The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-26
A SORROwFUL MURDERER.
Bleakley, the Murderer Of Maud Merrill, At
tempts Suicide-A Terrible scratch-He
Still Lives and Is Able to Eat His
Three Square Meals a Day

occupants OF Murderers Row In the Tombs yester
day. Robert p Beakley, who said ne was guilty
when he was asked to plead, cut his right arm
with a sharp razor at about four O'Clock in the
morning. The wound Is about half an inch long
and sixteenth part OF an inch wide, II Is in fact
a mere scratch, and after the first excitement
among the prison officials had subsioed they all
laughed at this terrific attempt at suicide
'.You were very foolish 20 do IT, DR.. Nealis said
to Bleakley as he bandaged the would-be suicides
arm.
"Well, was tired Of life," he said indiferentlN
"This man IS just about as insane as you are"
DR.. Nealis said to the HERALD reporter in the
afternoon; "and know that you are not insane
He only did this to make people believe he was in
sane. II he had wanted to kill himself he could
have done 1t in second with this razor. But he
was only playing at suicide. Some people seem to
think that he was put up to 1t; but l couldn't say
by whom"
Warden Johnston, who had given good deal OF
attention to this remarkable case, also OF the
opinion that Bleakey was feigning insanity and
had Deen "put up to it." He gave the reporter the
following letter, which was supposed to be
BLEAKLEY's PARTING ADDRESS
to the world
You might take my life; my integrity, never err,
Good by, Lofty. wrote for you to come but You did
and my last words never wronged my niece in
d Mary %nn osy
who always loved parent and guardian, matter
%e
n for nue. a 5 w
my sister children and hope with them soon
nappsnsa n %omsn, Of S!a sssTyting
s S h said T. the 500 h lefty q 800 90
home and be mother 70 the rest Of my sisters children
0'
This touching epistle would probably have
brought tears into peoples eyes II Bleakley
HAD DONE THE DIRE DEED
But he did not, and drank a good strong cup OF
tea in the afternoon. At about halfpast two the
Warden visited his CELL in company with a re-
dressed.
"Haop' the Warden said; how are You now ?"
Bleakley raised his head feebly from the pillow
and said IN scarcely audible voice, Little BETTER
Have you much pain in your arm ?" the War
'Yes very much" Bleakley replied.
why did you do this, anyhow ?" the Warden
:, Beasey paused for reply and then said, =" did
WARDEN-Well, why did you not finish the Job
BLEAKLEY-Oh, because the keeper interrupted
WARDEN-You would have done it had it not been
for the keeper
BLEAKLEY-Yes, would have done 1t.
WARDEN-Why, that's a very foolish idea; /
thought you had more nerve than all that
BLEAKLEY Qaintly)-Oh, am tired Ollie.
WARDEN-Then you wanted to commit suicide
BLEAKLEY-Yes sir.
WARDEN-Will you do 1t AGAIN.
BLEAKLEY (earnestly)-No sir, wont.
WARDEN-Well, I'll bring you cup OF tea; good
by
BLEAKLEY Chis head sinking back on the pill
.Was that not pretty well done for an inter-
view ~ the Warden asked, as he stepped out OF the
gloomy cell and turned to the reporter-"almost
as well as you could have done it yourself 2''
The reporter acquiesced, and lett to call on
Messrs. Howe Il Hummel, Bleakley's counsel. Mr..
Howe was sitting at his desk eating luncheon at
the time.
''You are reporter OF the HERALD. Pray take
information have. Now, in the first place-M
pause; Mr.. Howe took bite and felt reireshed)-
Of e me-
his complete autobiography, the history OF his
mother, who committed suicide; the history
he was asked to plead he would not allow US to
hanged. He said he had killed his niece and that
he must hang so that justice might be avenged.
The reason why he attempted to commit suicide is
JUDGE BRADY WOULD NOT HANG HIM
last Thursday. (Another pause. Mr. Howe punges
into the green peas.) He told me to-day, alter the
attempt at suicide that he would never go to his
told Bleakley to play at suicide to convince the
world that he was insane. Is there any foundation
Mr.. HOWE (nourisnng his fork)-I never heard OF
such rumor, and can only qualify 1t as untrue as
well as absurd.
REPoRTER-Mr. Howe, what will Beakley's next
attempt at suicide be +?
Mr.. HowE-I don't know, sir, don't know. sir
Qaughingl-he may strangle himself with his gar
The reporter thanked Mr.. Howe, and left him
to his cold corned beef and green peas.