The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-25
CHICAG0'S MURDER TRIAL.
ALBxz NDER sIJLITiN ARRhIsSED
ron KILLING nm. HANIORD.
Tse Antce-d-n,- % su'svan,n view M.xse"-

Il Ne nfceetFrrtr of sut,tvau tn New Mextre-
The Letter that WIS Read to the Aldermen
Meeting of IIanford aud sullivan.
CHICAGO, Oct. 25--Tho trial Of Alexan-
der Sullivan FOR the murder OF Francis Habford
is exciting Rrester interest than any criminal
case ever before heard In this city. The mur-
dcIed man aud bis slayer were poth ~ some
social standing, and well-known In political aud
literary circles. Hanford had for many years
been connected with the public schools OF
Chicago. and from the highest grade OF practi-
cal teacher rose to be Assistant Superintend-
ent. from which position he was ousted to M he
way for a man more inHuen tial with the civic adj
ninistratioD. The removal from his position
deeply irritated him, and he attributed the ac-
ton Of his superiors largely 10 the influence ~
the wife OF Alexander sullivan, the Secretary Of
| the Board Of Public Works.
sullivan Ia Of Irish descent and American
birth and Mrs. Sullivan is Irish, but came to the
| United states at an early age with her parents.
| Her maiden name was buchanan. She became
ENGAGED to sullivan In Detroit. but In 1858 he
! went to New Mexico and lived In santa Fe for
several years. lie there held the position of
| Collector Of Internal Revenue. While In Santa
| Fe Sullivan was indicted for shoe irW at man,
though he was not the aggressOr IN the encoun-
ter, sullivan WIS editing a paper at the time,
| ana AS ne was going into a store he was at
tackled bv Gen. Heath on account Of an srticle
IN sullivans paper. Heath shot at him twice,
|
when sullivan was going by lleath's house
Heath nred at him with caroline, and sullivan
returned the hrc whh hrs revolver. Both were
injected and sullivan was acquitted.
Ia April 1872, Sullivan went To Washington,
until tue spring Of 1873, when he came to Chit
| cHro. He wus Telegraph eduor OF the Chicago
| Post Tor time, then became a reporter on the
| Int,r- OCEAN, am subsequently, on the Times. On
hoard cfPupiic Works.
| Miss Buchanan nhso cs,me 20 Chicago and en-
gagged IN literary work. Sullivan aud she met
staiu, and were marred. They see,n to have
lived happily, notw tandi ing the fact that Mrs
sullivan was u cripple having been struck in
tue back oy the pole OF an omnibus and her
h sir. and Mrs. Sullivan are Catholics, nnd Han
! ford aud 0thsIs claimed that Mrs. Sullivan was
irving 70 cut the sob DOL Board undef CAtnolic
msviss,,os 10 John 81. van Usael, witch Ss WIS
read IN the Board OF Aldermen, IN which the foi-
lowing statement occurred,
Iae insgator aud engineering chief of all the dew.
Worss er nueS5e via Mayor So Sin' ss prSSsS
by ner settlnr Bo sy dismissed ana her husband ar
| Sullivan heard Of the letter. and construed the
\ langu sc to be charge of criminal intimacy be-
home, and bis wife and he agreed to prevent
| the publication Of the letter II they could, and
to get a retraction from Hanford. What hap
7 pened afterward IS thus described by Florence
| +. sullivan. brother " the defendant;
I " got carriage and drove to the corner Of
me. We started with the Intention Of going to
the ncwspop.I Offices We met my brother at
! tue corner u state street and he got into the
| carriage ana we went 10 lIanford's. 81 Oak
| street. lie asked II II were best for him to go,
| and finally he sid he would 90 md see N Han
| ford would not give written etrlction. He
| asked me To get out to he witness n he re-
| fused. Mr.. sullivan remained In the carriage
he asked lady IL MIR. Hanford lived
there. she said he did, ana pointed him cut on
! the sidewalk. Ny brother Approached him. and
| asked him II his name was Hsnford. He said
| Yes. Mv brother then pull, d commun!cs-
1ou out OF his pocket and said to biu. ihis
| Is part OF an article that was read IN the Coun-
| ell tonight assaiiDg my wife, and / want to
know Il you axe tue author. Hsuford hest
answer. Ny brother said, Van Osdel says you
are the author;' ana H!uford sad, ii YOU
know who the author Is there is no necessity
| for asking me- Ny brother III. his article
. has an Infamous meaning Or implcaslop or
| ford. either want YOU TO rove what you nave
I'D, or retFact IT. Hanford didn't say any
Of NE 'FNs Should vo %qO Mre yS Or
even YOU and then you come to me in a geo,,e-
ana q so% q s .ss
90 Iou rem.ef ! want You to give mo shs
prot NY .. orotntr tnen SAID, DO you tefser
ana ha n iod dS ,nd thea my brother
thrown Up ma they scuried for while, and
then both foil dow ,tnpped I think-mv
talking TO Nts. Sullivan In the carriage, turned
around aud took hold Of my brother. Mrs. sui
sake. Acc, don't hurt him That was after
| they fell. ] rushed ~ Mrs, Sullivan. ana took
hold of her arm. Hanford got up, and he
struck her j had turned toward my brother,
| and was attracted by scream from her, and
| turned around and saw Hanford strike her. She
said, Why, the scoundTel IL striking me- I
saw him strike her either In the face or neck.
| she did not seem TO he doing anything except
| standing when he struck her. She seemed to
| be going to the rescue VI my brother took
| hold Of her, and showed her into the carriage.
| Hanford rushed 10 the direction OF my brothe
aud l heard pistol shOt, and turned around
aud saw uanfCTd Iytng on The grass"
| About the facts Of the shooting there Is not
| much dispute, tie question being whether Sui
| Ivan went TO see Hanford with the intention OF
| killing him. During the trial sullivan has gwen
several exhibitions 81 ten per. even saying, when
| the prosecuting attorney IN his opening address
charged him with dsIiberate murder:
| " hat Il n ite"'
| Mrs sullivan and Mrs. Hanford appear ia
| court botn dressed In black, aud both wearing
wells. Mrs. Sullv appears 70 be very weak,
and Is something's overcome by emotion.
Several members OF the Bobrd OF Education
have testified very positively that Mrs. sullivan
has never tried to influence appointments or
legislation. or to procure tue exclusion Of the
Bible from the schools.
The court room ~ thronged daily. and the re-
suit Of the trial ~ awaited with eagerness.