The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-09-25

mo"
"You don't pretend to say you lived in
the same house with her and never saw her,
do your
Hesitatingly, "Well, yes did know her
slightly, but 1 never had much to do with
| her"
did your uncle and his wife get along
well together?'
'I suppose they had their family troubles.
1 don't know much about that"
when did you last see Mrs. Merrick,
under what circumstances, and what did
| you say to her?''
81 saw her on that Saturday"
| 'What Saturday do you refer tor
| "Why, the Saturday she disappeared. was
| visiting friend who lives in the same house
she did. Mrs. Merrick came into the room,
| and we had a little talk / don't remember
| what was said. She seemed to be in good
spirits"
"Can you describe how she was dressed on
| that occasion?'
mo, don't remember"
'Did you see your uncle on that day, and
| if so, when?''
II had asked him for some money, and
about $50 O'Clock he called at the house
| where was boarding He came into the
| house, seeming to be in great hurry, laid
the money on the table and started to leave.
l asked him what was his hurry, and he re-
piled that he must get back to the barn, as he
when did you see him nextY
''Last Saturday night 1 think, was the
next time 1 saw him. On that night he and
Harry Fielding, who worked in his stable,
took myself and another lady to the circus
| 1 saw him again last night. He called on me
and we had quite talk together. 1 don't
know anything about the alleged murder.
and can't see why 1 am held prisoner. /
| won't say anything more"
The reporter seeing that it was impossible
to elicit any further information, left the
| house. She undoubtedly knows more than
she is willing to tell. Her manner was
that of person who seems to be
in dread that something is about to
| happen, and knows not what. She
is the woman whom Mrs. Merrick thought
or maybe knew-her husband was living
| with, and the several stories she tells regard
ing herself and her connection show that she
did not tell the interviewer half she knew OF
| the affair.
THE PRISONERS APPEARANCE AND HISTORY.
Merrick is about 35 years of age, five feet
eight inches high, spare built, and weighs
about 130 pounds He has dark hair,
| which is straight and coarse, a small
mustache and chin whlskers slightly dyed.
His eyes are small, set far back in his head,
aud are always on the move, but he seldcm
looks person straight In the face. He has
| rather q strange looking face-what Is gener-
ally termed a hatchet face-and his counte-
nance is not strikingly bad, though there is
something about the man that is decidedly
repulsive. There is but little known con-
| cerning his early life. He is said to
have at one time lived at Richmond,
| Wayne county, and afterward at Conners-
| Vile, Fayette county. His mother and
father are both dead, and it is said that he
has a sister, Mrs. Annie White, residing at
| Milroy, this state. He came to this city
some 10 or twelve years ago and worked for
Weaver,t the undertaken, for quite a long
| time. About five years ago he purchased
| the Southside livery stable and has been
running it ever since. He is hard drlnker,
and has during the last year been mixed up
| in quite a number of small law suits and
was looked upon by those who knew him as
fast fellow.
| THE MURDERED WOMAN
was the daughter of George Paul, well.to
do farmer, who resides a few miles from
Waverly, Morgan county. She was about 20
| years of age at the time OF her death, feet
inches tall, and is said to have possessed a
beautiful figure. Her hair was light brown,
her eyes a deep blue and her complexion
fair She was quiet and reserved in manner,
and one bard to become acquainted
| with. She left her home some fifteen
wears ago. She lived in the family of Ezra
A. Gilman, and came TO this city with them
some three years since, soon after which
she met Merrick, who put such a sad end to
her career She was woman OF more than
ordinary intelligence, aud had Deen a school
teacher for quite a number of years, having
taught in Marion and Morgan counties, her
last school being at Sunnyside. During her
years of teaching she managed to save some
$500, which Merrick borrowed from her and
| never paid back She married her murderer
in this city on the 18th of July last, after
she had been compelled to sue him for bas-
tardy. He also swindled her out of her fine
gold watch, which she had purchased with
| her hard earnings.
THE POST MoRTEM
was held at 10 o'clock yesterday morning by
DIR. Wishard, the deputy coroner, and DIR.
Marsee No marks OF violence we're found on
the body. The doctors took off the head and
removed the heart. stomach and the viscera
of the pelyis, which they will examine close
ly to-day. The skull will be nicely pre-.
pared, and the teeth, many of which came
out during the dissecting. will be replaced so
that any one who knew her in life may ex-
anime the skull and the plugged teeth and
thoroughly recognize her, if such thing be
possible. The doctors decided that the
child was dead when born.
THE INQUEST.
The coroners jury was impsnneled yester-
doy morning, and during the afternoon
heard the testimony of William i. Palmer,
Samuel Padgett, his stepfather, and James
Padgett, the persons who first discovered the
body. They then adjourned until o'clock
this morning. at which time the inves6ga-
ton will be continued.
MATTE KEssLER's STORY.
Matte Kessler, the sixteen year-old daugh-
ter of Mrs. Kesser, was interyied by Senti-
mel reporter. The house in which the Kess
Ter family lives, on Illinois street. runs back
to the stable, and Mrs. Merrick was with
them good part of the time. She helped
dress Mrs Merrick for the fatal ride. She had
on a black silk dress with silk buttons
in front, a eray basque and black lace shawl,
and carried with her heavy plaid shawl.
The victim was delighted to be permitted to
GO as she thought the ride would do her
good When On his return the girl inquired
of Merrick where his wife was, he answered,
Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no
lies" and gave no other reply. She was
sure Mrs. Merrick was not back home after
that Saturday night.
MERRIcKs LAST RIDE.
O. = - n n =