Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-07-31
A STRANGE STORY.
Sad Experience Of the Wife
of an Army Officer.

va aSAk q = may OAshS0As
The telegraph Thursday an.
nounced that Mrs. Merritt, wife OF
Colonel Merritt, OF the United
States Army, had been en:iced on
a tugboat in the harbor of New
York, on Tuesday night. and vio-
lently assaulted. The New York
Times of Thursday gives the fol-
lowing particulars of the affair:
About twelve o'clock on Tues
day night a woman of about
twenty-eight years of age, shabb-
lily dressed, hut of a refined and
delicate appearance, was taken
into the fourth precinct station by
a policeman. She there complain
ed that an assault had been made
upon her by five men on board the
tugboat Mike Norton. Captain
Williams at once went to the boat,
which was lying at the wharf on
the East river, and after surround
her with Gordon of patrolmen
two men were found hidden in the
lower hold, who, upon being con-
fronted with the complainant,
were fully identified by her. The
men were committed to the Tombs
without bail.
The lady who was assaulted told
the police that her name was
Louisa Merritt, the wife of Colonel
Merritt, of the United States Army
and that about three weeks ago
she made her escape from luna
tic asylum near Washington city,
District of Columbia, called the st.
Elizabeth Asylum, but better
known as the Government asylum.
She had been confined there by
her husband near year ago last
September, in order to break her
of the habit of eating morphine.
At the time mentioned she man
aged to make her escape through
a hole ia the wall, ard went to
Alexandria, Virginia, on foot.
From there she went to Balti-
more, and thence to Philadelphia,
where she remained for some days.
She then sold heavy gold ring
she had in her possession and pro-
cured a few necessary articles of
clothing.
She saw in the Philadelphia pa
pers that Detective McDevitt, of
Washington, was in the city, and
fearing that he might be looking
for her, determined to 60 away at
once. She therefore took the train
for Jersey City, where she arrived
on Tuesday morning. Hoping to
find a situation she looked over
the advertisements in the daily
papers, and saw that stewardess
was needed on a steamer, and came
to New York to apply for the po-
sition. She lost her way during
the day, and at last, when she at
tempted to return TO Jersey City,
became bewildered ana wandered
aimlessly about. Near IL o'clock
at night she found herself in south
street, and while standing on a
corner was approached by man
who asked her what she was do
ing there. She told him her story,
and he said he was the agent of
the vessel she was looking for, and
told her he would take her on
board. She then went with him
to the tug Mike Norton, and en-
tered the scabin with him. After
she had been there a short time
four other men made their appear
ance, and the assault was me11e.-
The moment she effected her es-
cape she sought the protection of
the first patrolman she met, who
took her to the police station, with
the result above stated. 1t was
with great difficulty that Captain
Williams could get her to tell her
story, as she said that she did not
want her troubles to be made pub
lie, and that all she desired was to
be allowed to go away in safety
She had appealed to the officer for
protection only. Half a dozen old
coarse cotton handkerchiefs found
in her possession are marked &C.
E. Waldron." She accounts for
this by saying that she bought
them in Philadelphia, and had
them SO marked because she pro-
posed to take that name, as she
has brother-in-law by the name
of Charles E. Waldron, in Boston,
a member of large iron firm
Besides the handkerchiefs guam
tity of morphine was found in one
of her pockets, and Capt. Williams
says he thinks she was under its
influence at the time she was brot
to the station. He says that her
manner and language indicate that
she is a refined and cultivated lady
though evidently suffering from
the excessive use of morphine. a
medical examination disclosed the
fact that she had several severe
bruises on her arms.