The New York herald., 1874-10-30
THE MERRIGAN-HAMMILL MUIR
DER.

THE MERRIGAN-HAMM1LL MUIR
DER.
The Defence Elicit Evidence Showing
the Absent-Nfindcdness and Epileptio
insanity Of the Defendant-FIere
Madness ON the Maternal stde-How
the Mental Obsc uration Shaped Itself.
Yesterday forenoon the trial OF Mrs. Sarah c.
Merrigan for the murder OF Miss Margaret Ham
mill was continued In the Court OF Oyer and Ter.
miner Of Kings county, before Judge Tappen and
Associate Justices voorhees, and johnson. The
court room was thronged and the evidence was
listened to with marked attention. The prisoner
occupied her accustomed seat by the SIDE OF her
counsel. Messrs. Tracy and Ready, and manifested
q deep interest In the proceedings. The mother
OF the accused, Mrs. Dougherty, was, as
usual in company with her unfortunate dauph.
ter throughout the day. Mr.. Merrigan also
called In and exchanged o few words with
the prisoner. The day was devoted to the exam
nation OF witnesses for the defence, the burden
OF which appears to rest on the plea that the de.
fendant Is an epileptic and subject to paroxysms
OF insanity. Several medical men were exam
tined as to the mental condition and responsibility
OF the prisoner.
Ex-sERGEANT MILLHR's NARRATIVE.
Charles H. Miller, the nrst witness called test.
led that while in charge or the Sixth precinct sta.
tion house, on Saturday May 21, 1871, while at tho
DESK about ten O'Clock In the evening, he saw the
defendant, who was brought In there In an un-
conscious condition; she remained there while he
was at the desk, and he left her there when he
went or duty at six O'Clock In the morning; the
memorandum shown me shows that James
Merrigan was notified OF the fact that his
wife was at the station house; had been
several hours trying to make her comprehend
my questions In order to ma out where she lived
she was found on the street by an Officer and was
hardly ahle to walk by herself; her condition was
that Of stupor; there was dlfrculty OF artlcua-
ton; when witness ert the station house she was
not much improved; did not notice at that time any
wildness OF look, but there was vacancy Of stare
Cross.examined--Dld not Know that she had
been drinking; did not detect any smell OF beer
about her; she Old not evade my questions she
did not comprehend them; her answers were in
comprehensive.
Re-direot-I can say decidedly that she was not
intoxicated that night; concluded she was suffer.
ing from fits, consequent upon her condition OF
pregnancy
THE PRISONERS FATHER TAKES THE STAND
Daniel Dougnerty. father OF Mrs. Merrgan, testt-
fed that his daughter Is twenty -four years old,
and was born IN North Fourth street, Brooklyn,
E. b.; am practical engineer and fireman;
couldn't swear as TO how long she has been mar
ried; her husband is James Merrigan, ship car
penter; she has little girl, three years and nve
months old; the child that died was in jail with Its
mother when 1t took sick; remember being noti
ned on the occasion spoken Of by the last witness
TO 60 to the station mouse on Staag street. where
he went and found Mrs. Merrigan lying there sick:
he assisted her nome, and she renamed unwell
ior some days; THIS was little before the boy was
born; remembered another occasion when he had
TO search for his daughter who had strayed away
from her home, and when he found her he asked
aswered do know where am gcr ss shs
was unconscious; she did not know what she was
doing; that occurred lust before the little girl's
births she frequently complained OF pains in the
head; her uncle, John McCarron was insane, and
was an inmate OF the Fatbush Asylum; his delu.
Almighty had destined hin for the Presidency OF
the United States; Mrs. Merrigan, when child,
igious books, and ohe.thlrd Of her time lime, was
passed in prayer and visiting churches ana other
feigous institutions; she used to go to West
every thing at the Hoooken church sne told me
told witness that the latter church was like the
one which the blessed Virgin Mary worsnipped In;
e was suy That ubec All the S e
entered the convent Of "Oar Lady OF Charityu ana
was there nearly Two . years she let there on &C;
her feet and given them to destitute woman.
and has borrowed money to give to the poor; that
testified his wife was OF very nervous tempera-
ment.
liquor in her lie; am MEMBER Of the Ancient
Order Of Hibernians whose duty 1t ia 10
raise the sick and bury the dead: the nus
TO support his vile; had seen Maggie Ham
mill at his house. several times; the last
daughter daughter say Miss Hanm would be rich n' when len
she got her share from her brother James saw HIS
daughter on Ninth street on the night OF the fire;
cn n n no 10
on that night she gave me no account OF Margaret
Hammill; don't know whether sho spoke OF her
or not Couldn't say whether he heard OF Margaret
not say whether he had ever spoken 90 his
SO far as witness knew there were none OF his
family insane; II IS ten years ago since he saw his
brother-ln-law, Mr.. Carron, who was in the lunauc
asylum.
Hugh McCarron, OF No. s39 Columbia street, ties.
mother Of the prisoner: knew all her relatives in
the county OF Donegal, ireland; knew Maggie NC.
sent to the Derry Lunatic Asylum; she was there
Tor two years, alter which she got well have been
informed since came here OF other relatives being
In the asylum.
Celia McCarron testified that she came from Ire-
land fourteen months ago; knew the relatives OF
Merrigan, Maggie McCarron, had been insane and
was IN the asylum at Derry Tor some time; Ham
sane paroy q anohe aash r cousin
still insane; he is brother OF the two women
named. and has been six years in the institution;
saw Darby taken there.
THE DEFENDANTS HEALTH IN JAIL.
DR.. A: w. shepherd deposed-I am physician OF
the jail and have attended defendant profession
ally; about three or four montns after she came
In prescribed Tor her: 1t might have been earlier
than tnat; she was suffering from physical pros
tratiUn and was very weak; size told me she had a
miscarriage and treated ner accordingly; she
was about three or four months advanced should
say wnen attended her; she gave me perfectly
inteifgioie account Of fherseli when have seen
her ! found her calm and OF modest dis
position rather
Catherine Valentine testified tnat she had been
for seven or eight months employed tn the Ray.
mona street jail; remembered defendant having
mad ut there III May last; she had pretty se-
we're attack or commissions, and II required threc
women 10 hold her on the bed she was uncon-
scions: she looked very wiid out OF her eyes; IL
was over two hours when she came to.
TOUCHING INSANITY
Surgeon John Byrnes testified that he was Presi-
dent or the New York Obstetrlc Society preg-
nancy, as a disturbing cause, IL apt to affect the