Connecticut western news., 1875-08-06
AN DISSOLVED MYSTERY.
A Singular Criminal Case Before the Nc
 H H " York Courts.

A Singular Criminal Case Before the Now # York Courts.
 One of the most extraordinary crimi- nal cases of recent date is that of Mrs. Merrigan, charged with the murder of Miss Hamill, and now released on bail. The scene opens at the convent of Our Lady of Charity, in New York. 3 At that age when "friendships are formed too romantic to last, 5" Miss Hamill and Miss Sarah Doherty contracted an attachment for one another, which, despite the poet, did last until the death of the former, many)years later. On succeeding to. a fortune at her fathers death, Miss Hanill abandoned the convent. Miss Doherty, left lamenting, pined for the presence of her friend, and before long she left too. Now, although it is always very easy to carry on friendships at school, it is by no means so practicable in alter life, when worldly advantages are very different. Miss Hamill, how ever, was affectionately faithful to Mrs. Merrigan, as her friend presently be- came, by marriage with young tradesrs man. Mrs. Merrigan, to the great vexa- tion of her husband, could not resist continually contrasting the inferiority of her own position with that of her friend, and at length sought consolation in wis., It's to a clairvoyant, with the idea of exs tracting from that quarter vaticinations as to her future. Miss Hamiu sympaz thized with her friend in the matter of clairvoyants, and it is averred that out of such sympathy. she came to an un- timely end. 1'.: :''' <
 On September 2, 1873, says the New. York IE7aes, which tells the story, Miss Ha1nin paid visit to Mrs. Merrigan' g, house. Two days later a fire occurred there-most of the furniture having been previously removed then Miss; Hamill's corpse was discovered, with scarcely any clothing upon 1t, and partly burned, lying under mattress in Mrs. Merrigan's room, the carpet of which was saturated with kerosene oil.' There were unmistakable marks of strangul@' tion upon the. dead woman's neck. Mer- rigan succeeded in proving an 0libi on the day that Miss Hanil went there, but both on the first and second trials the prosecution brought forward a witness who swore to hearing mans voice and scuffle in Mrs. Merrigan's rooms on the occasion of Miss Hamill's last visit, and, further, to have seen Merrigan leave the house and, although we do not;see: it stated that Merrigan's absence was accounted for up to the time the body was found, it must be presumed this was so. Mrs. Merrigan's account is amazing. She said: -......
 Some weeks before Miss Hamin visit ed Mrs. Merrigan, Sept. 2, 1873, the lat ter was called upon by a gypsy named Bertha, who told her fortune by measI1r ing her neck, waist, and feet. When Miss Hamill called on Mrs. Merrigan she was told of the gypsy's method of tell ing fortunes, and expressed desire to have herself measured in the same man. ner. For this purpose she got upon 8 chair near the bedroom door. Mrs. Merrigan first placed @ clothes line, round Miss HamilPs neck, having made a aslip-noose with the purpose of insert-' ing 8 pin in the rope when the rope should have been drawn sufficiently tight to insure an accurate measurement of the neck. The rope was long one, and at Miss Hamilps request the dang ling end was thrown over the door and turned twice or thrice around the knob on the other side, in order to prevent it's being in the way. While the measure ment was in progress knock was heard at the front door. Miss Hamill desired Mrs. Merrigan not to let any one in, as she was divested of some of her clothr ing in order to facilitate the measure ment, and because she disliked, as she expressed it, that any one should catch them in such 8 foolish employment. Mrs. Merrigan went to the door and found there a woman named Knowles, who wished her to visit her house for Q few moments to see some new purchase. Mrs. Merrigan, to getirid of the visitor, accompanied her to the place, which was only half block away. After staying short time she excused herself, saying that Miss Hamill was visiting her. On returning to her apartments Mrs. Merri- gan was mortified to see her friend hang ing to the door dead. Forgetting that the rope was fastened on the other side, Miss Hamill had slipped off the chair, and was hanging by the slip knot which had been made to measure her neck. ..
 Why it was necessary for Miss HamiQ to mount chair for measurement is not obvious. But assuming the truth of this marvellous story, what followed is easily accountable. @ > s-S.~