The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-01-02
A New York Horror.

New York city and Brooklyn are just
now so full of horrors, that they would
furnish material enough to fill up any
paper. Among the latest is the utter
murder of a girl in brothel under
strange and startling circumstances. A
man who claimed to be the uncle of the
girl, visited her, and upon leaving told
the woman of the house that he had
shot his niece. Upon going to the room
it was found that the girl was dead, hav-
ing been shot.
The murderer went to Brooklyn and
gave himself up to the police. The
murderer tells disjointed story and by
many it is believed that he is insane.
The history of the deceased is one of
peculiar sadness. She was born in Cork,
Ireland, of parents who became dissipa-
ted during the later years of her child
hood. Having received tolerably good
education at home, she came to New
York about two years ago as q ward of
her uncle, who is her self-proclaiming
slayer.
Being then of winning and decorous
address, as well as beautiful and attrac-
tive in personal appearance, she soon af-
terward became the wife of reputable
and industrious business man. A few
months of domestic happiness, however
were terminated by the husbands dis
covery that his young wife had proved
recreant to her marriage VOWS. Attempts
to reclaim his once cherished wife hav-
ing proved futile, he abandoned her
about year ago, and away went tc
Texas.
Soon after his departure, the young
wife openly and in defiance of the en-
treaties of her uncle, adopted life oi
shame.
In her resorts she was occasionally
visited by her younger sister, whose rep.
utation appears to be spotless, and also
by her uncle, both of whom besough,
her to relinquish her life of degradation
and endeavor to retrieve the past. Hel
sister she seems to have regarded with
warm affection, but frequently expressed
fear of her uncle, and dread lest he should
resort to violence.
Among the papers found in her apart
ment, was a copy of The Irish American
in which was published the followin,
account of a tragedy in which her faith
er and mother were the principal actors
and which resulted in the self-destructiol
of her mother:
"On the 1st inst. an inquest was hell
in Cork upon the body of Charlott
Smith, the wife of Richard Smith,
hairdresser of Gillabay street, who com
mitted suicide the preceding day. Th
deceased was stated to have been addic
ted to drink She opened an artery il
her arm with razor and bled herself t.
death. The jury found the stereotype,
verdict of temporary insanity De
ceased had been only week out of pris
on, where she had been confined 70
month for stabbing her husband ant
attempting to take his life"
"'t: l-:,r ~o~~...>+. which reveals q
much of domestic infellcity, mas Deel
supplemented by the statement that tn
alleged previous ill-treatment of tn
mother by her husband drove her int
intemperance. The paper seems to hav
been given to the deceased, at the hous
in Neilson-place, few days ago, by he
sister, and the terrible end of her moth
er seems to have caused her intense grief
The name of the girl was Mary AM
Smith alias Maud Merrill. She was q
years of age and very pretty. Her uncl
acknowledges the murder, but gives n,
reason for it.