New-York tribune., 1874-10-28
A RICH woMAN,s MURDER.

States Circuit Court before Judge skipmAn.
A RICH WOMAN'S MURDER
THE TRIAL OF MRS. MERRIGAN BEGUN IN BROOKLYN
| "A REMARKABLE CASE OF CIRCUMsTANriAL
EVIDENCE.
The trial of Mrs. Sarah {. Merrigan for the
alleged murder OF Margaret Hammill, was continued
yesterday morning before Judge Tappan n the Court OF
Oyer and Terminer. Brooklyn jury obtained at
early hour, after which District Attorney Winslow
briefly stated the against the accused. He said
that the crime committed between Sept and H..
1874 The deceased was the daughter OF Peter Hammil
| a New-York merchant, who died leaving his
daughter several thousand dollars. The deceased and
Mrs. Merrigan had known each other for long
time, their acquaintance be ginning school girls The
friendship existing between them was broken at one
time by a misunderstanding that has never beer ex
planned. Miss Hammil finally became well off In money
matters while Mrs. Merrigan after being married 10
James Merrigan in Wilamsburgh, became poor aud
lived in humble style. A map OF the building No. l94
Ninihst, with the tenement in which the Merri-
gans lived, shown TO the jury. The District
Attorney said that the deceased had been seen
TO enter the building. and she never again came
He claimed that Mrs Merrigan knew that the de-
ceased collected her rents generally about the lst or
each month On Sept tue deceased called on the ae-
cused, and was killed by her. The dead woman was
found in Mrs. Merrgans with piece OF clothes
line around neck, her face and head frightfuily
burned. Kerosene oil had been sprinkled over the
murdered woman and then ignted, for the purpose OF
rendering the deceased unrecognizable The
District-Attorney said that the evidence
The accused listened 10 the ttorneys remarks
calmly. The first witness was Mrs. sarah f. Kipp she
Merrigan the day OF the alleged murder. She saw
xeLdressed lady go to Mrs Merrigan'' rooms sS on
never the lady come out On wednesday
Mrs. MerrlGan began 70 move into tue rooms ns
opposite those occupied by the witness: on
Thursday. at dark, there was an alarm OF
Merrigan 81 your lamp has fallen" Mrs Merri-
gan said, Don't go up fhere-tAere Is Kerosene III
there :; after the fire was extngulshed she saw the
witness said Mrs. Merrigan came into her rooms on
Wednesday and acted very strange sne seemed nerv
Gus and in perspra on; on Tuesday before tue nre
heard scufe in Mrs. Merrgan's room, and heard
ssmed ae IKE that made by two or three
persons; the body OF thing which fell on the noor
in which tue deceased BODY found Alter the fall
she heard whining noise, Ike some one moaning.
same al night again. Mrs Matilda Knowles swore thar
she lived three doors from Mrs Merrlgans house ON
Tuesday Sept q she called Mrs. Merrgan. She met
her the landing and at that time heard dispute IN
one OF the rooms. Mrs Merrigan met her and asked
ne w09f % WI Tr9aS Da aue xcea 6ere for not
asking witness 10 her apartments by saying that ss
Wnted 70 cheat her ont Of $500 daughter OF Mrs.
Knowles testified that Mrs. Merrgan gave her ret
u.
ned as the property OF deceased Dr. Creamer took
the stand next He gave the details Of the
gamms death Shu was caused BY Tne
tral will be resumed to-day The defense will hold tnat
Mrs. Merrgan s insane at times and that several oi
her reativ have been inmates OF unatie asylums.
THE BROOKLYN BOARD OF REGISTRY REPRovED.
VIM. Morris obtained last Friday an order
to show cause why mandamus should not be issued
against the Board Registry and the Board OF Elections
in Brooklyn compel the latter TO grant certfcae
thus giving Morris the right TO register a. voter Tue
case was argued before Judge Pratt. who denied the
motion against the Board Of Elections. but granted the
one against the Board OF Registry He held that the
latter was bound register Morriss name The Judge
fled hls decision yesterday. He says:
II does not follow because a man is entitled to be
that he Is entitled for all officers at
the electou The question for whom registered voter
NAV vote ia nv the latter clause of the
tios Of the Constitution above quoted He vote for
no officer unless he has been resident Tor ~ DAYS OF te
district from which the officer s to De enosen ihas & IN
resident OF the Congressional District or ~ days IN
order to vote for ne must 70, haSe dey
and in order to vote for Alderman, ne must
have been resident OF the wsrd u nr or w o,a aays ~,
30 DAYS He could therefore vote for Alderman
Whether he could for member OF Assembly or mem
her OF Congress depends upon the length or residence IN
those districts respectively But that ne possessed the
qualifications which entitled him to oe registered ana
vote FOR some OF the oncer 70 De voea Io m 70 e
denied The Board OF Registry were therefore wrong NJ
refusing place his name on the Registry ana man-
Issue directing them 10 convene anu pisce
his upon II. .
There is no authority vested in the Board OF Elections
TO give certificates for registration except in the case
of naurazed citizens naturaZed after the last day OF
regstratOn days before the election, as pro
yided section 2o7 the amendatory act OF 1873 Tue
REALTORS case within the provisions of TINS section
and the Board Elections correct in refusing the
certificate demanded The mandamns asked ior 10 De
issued TO the Board of Elections Is denied.