The New York herald., 1878-07-10
A DE ,PEkATE WOMAN.

MARY BROWNS ATTEMPT TO BURN THE TENE-
MENr HOUSE IN WEST IHIRTY-NINiH STREET.
Mrs. Mary Brown, tho woman who on Monday
night, deliberately sc, fire 10 h,r apartments, the
tenement house No. il5 West Thirty ninth street. with
the avowed purpose OF burning the bulldog and its
inmates, was yesterday arraigned before Judge Smith
az tue Jefferson Market Police Court On tue way 10
the court sne told Rounds man Mccarthy that she
was hall cipz when sne made the attempt, and that
she had been driven almost out OF ner mind by drink
well by habit she contracted OF playing
policy, by which she lost all her husbands
earnings. On Saturday, she said Brown gave
SO So On Monday night she had but tniriy-one
cents eft and when he came home She had no supper
tor him and no means OF getting It. He began TO
reproach her, wherenpon shc scized All iccpck and
struck at bim win II. cutting HIM slightly his right
He lett her alter that and when she
she determined TO set the hou on fire ana pui an
end to herself. when shc had tue room In flames,
however she forgot her suicidal purpose and wandered
away.
Iu court Edward Brown the husband who is a
carpenter ANA man oi steady habits, swore that
he came home from work at seven o'clock aud found
her and went AWAY. Hall hour aits srward the tire
occurred. "Mv VIE is very quick tempered" said
excitement"
William Brown tire eldest OF the children, testified
as io'ows:-i Was home twcnty minutes before the
nre; my mother anu brother were there; mother was
making n nrc; father came home aud there was
supper Tor HIN mother struck fathor with Ice
pick ami my siher won't out to get supper went
aud saw my iathor down stairs; heard my father,
a,er the alarm was given. toll man that mother had
saio something about setting tue house on lire.
THE COMPASSION
Mary Brown herself on being sworn, made
oi pgc; have husband aud iour ch,i-
dren; William, the eldest, is thirteen years of
: age, the youngest Is two years old; my nus
band Is csrpenier have had great deal OF troub 10
In ono way or another, with the neghoors, the land
| lord and my husband, and l tired OF II;
| tried TO commit suicide u while ago by takiug *
poison last night my husband struck Inc, and sad
would rather take tee years than bear "A Iifc
threw the straw over the door, poured kcrosca. H.
II on hre aud wakea down stars; set The nrc in
tcntoually tor tho purpose OF burning the house;
dii not intend TO harm body else, but wanted
was not drunk; had two pints OF beer yesterday
as WAS gong down STAIRS hoard some one shout.
"Fire! live on the nith floor oI the mouse It is u
SIX story tenement house, and there is tour
families on Tue noor; We were oniy month IA tho
house on the lOtp OF this montn about -four days alter
moved tbc.o tie landlord came ior and
told him had paid it and showed a receipt; told
him n bau any moro trouble about u would com
init suicide; expect 10 be put out again TO
and have h0ue.
Wnile Mrs. Brown was telling this story shc seemed
to be excited snd at times almost dcmented When
she w.s but couple Oi years married trIed end
her life by taxing poison. Later on she went 10
Grcerpoint aud trIcd to drown hcrseli. Since that
ton aud seems 10 have been restrained IRON
ing them lately only by her regard or her children.
Judge smith committed her without bail to answer
ge OF arson.
The penalty ior arson In the degree ~ mprsou.
mcnt Tor lie or Tor term not less than twenty
years O0icer Cbmrdi, OF the society ior the Prc
ton OF Cruelty 20 Chiidrcp, lsoSed aitcr sfna
members OF the Brown family and mad them PROVIDED