The New York herald., 1874-10-29

were, - WIN oe remembered largely In
saId Miss Hanmlls brothers were Jealous
oil her because their father mad left her the
largest SUN OF money rememher the evening OF
the nre. Mrs. Merrlgan was on the sidewalk with
her mother when frat saw her, between half past
eight ana nine O'Clock; some one asked her where
was her husband. ana she replied that he was at
the lodge.
THE PROSECUTION RESTS.
Attwenty minutes 10 three O'Clock District Attor-
ney Winslow arose and SAID I'll the Court please.
with the exception OF single reservation oil one
Witness We rest this case The witness we de-
sire to call At some luture tune Is Mrs. Monks. the
ceased boardedn The deience interposcd no OBJ
lection ana the case rested. wh Counsellor p.
Ready arose and proceeded 10 open Tor
THE DEFENCE.
He SAID the defendant was oorn In Brooklyn In
Went 10 school In the Eastern District In her
earlier school days and became very devout At
a later period oil her oirlhood che went frequently
on religious pgrimages TO 81. MichaePs Monastery,
Hohoken N. j. There she met Miss Maggie Ham
mill for the first time. and warm friendship arose
between them. They next met as inmates OF the
Convent OF Our Lady or Charity, foot OF East Nine
tieth street. New York. At the expiration OF two
years Miss Hammill left the institution for the
world. and Mrs. Merrigan remained tnere. MISS
Hammlll wrote frequently 10 ner oio ir,ead ad
them 10 compliance with the rules OF the lnstitu-
ton. After lew months, however, the prisoner
became lonely after her friends departure ana
applied tor permission 10 leave. The sister Supe.
rioress endeavorcd TO dissuade her rom aoan-
doning q religious lie. but her enorts were Iutile,
aud she returned 10 her home IN charge OF two
..uutdoor sisters" Sne regrets that change At
this day, and she will regret 1t as long as she
lives. she became quite III alter her return. and
soon AFTER recovering ner health she married
James Merrgan. man whom she had known all
and dd the very best he could to support her. Tne
counsel then proceeded TO cite several IN
cldents to Illustrate repeated evidencc OF loss
OF memory on the part or his client,
and claimed their ability to prove all tnat
thes set Iorth and to satisfy the Jury that she had
coH HmiJted no crime. Tae most friendly relation
ship was maintained between Mrs. Merrigan and
Miss Hammill up to the time OF the death o. the
latter. ON September Miss Hammlil visited the
prisoner. The two women had been in the haoit
ol visiting fortune telerS frequently gypsy
woman named Martha told Mrs. MerrIgan that oy
measuring her neck and toes with rope she could
tell her Ortuue. She wrote II on paper, and
wnen MISS Hammill called on that memorable day
\ tie latter made last the clothes line which has
been shown the Jury, around her neck, ana,
standing on chair BY the door. commenced to
measure her leeL, one end being fastened over
the outslde OF the door. prescribed by
the fortune teller. Two ladies' were heard coming
up stars and Mrs. Merrigan ran out to prevent
! the newcomers from entering the room. Sne was
delayed by these visitors ior fifteen minutes, ana
Tiend MISS ilammIIl lying on the moor strangIed
and dying vita this rope around her neck. MIS-
Merrigan was overpowered Dy tae ,ofror ana ana
moor. lie claimed that the best evidence OF the
insanity the woman was her giving away ar
tlcles which she lad stolen from her murdered
friend among her neighbors. They would sho "
tnat she was insane aud that the disease was
I hereditary In her family. At tne time OF the 0c-
currence MRS. Merrigan was two months advanced
/ in pregnancy The counsel then read several
authorities on insanity bearing on the case.
THE FORTUNE TELLEks STORY.
Amaile Stevens was called and deposed that she
resided at No. 472 Canal street; saw Mrs. Meiii
gan once at my house, IN company with MRS.
Knowles, some time In August, 1878; am a medi-
Cal clalrvoyant, and she said she came to consult
ME on policy, as she was an nxlOuS to win money /;
she was very much excited and nervous; she asked
me II some friend would leave her any money
| and seemed greatly depressed her mind 0eing IN
sucn o state affected my mind; should Judge she
4 had good deal on her mind; told her there
were evil influences around her, and ADVISED
I her to be careful, as | thought she would
/ saw blood all around me- and coffin told her
not to be worried but t. have patience IN policy !;
when spoke OF the comm she SAID, 81 hope IL Will
not be my father :" Ielt she was In peculiar
condition, and myself was never so much afeced
by any person before; she was not with me In the
room alone for more than fifteen or twenty min
utes; felt SICK myself and did not notice anything
ike insanity about her
Crosse xamlned by the District Attorney-I
was born in the State OF New York; 1 have
twelve Years; prescribed no medical treatment
for her; | cont know tDat have seen people
who were insane and gave similar evidences
to myself; claim power to forecast lucky num-
bers draw policy; did not forecast the time Of
the tragedy; saw no nre or smoke at the time Of
know there Is tragedy TO occur; i've hours alter
She lett me, had she been murdered in the street
should have felt II at the interview she said she
had o sister better on ana she wanted to have
means; nave seen the prisoner nowhere except
In the court room: MRS. Knowles had been over
quite frequently TO consult ABOUT ner nealtn ana
that OF her son.
AT this point, it being halEpast four o'clock the
Judge cautioned the jurors, and the Court ad-
journed until ten O'Clock this morning