The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-09-07
strangled with Rope and Smothered
Under Mattress, by the Con-
fession of the Murderess.
A Cool Interview with Mrs. Mer-
rigan in Jail.
She Says They Could Not
Hang Her.
Il. G A N OF CRY"
Funeral. of the Disfigured Remains
of the Victim

The tragedy that eliminated on Thursday night
last In the death OF Miss Maggie Hammil a
wealthy young New York lady, at the residence Of
James and Sarah Merrigan rear Of No. 199 Ninth
street, Williamsburg, no longer remains o mys-
terry.
CONFESSION OF THE MURDEREss.
While the police refused to affirm or deny the
report that Mrs. Merrigan had confessed to the
murder Of Miss Hammill, 1t is well understood that
such confession has been made and that the Po-
lice commissioners have it in their possession.
From this confession it appears that Miss Ham,
mill visited the Merrgan family and that Mrs. Mer
rigan and she quarrelled. After the quarrel Mrs.
Merrigan made up her mind to kill her, and
succeeded In doing 80 by strangling her with
. piece Of clothesne. Finding that Miss
Hammil was dead, Mrs. Merrigan, fearing
that her husband would return, hid her be-
tween the bedticK and the Stats. Then, not
knowing what to do with the body, she concluded
to Keep her husband out of the room, and sue
ceeded In doing so until Thursday night, at half
past nine O'Clock, when she set fire to the place,
with the hope Of destroying all traces Of the MUIR
der
Mr.. and Mrs. Merrgan were yesterday sent to
the County Jail by order Of the Coroner, and the
inquest will be commenced to. morrow evening.
Mrs. Merrigan and her victim were about the
same age, and were educated In convent in New
York. The tragedy has created the most profound
sensation IN Williamsburg
ANTECEDENTs OF THE PRISONER
Mrs. Merrigan, who IL the daughter of humble
but very respectable parents, has had every ad-
vantage possible 10 the way OF early education and
good example. For several years she was q pupil
at one OF the leading female seminaries Of New
York, and mas always, up to within the
past few years, been regarded as
pretty amiabe young woman. The demon
strong drink, however, took fast hold upon her
appetite couple OF years ago, and then the way
to criminal action was clear She was In the habit
OF going among the people of the several tenement
houses in the nelghborhOod, and UPON one occasion
stole gold watch IRON woman with whom she
had been drinking. This was about six months
ago. Mrs. Merrigan was arrested at the time, and
on being locked up at the Fourth street station
house she acknowledged the theft and told them
that she had pawned 1t and bought liquor with the
proceeds The watch was restored to the owner,
wbo refusing to prosecute her. she was discharged.
AT POLICE HEADQUARTERS.
The Merrigans were taken to Police Headquarters
yesterday for the purpose Of having their pictures
taken. Mrs. Merrigan carried an infant In her
arms. They had an extended conference with
Of damaging character was elected. Mr.. Merri.
gan states that. although the deceased was the
goduosaer o. his child, he haa never ever seen her
stood thar his wife and Miss Hammill were on the
most friendly terms.
A representative OF the HERALD had yesterday
afternoon, conversation with the Superintendent
q Police John P01 IN whSn that 0Ss
the case yesterday. He visited the house OF the
deceased, Margaret Hammlll In Forty-eighth
search Of her effects. The result was that be
found all her Jewelry cases to be empty, showing
left nome, which was on Tuesday morning last
He also obtained description OF the attire Of Miss
Hammill when last seen leaving her home
which corresponds with the dress described by
those who saw her in Williamsburg. The detective
also visited the house OF Mr.. James Merrigan's
II was that she brought her child on Tuesday even
ing, on the pretext that the young one was sick:
stairbnider, met his wife at his motherinlaWs
alter his return from work on Tuesday evening.
He was not aware OF the visit OF Miss Hammill to
the house, as he had been absent at his work from
an early hour In the morning until late In the
evening, and could not possibly have had any part
KNOWLEDGE OF THE MURDER.
Detective Corwin alss visited the residence OF SIS
ter Of the prisoner Mrs; Welsh, who lives on
Here he ascertained that the man and woman now
in custody the Merrigans-slept on Tuesday and
Wednesday nights. 1t has also been learned that
Nerrigan had been attending q meeting OF his
iodge--the st. Patrick's Mutual Alance-which
evening. he was at this meeting ior two hours
BEFORE THE ALARM OF FIRE,
and had no knowsdge OF It until he returned to
rant Of the visit OF the deceased and Of the CHASTITY
mystery which was locked up in the room in his
'sYou believe that murder was committed ?"
"Most unquestonably, SIR. This is clear case
Of MURDER and we have positive o,yn Which, en-
woman, Mrs. Merrigan, committed the murder,
and cold.blooded one it was. too"
"For q line Of defence would emotional insanity
do. think you, superintendent, In this case Y"
"a should say that would be rather too thin. The
interval which elapsed from Tuesday, when the
crime was committed, to Thursday night, wnen the
effort was made to destroy all trace OF the MURDER
Is too great. There. was time Tor that emotional
ais it true that Miss Hammill-who was rather
old maidish, understanding $3.50 in her pocket.
book when she called at Mrs. Merrigan's house on
"No that is not so; we know that she only had
80 SOL her portemonnaie that morning II Is almost
incredible what some women Will do. This person
does not look like great criminal or one that
would be guilty OF sucn crime. she Is rather
slight and delicate In appearance; Is the mother
DR.. Dreamer made yesterday morning post
o. me ere asS Of w Mss the
suit OF asphyxia, produced by stranguation.
the tongue protruded from the mouth and was
iOund nxed between the teeth and almost severed
ny the force WI which the jaws had pressed upon
II externally; the face and neck were swollen, as
the vessels OF the brain were ali congested show
ing not only that Miss HammiIl had not been
Ourneu " ueacn OF sunocated by smoke, but that
she had Deen, In all probability, strsngled with the
rope that sncircled her neck at the time that the
At ten O'Clock yesterday morning Coroner White.
hill
EMPANELLED THE FOLLOWING JURY
Joseph X. Thomas, George A. Buckingham Will
liam Green, John Young, Charles Pendleton. David
Holmes, Alden l. Cr0well. William b. Palmer
Darius Holmes, Ed. G. Moffatt aud William B. Boyn,
ton.
The Jury viewed the blackened remains and
then repaired to the scene OF the murder, where
the inquest was postponed until Monday evening
when It will be opened In Justice Eniott's court
room, corner Of South First and Fifth streets.
THE FUNERAL
took place yesterday afternoon, in presence Of the
Hammill, and few friends. 1t was the special
wish OF the family that the funeral should be as
private a. possible. The body rep0sed in a rose
wood casket, silver mounted, and displayed the
following tnscrpti0n:-
NARY HAMMILL,
Aged SO.
Died Tuesday, September q 1873