The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-30

when he was arrested and disarmed by Officer
Edwards. to whom he related the shooting and said
to his conviction he adhered to this state
men1 He was, indicted on the lstn or
Attorney On the 18th OF October Mr.. Heller was
elected Judge OF the Criminal Circuit Court and went
into office on the oath of October He was succeeded
as Prosecuting Attorney by his assistant, john b.
.iani. Judge Heller went upon the bench ana tried
Arhey and two other murderers whom he sentenced
TO oe hanged after he had procured their indict-
and Prosecutor Elan are regarded among the
abiest and purest officials who have ever occupied
tLeir places i'll this county. Achey convicted on
the 7th OF November last and on the 2lst of Decem-
per was sentenced TO be hanged to-day Jauuary Ply.
tribunal approved the findings of the court below.
whereupon the Governor issued his death warrant
WIFE KILLER
william Merrck was perhaps the equal in infamous
brutality OF any man ever tried in criminal court in
any State Some eight years ago he was indicted and
tried for the assassination of worthy citizen Of Con-
nersve IN this State He escaped conviction. because
the evidence circumstantia Hecame to this citv
in 1871, and engaged in the business of a resurrec-
ZIONIST, and was once twice arrested on charge Of
grave robbinS, but always managed to escape be-
cause Of some defect in the law About four wears
ago he opened livery stable on South street. in a
rather disreputable part of the city. When or how
he became acquainted with his wife, whose name
was Julia A. Paul, is not known. She teacher
in one of the public schools and the first notice the
public had OF their acquaintance came out through
'suit her part 81 200 which she claimed
he owed her. This soon followed by suit on
ner part SeuuctlOn anu DdStaruy. ScOunuiel,
to avoid this accepted the alternative allowed by the
statute of this State, and married her some time
last spring. This, of course, also ended her suit
against him for the money loaned. In July last she
brought suit for divorce and almony and also for
the money loaned. She alleged cruel treatment and
failure to provide as her grounds for divorce. Mer
rick began preparing for this by dsposing OF his prop
erty hut after time lie induced her to again live with
him. About six p NJ. on September IA he took her
in his buggy at his stable, saying that they were
going out for drive. The date OF her seduction
shown in her seduction suit. ased the 14th Of Sep
TENDER as the latest date ct which she should have
been confined About eight O'Clock the even
ing OF the murder he stopped at saloon
on Indiana avenue. leaving lady in the
buggy. He then bought drink of whiskey
for himself and glass OF blackberry wine for the
lady. Before going out he poured into the wine the
contents OF paper, which bystander noticed bore
the label OF . skull and crossbonesy About nine
o'clock farmer living four miles west of the city
heard the screams OF woman on the road near
his house. The screams were repeated. and ha
could distinguish the words, 'For Gods sake
don't" He went down and found o woman lying
in the road III front of the horse and buggy. and
man whom he afterward identified Merrickl
leaning over her. The woman was then quite still.
He asked the man il the woman was drunk and
ceived an Affirmative answer. At this moment
ncghbor came up. and the two assisted the
man to put the woman in the buggy. She.
then quite rigid. He was next SEEM
about eleven O'Clock in the south part of the city.
six miles from where he had met the farmers. At
this place he called up saloon keeper. who took the
liquor out to him and asked him what he had in the
buggy. He said it was his girl who was drunk. 1t
was developed on the trial that he had been to the
Medical College to leave the body there. but the
janitor at the theatre and he could not get in
On Sunday, September % the bodies OF dead woman
and a newly born child were found by some fisher
men beneath log on the bank of Eagle Creek, four
miles west of the city. The filling in the teeth and
the few articles Of clothing left the woman served
to identify her. and the next day her husband was
arrested the charge of numbering her. His trial
followed. being found guilty was sentenced. on
the 4th of January, to death by hanging.