The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-09
A MURDERER'S CONFESSION.
THE TRAGEDY IN THE BELFRY o.
a CHUROH IN BOSTOM
Piper Cepfessius the Murder Of iatsis MsSs1
Young-Aiso, that he Killed Miss nrsArrs
Landeernn-Tbe A Asssu1t upon Mary lyman.

Piper Confessina the Murder Of iAtfis Mnhl1
Youns-Aiso, that he Killed Miss BrsAsss
Landcsrnn-TbeA Assault upon Mary Ty.a..
Boston, May s.-Thomas w. Piper. the
sexton Of tho Warren Avenue Church. who q
under sentence OF death for the murder OF sha
nve-year-old child, Mabel Young, In the belffy
OF the church, yesterday startled his oounssl,
Edward p. Brown, VINO was In consultation with
him regarding the motion for new trial, whioA
was to be argued In the Supreme Court to-dsy.
by confessing tho murder, and Furthermore thsA
he was the murderer Of bridget LanG1eran -
Dorchester on the night Of Dec 8, 1879, for whish
crime he has been long under suspicion. "
day Pipers full confession was made public ana
caused much excitement. Any doubts a. 70 ~
truth were swept away by the statement Of hHs
counsel In the Supreme Judicial Court thAs
morning. MT. Brown said that be would no1
press the m otion for new trial, In view Of shs
oonversation he had with Piper. Judges Oh
Piper declares that he had no motive for Thea
crimes, particularly the murder Of the ohiid and
them. He says that he has hitherto lied TO blind
bis counsel. knowing that he could not get thol2
He has Of late been rapidly breaking down =
strength and health. through his great mentaa
agony, and II 70 thought that y allowed q
escape the Rallows he could not live SIX woekn.
His execution Is set down for the eeth Of this
month: In his confession Of the murder q
Mabel Young, Piper says:
took the bat from the lover room before or abouo
the commencement Of school 20 hl somebody Is sSsS
aeo sSs ssai
.sn1o nS% spd snrred e % the ee After the ccss
ao .vss 'ss iss aS' Boy, e
9sa the s ass ss.:
up stare Ind induced her 70 60 With me Ints -
times: and md she ie where ihs blood found. rsssl
Il was discovered.
Piper's confession OF the murder of BrideA
~ Mhandreean. on Dec b, 1879, was equally explioA9,
opium, and deliberately prepared a club 70 Nd
some one. He saw Bridget on the street. aaA
followed close behind her. He says;
struck herr Immediately she fell down. and struso
man e. sS%ss ss so sTsa ssss Y
% wa, I'm, I%oIng up the cans a, ,se rarOaa somsbo
c1ffsd me hat aO knife in me Wy poeeS
sWT away. ''''' = ''''' -'A'-''' -"' " = 'D''"
The Bridget Landreean case had long besa
wrapped IN the deepest mystery. The girl was 3
domestic OF good repute, and while returning
to her MISTRESS home at about OF clock at nigh1
from visit to some friends, was dubbed -
death at part OF Dorchester known as Up-
hams Corner. Several persons were arrested
on suspicion, PiDer being one OF them, bod
SUFFICIENT evidence could not be obtained aRains3
any OF the prisoners, and each was dischargel
soon after examination. 1t was for this murdes
murder to Ireland was extradited and brougha
to this country by the detectives. He was Q
former sweethesrt OF the girl. but no case could
be made against him, and he WIS discharRe4
only to return to Ireland to be murdered him
self there.
1t Is now almost certain that Piper was the
assailant OF Mary lyman on July /, 1874. He oon-
fesses that he attempted to kill her. She was .
girl OF the town, and was found one night In hss
bed insensible and horribly manged. She wao
taken to the hospital and recovered. She is noW
an inmate Of a lunatio asylum. A lover Of hers
named Colby was arrested for this assault, buA
the girl refused to tell what she knew, and hs
was discharged.
Piper says he was prompted to the murder of
Mabel Young and Bridget Landregan by tho use
OF stimulaDts, under the influence Of which he
had an insane desire to shed blood. The DosIoa
Epentng Herald says:
There is feeling abroad among lawyers detectives
and the public generally that the contradictory
ments now put out Piper result OF cool re-.
soning ON his part and OF such ingenuity he poe
sessed OF. In order TO throw doubt aanity d
general or else TO show tnat he has aba
mania for blood for which he Is not responsible, and
change In his statement either the OF more
muruers or the denial Of ALL would at this momsna
astonish the community.