The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-02

BY whom she was left large sum Of
money. Mrs. Merrigan, at that time
Miss Sarah Doherty, became uneasy after
the departure Of Miss Hamill, and, be.
fore her postulate had been concluded,
also left the convent. The friendship be-
tween them was continued, and became
closer after they had relinquished convent
life. In the course Of time Sarah Doher-
Unmarried . young stair builder, named
James Merrigan, who, though an unedu-
Gated man, is said to have lived happily
with his wife. There was one cause Of
disagreement between them, however, and
it grew out of the fact that Mrs. Merri-
gan was constantly visited by her convent
friend after marriage. Miss Hamin was
rich, and Merrigan thought her visits
tended to make his wife dissatisfied with
their condition in life. That Mrs. Merri-
gan bore her humble life with an ill.grace
was demonstrated by the fact that she
constantly complained to friends Of her
poverty, and, whenever she had an OPP
portunity, visited fortune tellers in the
hope that she might gain knowledge of .
brighter future which in time might be
hers. In these visits she was often &C
companied by Miss Hamill, who was also
somewhat superstitious. On Sept. 2, 1873,
Miss Hamill was seen to enter Mr.. Merri-
gan's house at No. 1919 Ninth street,
Brooklyn. E. D. Two days after there
was an alarm of fire in the house, and
when the flames were extinguished Miss
Hamill's dead body was found, nearly
naked and partially burned, lying under
the mattress of bed in Mrs. Merrigan's
apartments. Round the neck Of the body
there was rope with a slip-knot,
and on the neck marks as if
the rope had been drawn
tight. The doctors, when the post NOR
TEN examination was made, announced
that the woman had died Of strangula-
ton. 1t should be stated that the car
pet in the room was found to be saturated
with kerosene oil. Both Merrigan and
his wife were arrested. but at the inquest
it was proved that Merrigan had not been
seen in his house ON the day upon which
it was visited by Miss Hamill. He was
therefore discharged on bail. Mrs. Mer-
rigan was indicted and tried twice, the
jury disagreeing both times. On the
first trial the defense was an extraordi-
nary one. 1t was claimed that some
weeks before Miss Hamill visited Mrs.
Merrigan, Sept. 2, 1873. the latter was
called upon by gypsy named Bertha
who told her fortune by measuring her
neck, waist and feet. When Miss Ha
mill called on Mrs. Merrigan she was told
Of the gypsy's method of telling fortunes
and expressed desire to have herself
measured in the same manner. For Thu
purpose she got upon q chair near thu
bedroom door. Mrs. Merrigsn frs
placed clothes-line round Miss Hamill'
nee (, having made slip-noose with tn
purpose of inserting q pin in. the rop
when the rope should have beeI
drawn sufficiently tight to in
sure an accurate measurement 9
the neck. The rope was = long one, an
at Miss Hamill's request the danglin
end was thrown over the door, and turne
twice or thrice around the knob on tn
other side in order to prevent its being i
the way. While the measurement wa
in progress knock was heard at tn
front door. Miss Hamill desired Mrs
Merrigan not to let any one in as sh
was Invested Of some Of her clothing in Of
J der to facilitate the measurement, an
J because she disliked as she expressed i
that any person shonld catch them
such foolish employment. Mrs. Me-
! rigan went to the door and found there
woman named Knowles, who wished hi
e to visit her house for few moments
see some new purchase. Mrs. Merrigal
( to get rid Of the visitor, accompanied b,
S to the place, which was only half bloc
4 away. After staying short time 81
s excused herself, saving that Miss Hami
e was visiting her. On returning to b.
e apartments Mrs. Merrigan was horri6,
t to see her friend hanging to the do
4 dead. Forgetting that the rope v
t fastened on the other side, Miss Ham
had slipped off the chair and was hang
t by the slip-knot which had be
:. made to measure her nee
d Mrs. Merrigan's baby, chi
t about year old, was sitting in . chair
Z the time, and when its mother return
o Was crying Justify. Finding her frie
:. dead, Mrs. Nerrigan fell on her knees q
y commenced praying and crying. Fro
., that moment, it is claimed, she becal
.. insane, and with the cunning Of NADINE
g hid the body under the bed to preve
q discovery. Whether the fire was &C
dental or the work Of Mrs. Merrigan b
ot never been ascertained, but it is certs
, she removed the most Of her furnitu
T. before it occurred. These facts were
% legged BY the prisoners ssansel, .
g formed the principal part Of the defe1
u on the first trial. II was also prov
., that Mrs. Merrigan exhibited symptol
=. Of insanity frequently during her Ii
ae and that several members Of her fam
q. were confined in lunatic asylums.
stated above, the jury disagreed. b
on the first and second trial the prosel
tion brought forward witness v
swore that on the day Miss Hamill /.
= tered the Merrigans' rooms she hear,
scuffie and scream and . mans 70
saying, ..st.nd back - you.'
C these sounds, The witness said, D
r. ceeded from Mrs Merrigan's rooms, !,