanging over the side on the
moor in the thickest of the names
HORRIBLE SIGHT.
The fire was extingushed quickly rs posi-
ble but not until the features OF the face had been
and eyes were destroyed, and the side OF the body
resting on the door was literally broiled.
TERRIBLE SUSPICION.
In raising the corpse piece OF bed cord was
found 30 closely tied around the woman's throat
to be almost imbedded In the flesh. moose had
been placed around the neck OF the &C.
ceased, and the end of the rope had been drawn
over the back OF the bed. The police surgeon, who
was at once sent for, made an examination OF the
corpse and gave It as his firm opinion that death
had occurred from strangulation. The terrible
black mark around the neck, which Is always pres
emit on the bodies OF those who die on the scaiod,
was to be clearly seen. The end or the rope hang
ing over the bed had not been burned, but had
been cut OF squarely as with knife. The bedstead
was broken as II by desperate struggle. The
sides OF the bed having separated from the mead
board the mattress at the head Of the bed had
fallen on the moor.
MORE STARTLING CIRCUMSTANCES.
strong smell OF Kerosene pervaded the room,
and the bedding, as well as the woodwork, was
found to be saturated with the nud. These facts
were the sum total OF the disclosures made at the
time OF the finding OF the body. The Captain Of
the Fifth precinct, who had meanwhile arrived on
the ground, deemed himself justified in arresting
Mr.. and Mrs. Merrigau, who were present among
the spectators The woman, aside from desper
walls OF the burning room. had not manifested any
great degree OF anxiety. Certain 1t Is that she had
not informed the officers OF the presence OF her
friend in the ROOM
THE wIFE's STATEMENT.
There are many strange circumstances which go
garet Hammil met her death BY violence. They
are here treated in the order which they seem to
Mrs. Merrigan states that the woman Margaret
came to ner house about eight O'Clock on Thursday
evening They had been schoolmates together
money she made occasional calls upon her old
friend On Thursday night she claims that Mar.
drn sona ooes so aa as neS
The coffee being exhausted, Mrs. Merrigan told
her visitor that sne would go out and buy some.
escape while In such o condition, and had not
gone any further than the street before the alarm
or fire was raised. At the entrance to the alley
way she met young man named Coe, who re-
sides In the building. She came back with him,
but forgot to say anything about the presence or
her visitor IN the very room where the fire was dis
WHAT THE HUSBAND SAYS.
James N. Merrgan, Q carpenter now locked up
in the Filth precinct, says:-"I did not know any
thing whatever of the presence OF Margaret Ham
ing OF nv lodge. had not seen the young woman"
WHAT AN OLD LADY SAYS.
the house. directly under the room in which the
corpse was found, stated yesterday to the HERALD
reporter:-"I have resided only short time In this
house. l came here about two weeks ago. am
not on terms Of intimacy with the Merrigans. l
am sure that on Tuesday morning last q lady OF
comely person and genteel dress Knocked at the
wore diamonds, gold watch and chain and
carried q red leather portemonnaie. subsequently
learned that her name was Hammil, and that she
came from New York. She went up 70 Merrigan's
rooms
NEVER SAW HER AFTERWARDS.
Late in the afternoon OF that day heard sound
OF q struggle IN the rooms above. IL lasted for
several minutes. Then came dull sound as OF
body thrown on the floor. This was succeeded BY
o long silence. was not alarmed at the time. /
His wife followed an hour later. As she was ieav-
ing she met by my son-in-law David Zoe, VINO
remarked to her that he smeied smoke. MIS- Mer-
rigan made no reply. After being away short
increased, and my sonnlaw insisted on going
up to make an examination. Mrs. Merrtgan tried
to prevent his entrance, aud screamed out, Don't
60 In there, the Kerosene VIII smother your MT.
hall In an instant He was among the nrst, AFTER
the officers arrived, TO find the body"
WAS THE GIRL nuRDERkDf
David Coe, on being questioned, corroborated all
the facts given by Mrs. Coles, and said that had
noticed that the feet OF the corpse were very white
indicating that death had occurred many hours
before the burning. The heavy green window
shutters were also found closed although the night
was insurerabiy hot. There was no contortion OF
the limbs a. II death had come from burning
WHAT THE NoRGUE KxKPER SAYS
MI Parker, the undertaken, who keeps the livery
stable In the back end OF which the Williamsburg
Norgue 10 located, says:-'I Was among the nrst
70 90 into the room. made a careful examination
neck. II was either q sash cord or piece Of bed
rope. The rope nad cut INTO the nesh. leaving q
terrible bruse regard the tact that the prisoner,
Mrs. Merrigan, locked the door when she went out
as sunicient TO crtminate her. The woman was
doubtless dead and she feared any Intrusion
We tound Marianne over ne foor ME n H.