The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-09-25
A Mighty Network of Damning Facts
Worked Up by the Police and
Sentinel Reporters.
The Causes Which Led to the Crime Fully
and Graphically Stated.
Indignation OF the People and Threats OF
Summary Punishment. Law or
No Law.


double murder, first brought to light at
late hour Sunday afternoon, and which was
fully reported in yesterdays Sentinel, are
full of interest to the people of this city.
The bodies were early identified as those OF
the missing wife and child of William Mer-
rick, the proprietor of livery stable on
South street, between Illinois and Tennessee
streets. The way and manner of their iden-
tification was as follows: As soon as the
murder became known to the police
the force was set at work to discover
by whom the crime was committed. Officers
. Case, Splann and Shut, of the regular force,
and Merchant Policeman Beltz thought
they had a clew to the murder, and to-
gether visited the spot where the remains
were found and made a thorough examina-
ton of the place. They, however, discovered
but little there that would serve to lead to
the detection of the guilty party or parties.
At the foot of the shallow grave, where the
bodies were found Officer Case picked up a
scrap OF newspaper which had probably
fallen from the clothing OF the murdered
woman, and which was in some respects
pen picture of her own miserable life. Ii
was as follows:
mo man will ever prosper who has the curse
of a ruined woman upon him. Inc muruerer
of the body be tried and executed by the
worlds laws, but the murderer OF a soul Is
tried by heavens law and execution is as sure
as divine Justice" Aunt Betsy said this as she
folded the white hands of beautiful girl and
put white flowers and green leaves about the
beside the girl mother. The house was hushed
and there was mourning such as few knew.
Half glad that the mother and child were dead
the rest of the family must perform the last
sad Office OF burial and bear the family shame.
A haunted house! ruined home! God the
architect and man the spOiler! The curse Is
there and ne destroyer can not ESCAPE.
On the return of the officers to the city
they came to the conclusion that the muir
dered woman was
THE WIFE OF THE WILLIAM MERRIcK
before mentioned. 1t was known to the OF
fcers, as well as to many persons residing
in the neighborhood, that Mrs. Mer
rick had been spirited away from
her home some ten days ago. The officers,
therefore at 3 clock yesterday morning Wis.
tied the stables of Merrick, and finding him
within requested admittance. without ask
ing any questions he opened the door and
was told TO consider himself
UNDER ARREST.
He asked no questions and said not q word,
but dressed himself and started with the Off
GERS to the station house. Soon after leaving
the stable Officer Case said, bill, where is
your wife7" He answered, Il do not know;
have not seen her fora week" The officer
then said, "She is at Russell & Lees dead,
and bears marks of violence, having cut on
her head and finger prints on the throat. as
III strangled to DEATH" At this state
ment the prisoner gave frightened look
at the officers and said: my God / told
that negro woman not to have anything to
do with it." After this remark he stated
that on last Saturday night one week ago,
he took his urifo 0nt for a dr. We. that at the
corner of Indiana avenue aud West street his
wife got out of the carriage to talk to a'negro
woman named Lucy, who was TO stay with
her when confined, which would be in few
days; that after talking together for little
while the two women went out West street
to see another woman. and he drove to the
stable. That, be said, was the last time he
saw his wife. The officers took
their prisoner to the Spencer
house, where he was confined until Chief
Travis arrived, who ordered him locked up,
which was done at o'clock, the charge of
murder being set opposite his name. The
officers then went TO work to find the CLOTH
ing of the murdered woman. His stable was
searched, and in an old chest in the harness
room were found
DRESS AND ovERsKIRT,
which Mrs. Merrick was known to have had
on on the evening of Saturday, Septem-
Der Is, the day he said he last saw her. Un-
der the pillow OF the bed on which Merrick
was sleeping just before his arrest was found
the shawl which she had on the same night.
In the hip pocket OF Merrick' spants was four
barreIed pistol, and in the desk drawer in the
Office was found large sized Smith & Wes-
son revolver. Both of the weapons were
loaded. showing hat their owner was fully
prepared to defend himself. On his cloth
ing we're b,ood spots which be was unable
tn account for About half past 10 in the
morning the prisoner was taken to the es-
tablishment Of Russell & Lee, where Drs.
Wishard and Marsee were holding post
mortem examination, and was there brought
face to face with the dead woman. He,
however, showed no signs of weakening,
until the coroner inquired II his wife had
any of her teeth filled He replied that two
of her upper teeth had been filed The cor
oner then said (opening the mouth), Look
at these and see II they resemble the teeth OF
your wife," The prisoner took one hurried
look into the mouth and commenced crying
like child, saying. THAT does look
like her" This was the only time
the hard hearted wretch showed any
signs of emotion. He was then
taken back to the station house. Shortly af-
ter he had been locked up the second time