The New York herald., 1877-02-28
THE BRIDGET GILLIGAN MYSTERY.
II THERE HAS NOT BEEN FOUL PLAY, THEN
WHAT HAS BECOME OF THE MISSING

II THERE HAS NOT BEEN FOUL PLAY, THEN
WHAT HAS BECOME OF THE MISSING
WOMAN?
Among the tenants OF tho dingy brick building No.
ZIG First avenue Of Thirteenth street. is
Thomas Boylan, brother OF the missing Bridget Gill;
gan, who suddenly disappeared from the promises
on about the 10Th OF April, 1876, and
has not been heard from since. Mrs. Gill;
gan had occupied a tenement on the sec
ond floor Tor considerable period with her
brother, one Michael Boyan, who is at present under
the OF his younger sister. Mrs. Woodruff, OF ST
Marks place. Thomas Boylan had a tenement
on tho upper loor Several OF tho tenants at No. 2l6
recoect having talked with the missing at AMI
about Easter which fixes OF her disappearance
as having taken place the mddio OF
April. Ono OF the witnesses states positively that
he saw and talked with Bridget Gigan the Sunday
before Easter April o. He cannot state categorically
what day Of the month It was, or what month 1t was,
but with Catholics habit OF reckoning IRON ccciesi
astical landmarks he is certain that the conversation
occurred the Sunday preceding the Easter festival
Her states that she disappeared in tho latter part
OF April; her sister, Mrs Woodruff OF ST. Marks place.
positive us TO the date, ana maintains strict
silence 70 Mrs. Giliigan's affairs, bciug fully con-
WINGED that Is or The newspapers
quiro INTO such mysteries. Thomas Boyian, upon
whom the representative OF the HERALD called ycstcr-
day afternoon with view to OBTAIN somc data Tending
TO solve the mystery of Mrs. Gigans disappearance,
found IN The basement OF tho building
breaking up refuse boards with an eagecss
PALE haggard eyed ana OF sinister aspect standing
by with armiul OF kindhrgs. The basement was
as dark AS twilight merging into night-low-rooed
crypiIke and suggestive ot coius packed away in mil
dewcd catucombs. study Tor such Ill artist as Dorc
Gown his and came forward in response
to the request Tor moments conversation, whIlo the
pald old woman eyed the intruder with suspicion
that a little AKIN TO terror al can't say when she
went away" replied Thomas Boylan slowly after re-
ceiving ocular telegram from his companion; and
there was something IN his manner as II he were re-
peatng by rote III expect 10 Bridget come IN
'most any day"aftcr another Geographic glance IRON
the haggard eyes cleaning IN the bscksround Il
can't tell you anything moro about t." And the old
man picked up his rusty axe and went on dosgedly
with his work.
ants ut No. PIG and IRON the statements OF her rea
that Mrs Gillgan was IN tho habit OF going out
10 work at odd jobs and oil remaining Tor periods
varying from three weeks without ADVISING
her relatives to her movements. Sho was very reti
GUS and had thus managed accumulate about x4UUO
Her disappearance, owing TO tho reticence that sho
always tanned and 10 her habit o being absent lor
together had continued for sevara weeks without
exciting either gossip or inquiry; aud when The negh.
bors commenced to canvass the subject the necessary
clcws had already iadcd IRON thor recollection.
WAS 1T A MURDERY
On Monday night, February ~, Shcrih Bernard
Reilly called ON Captain McCuagh, ut tue seventeenth
precinct station house, but that officer beng absent,
his suspicious remained Tor the night undvulged.
captain McCullagh called on the sheriff en-
Thirteenth street, and was informed that Michael
Boyian was suspected OF the murder OF his aged
sister, MIS- Bridget Gilgan, who had mystcrously
disappeared IN April last. careful investigation was
Immediately set loot by the Captain, assisted by
Sergeant Rooney and the Sheriff; and on breaking
open the door OF the old mans room an old letter
press Iound near the window, upon un-
screwing which lour bank books, wrapped IN
an old newspaper, were brought 10 light TWO
were on the BIeecker street savings Bank, and two
represented various deposits with trusted Catholic
preate. The total amount rcpr csenttd was between
three and four thousand dollars An old dress ana
shawl belong .ng TO the missing woman lay near by.
Michael Boylan, who absent when the
proceedings Instituted, was arrested on
his return nome and taken to the station house.
He dcned having any money, but the sum OF
$40 20 was found padded beneath the lining OF his
coat, vest pantaloons. He denied knowing any
thing OF his SISTERS whereabouts, and, on being ar.
raigned before Justice Murray at the instance OF
Thomas Boyan on the charge of insanity, was placed
IN tho care OF his sister, Mrs Della Woodruff, residing
In ST. Marks place, who declined TO permit an inter-
view with him yesterday afternoon on the ground
that he had nothing to say, and herself refused To j
vuge any acs tending to rcvea, the whereabouts or
fate OF her missing SISTER.
What became Of Mrs. Bridget Gilligan No 2l6 FIRST
avenue, Is one OF those mysteries that call or thor
ough police investigation. The books show that she
not sent TO the almsnousc to the workn ousc
she had money on ucr person and has disappeared.
Strange would II not be, II the old man Boylans hallu
cnation that no was unmitedly wealthy should turn
out 10 bo the psychological reflex Of Mrs. Glgans fate