The New York herald., 1874-10-27
BROOKLYN COURTS.

Trial OF Mrs. Sarah c. Merrigan for the
Murder OF Miss Maggie Hammill-A
Jury Panel Exhausted and Another
One Ordered for To-day.
Before Judge Tappen and Associate Justices.
Tue trial OF Sarah q. Merrigan for the murder OF
Margaret Hammll was commenced IN the Kings
County Court OF oyer and TermIner, Judge Tappen
presiding, yesterday morning. 1t will be remem
bered that the crime for which the prisoner is
arraigned Is one OF pecaliar atrocity, and
the circumstances attending irs conmis-
sion and the efforts to destroy all
traces OF the murder are certainly re-
markable. The alarm OF fire was sounded
on the night OF September 9, 1873, and the fremen
lent prompt response to the summons, repairing
TO the scene Of action, tenement house, No. 199
Ninth street. Brooklyn, Eastern District. The
flames were issuing from bedroom on the second
story OF the building, and the fremen were forced
to break open the door, which was locked AS soon
as the fire had been extingulshed and the smoke
was cleared away the body OF woman, partly
charred. was found extended on o bed. which was
broken down, the holsters resting on the moor.
Close inspection OF the corpse revealed the TACT
that cord, such rs is used for clothes lines, was
made fast around the neck OF deceased and II was
manifest TO the medical men who were present
that the dead woman was q victim OF foul play.
The body was subsequently identified as that OF
Miss Margaret Hammill, spinster, and possessed
OF considerable property, frequent visitor to
Mrs. Merrigan and former school companion OF
the defendant. The deceased was seen entering
the house three days previous to the tire and not
seen again alive. On the inquest, when was
held before Coroner Whitehill, several circum-
stances were developed touching the movements
or Mrs. Merrlgan which were deemed sufficiently
strong to warrant her being held TO await the
action o. the Grand jury by which latter body she
was indicted last winter.
THE PRISONER.
Sarah c. Merrigan entered the court roOm &C.
companed by an oificer, her mother and chlid,
girl fourteen years old. at ten O'Clock, and taxing
o seat on the right hand side oil the room, in the
OF the ns ooX an paa very
atlired IN SUIT OF black alpaca and bonneto. the
same nue.. she wore her nalr m ringlets, when
rested becomlngly on her shoulders. Inc accused
or lair complexion, has black eyes, straight
features, small mouth, good teeth, and hands that
do not indicate much exercise or manual labor.
Street jan she has won tue confidence and respect
OF the Snerif and her keepers through Uniform and
ladylike bearing and compliance with all rules and
regulations OF the PRISON.
! At naIipast ten O'Clock District Attorney Wins
low moved that the case OF tine people against
Sarah G. Merrigan, the prisoner at tue bar, be
called. The case being duly called the witnesses
ry sta Mrs. them cae ,orward ss and
took her seat by the side OF Messrs. b. +. Tracy
and P. Keady. A panel OF forty-ive Jurors was
tanned, majority OF those who were rejected
nelng eXcusabe under the statute bv
reason OF their entertaining c0nsclen-
tous scruples against capital punishment.
Two jurors were tod to stand aside by the
Court, they being exempt on the score oil aye,
being over seventy years Twas near one O'Clock
when the Clerk oil the Court announced that the
panel was exhausted. The District Attorney SAID
1t was desirable 10 have, II the Court SO ordered
panel OF seventy-ave jurors drawn. Tue defence
had the right TO thirty perempory challenges, aud
had only challenged eleven. Judge Tappen
ordered the desired panel to re drawn, aDd ad-
journed the trial until ten O'Clock this mora
ing The Judge cautioned the jurors that, although
they had not Dcen sworn as vet they must con-
slider themselves likely to become sworn jurors |;
therefore they must exercise the utmost eau ION
In avoiding discussion upon the case. Tney must
not permit anybody TO approacn them either In
Iavor Of Or against the prisoner, and II they should
be SO approached II was their duty to so make a
note or the place. time and circumstances thereof
and refer the Iacts to the Court.
Among the witnesses Tor the defence present
Yesterday were DR.. Brown, superintendent Of
BloomingdaIe Lunatc Asylum; DR.. G. +. Mac
donald late OF Flat0uSh Asylum, and Dr. Corey,
consulting physician OF the latter named institu-
t1On.