The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-27
A LONDON SENSATION.


AN OLD WOMAN MURDERED IN BURTON cREs-
CENT-ARREsT OF A FEMALE SERVANT, WHO
IS CHARGED WITH THE CRIME.
From the Standard, Dec. 14.l
The murder OF Mrs. Rachel Samuel, which took
place at residence, No. Burton crescent E,son
road, Wednesday night. which was at first thought
likely 10 prove another mystery, will now probably
be unravelled. large mass of circumstantal
evidence has been accumulated. pointing in di-
recton which the police have followed. Acting
upon the information obtained in their inquiries
upon the spot. Inspectors Kerley and Lansdowne yes
terday visited the house OF woman named Mary
Donovan who was living at No. A. Lancaster street.
Borough, and arrested her upon the charge Of will
fully numbering Mrs. samuel. This woman, who
was for some ten years . servant in the deceaseds
employ but who had ceased to be SO for consider
able time married some short time since respect
able man engaged night watchman at a large
brewery, he being at the time widower,
with two children. Since, then, however. up
10 within a few weeks, Mrs. Donovan has
been in the habit of going to the house of
Mrs Samuel to work about two or three times
a week and it is stated that she treated by her
with the greatest confidence. For short time she
has been unable to 30 on with her work there in con-
sequence of having received bruises by fall,
but appears that on Tuesday night she was ut Bur-
ton at ten o'clock being then the for
ately. On the following day wednesday, when the
murder committed, woman saw both the
deceased and Mary Donovan as late as haifpast eight
III the evening and nothing more was known until
the ledger in the house, Mr.. Borschidsky, Pole,
came home and discovered the murder The police
inspectors called upon Donovan yesterday, when she
admitted that she went to Burton crescent about
eight O'Clock and while there let in to look at
some apartments. She stated that she after
ward Went out to fetch some fish for Mrs.
samuel who told her not TO wait any
longer. The man looked like plasterer or
Ua had nf Jeff x,ha sbp .afna
On being asked what shawl she wore on the night If
the murder she pointed to at the foot Of the bed
On examination it found that there was mark
upon it which looked like blood. She then
asked to produce the dress she had on that night.
II was the one she was wearing. ana she stepped Ior
ward and turned her back to the window. Upon
looking at the front Of the dress it was found to be
covered with blood, and upon these suspicious cir
cumstances the woman was arrested.
SUSPICIOUS ACTIONS.
On the way to the police station in cab with the
detective officers the prisoner attempted to out
the front of her dress but prevented from doing
So 1t has been discovered that she was ont all
Wednesday night. which she accounts for by saying
would not let her in (her husband being
away at his works. but the landlady says
The theory is that numbering her old mistress
Donovan intended to rob the house, but that the
smashing OF the window pane undoubtedly by the
murdered woman, the door is covered with blood,
frightened her lest some one had heard the crash
that she decamped. AS Mrs. Samuel appears to have
been in the habit of placing hel lodgers supper
ready before tea and she alive at halfpast
eight, the crime must have been committed between
those hours. The milk for the supper OF Mr..
Lorschidzky found in the cupboard untouched.
Donovan knew that Wednesday evenings the
ledger in the habit of not reaching home until
about midnight, in consequence of a weekly profess
sional engagement. instead Of other evenings,
about two hours earlier
BEATEN TO DEATH.
Mr. Phineas John Kendrick. NJ. X. G. S., So March
mont street, II called little before
O'Clock ON Thursday morning, and went with him
TO Burton-crescent l found deceased lying there
III pool OF blood, dead and dressed. have taken
description OF the body. found the hands
clenched: the face blackened Her face black and
looked like having been rubbed over with
dirty fingers. The right eyelid was little
swollen ! could not say It was done d.. by
back of the head there were two cuts-disinct scalp
wounds--the scalp being absolutely detached from
ably caused by some of violence / looked about
the place for some instrument that might have
table smeared with blood. l subsequently saw the
piece OF wood produced IA broken oak hat rail,
strongly made, and covered with blood, evidently
split in two by force) but do not think would pro-
duce the wounds deceased. A blunt Ratchet
might do it. Great dissatisfaction was expressed BY
the Coroner and jury ut the manner in which the
witness gave his eyidence.)
Mr.. i. Hutchinson, +. Il. G. s.. said:-I am acting
divisional surgeon and was called by Inspect, n De
Maid to go the house. went into the kitcht and
found Mrs. Samuel lying on her back There was
large quantity OF blood saturating her clothes and
upon the floor. There had been blood wiped up. /
raised the head and found two large scalp wounds.
passed my finger round to eDdeayor to find frac-
ture, but there was nonc Ihe hands were quite
black and have punctured wounds think
they must have been caused by her putting up her
hands TO protect herself from the blows. l went
the place with the inspector and saw the piece
wood found. The blood was quite fresh. and there
was also some hair upon it, the same as the de-
ceased's. Mrs. Samucls' hands were covered with
blood; there blood in the sink. l generally
roborae the whole of the evidence of the inspector.
have this evening made postmortem examination
/ opened the scalp aud found the whole of the
inside ID covered with blood. Deceased must have
been beaten terribly. There was no fracture but
great confusion of the face and head generally. |
think the canse of death must have been from con-
cnssion If the brain and the great hemorrhage She
was killed instantly. but doubtless batled long
az she had life. The blows must have been laid
with great force. think Inconsistencies must have
been caused by the battorng.