New-York tribune., 1878-03-15
A MADMAN'S FATAL FRENZY.
MURDER AND SUICIDE AT EAST CHESTER.

| Mrs. Leggett, wealthy widow, residing III East
Chester, shot aud instantly killed yesterday
afternoon, by relative, Theron Merritt. Merritt
then went to his own home, by, and shot HIM
self in the heart. Merritt was on tue friendlest
terms with Mrs. Leggett, and no cause,
except the frenzy of insanity, could be
assigned for his act He had been despondent for
some time, and had often threatened to commit
suicide Inquests were held in both cases last even
ing, and the verdicts declared that Merritt suf-
fering from temporary alteration of mind at the
time of the tragedy.
DETAILS OF THE MURDER AND SUICIDE.
MEERITT's SUDDEN APPEARANCE AT THE HOUSE OF
MRS LEGGETT-ALARM CAUSED BY HIS THREATS
SHOOTING THROUGH THE DOOR-HIs RETURN
HIS OWN HOME-COMPLETiNG HIS BLOODY
WOgK THERE.
Theron Merritt called at the residence of
Mrs. Ann Eliza Leggctt relative and near neehbor in
the town East Chester five mil from YOnkers, about
3 o'clock yesterday aftern0on.N He acted In
a wild and unnatural manner. Mrs Legget met him at
her front porch and greeted him cordially To her sau
taiiOn he responded 10y saying, 81 have come to XIII
you, and will shoot you now" Her daughters, Linda
age twenty four, and Mary Ehza, eighteen years
old, tried to pacify him. and used every en-
deaver TO persuade him not to carry his threat
into execution. Mrs Ieggett finally ran into
the house. followed by her daughter Linda. and the
tibue door closed and locked leaving Mr. Merritt
standing the vestibue. The younger daughter, Mary
Eliza, toward Mr.. Merritts house TO secure help
Merritt declared savagely that he would get in the
house If he had to stay there twenty-four hours
Almost Immediately afterward he advanced TO the
vcstibulc door, placed a small sx-bareed revolver
against the glass, took deliberate aim and fired. Mrs
Leggett threw her arms, exclaming He has shot
mel" She fell nooriand almost Immediately ex-
pcd the ball having entered her left eye and lodged in
the brain.
During this scene Mrs Leggetrs coachman Hamilton
Ruth sitting the ehox and he asserts that
tue entire affair was sudden that he knew nothing Of
what had happened until he heard the shout and saw
Merritt leave the stoop and 10 In haste toward
his house. further up the road. crying out as he ran
Go for DR.. Norquest."
When Merritt reached his homo he ound there Mrs.
Lcggetts daughter Mary with his mother. He had
haggard look. and very much excited. Turning to
the rl who had been made mOtherless by his act he
said You need not follow me- go home to your
mother shot her, and she IL dead. killed her. His
mother spoke him, and tired obtain explanation
OF the mystery, but the murderer walked away. He
went into the kitchen. drank glass OF water and then
passed into the paror. There he placed the pistol to
his breast and fred. Ho fell heavily to the door and
bis mother rushed into the only to find him dead
The balrpassed through his heart.
Coroner schermor arrived AT the OF the double
tragedy about o'clock. and mpaneed two jures and
proceeded with the investigation. The evidence
OF Aerritts father and mother. Mira. Leggeus daugh
icrs, the coachman and DIR. Noiluest taken. Mrs
Merritt testified that her had acted strangely OF
late and that frequently, when depressed in spirits, he
had made threats OF suicide. No attention was paid to
his words by the family. 1t thought for
ment that he would attempt carry such threats into
execution.
Judge Bunwell TO whose daughter Mr Merritt was
married, states that tie relations Of Mr. Merritt and
titp uatu nj he
families were intimately associated A brother
of Mr. Merritt and Of Mrs Legsett
were married t. daughters OF Judge BunwclL He
loss account FOR the terrible tragedy on any
other hypothesis than tnat OF temporary insanity The
wife o murderer AMI suicide says that he was one OF
the kndest husbands and most aeciouate fathers aud
that be never spoke q cross word To her.
Theron Merritt was a thirty eight years Of age
and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He
lived with his father isaac Merritt, Ncw-YOrk mcr
chant who and resides "A handsome farm oi $50
acres Theron a man 0i no means having failed a
few years ago IN the hardware business at Chicago
Lat year lac defeated for school Commissioner Of
Yorkcgs, hy Mr.. Palmer. the present incumbent. He
leaves wife and three children.
Mr. Lcggct's husband was found dead on the bank Of
the river Tho present residence of the Lcggeit fam
y about two with bullet wound IN the left
eve the same kind Of wound aud la precisely tho
spot as that which caused bis widows death yesterday
husbands estate. which greatly augmented
few years ng0 by thn death OF her father,
The LAT" o. T. Pollen who left her estate estimated to
b, worth over >jo1n0. lie was very srcccss al mer
Giant and largely Interested IN tn manufacture OF
SOAP ana wlhtc-c'd "a connection WIN Inc oolsatts
and largo nber,lity. and took deep intcrest IN
chdrcA ,Id Suniav--cbO0l work. obe was about 10
When s" wao shoi down in her home icr resdsnce
.nl gcunds ic Al the for4s o. tho road esdins from
X,
running along the 'front.' ana handsome en'
tranrg. IN the IL conmoiOus stable
fl walsh IN kcpt handsome carriage aud fine horscs.
Hex house IS furnished rchy and all the surroundings
btokrn wealth aud refinement she leaves hye children,
three daughters and two sons.
RESULTS or THE ISQUrsIS.
The bodies not removed from tho positions In
which they fell after the fatal shot. unt the coroner
rived in evening After he had viewed both bodies,
the testimony taken In the Leggett mansion. Mrs
Legsctrs face bore calm and peaceful look rs II in
pleasant sleep and only the small bullet hole in the
corner Of the cf eye with fow drops OF blood trick
linz down the cycls. Indicated the tragic manner OF
her death. Her daughters inconsoabe in tier
grief told the sad story Of their loss amid tears and
SOILS which chokcl thcr u;torance.
Al the residence OF Isaac Merritt the dead body o
Theron Merritt lay tie parlor floor. There was a
deep paor his and his parialy-opcnod
eyes looked wild tnd unnatural HIS aim had been un-
orIing as the probing q" the wound by DR.. Norqucst
showed that the bullet had lodged in the heart, caus.
instant death.
The coroncr's jurIcs rendered verdict in both casos
about halEpast 10 O'Clock las pshi, TO the eiect that
Mrs. sIcgcctt to her death by n
nj tie hands OF Theron Merritt, while hc
was lahofing under temporary alteration
of mimi: and that TIL gOu Merritt came
to his death from pOsh0t wound In the heart by his
ovf land. he ahOiing I'm temporary aberrtoho oI
min The funeral both persons VIII b" held on sunday.
at hour and uacc-o bc designated lcrc"fcr:
Late last nght Mira. MERIT the wife OF the murderer and
su!cidc was delir ous and threatened with BRAIN
fever The terr bile events OF the day had completely
Frustrated her and her condition sich as to cause
great alarm 20 her relatives and friends.
ART ar THE UNION LEAGUE.