New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-15
A TERRIBLE MURDER ar TAPPAN.

AN OLD WOMAN sTR,NGr' y TO DEAIH-sINGuLAR
CiRCUMsrANCTs OF THE MUGDER-rRAMPs sUs-
PrcTTD OF HAVING COMMITTED THE cRIME.
The residents OF Iappan. III RocSland County, are
greatly agitated ever the brutal murder of Miss
Hannah Brewer, ifty-three years OF age on Tues
day morning, by unknown persons The Brewer
resi- ence is situated one mile north Of the railway
station. in spot remote from tho highway. and Is
an old ono story and attic frame farmhouse. Miss
Brewer occupied room on the tirst-hoor. apart
from the family, and was srangled
to death without being able to give
an alarm. An entrance was Effected to the premise
through one of the windows. Two men participated
IN the affair. as was evlnced by imprints of feet
in the soft soil without. Once within the
sleeping apartment. a fierce but comparatively
nosecss struggle ensued. The lady was dragg d
out of bed. into the centre of the room
and choked into insensib,ity; after which
sue was outraged. and the assailants made
their escape. The deed was ACCOMPLISHED
onety that neither David Brewer. who occu-
pied room on the ground floor. The remaining
half dozen members of the family. who were sleep
ing ID the attic directly above. were aroused.
Evidence OF the tragedy was discovered at 8 a. m.
by sister, and the alarm communicated. II was
the opinion mt first that the lady had been seized
by tit. ind pnyslclun was summoned. lie made
hasty examination, pronounced the oase for
ing that the case one at murder The condition
OF the window Beng observed by Mr.. Brewer hIs
suspicious were aroused to the true circun,-
Stances connected with the case, and al inyestipa
ton establshtd The fact that his worst lears were
Ia the mails correct An inquest has since bee,,
hed at which the verdict returned that death
had resulted from strangulation by unknown par
ties
David Brewer stated last evening that he WAS
aroused during the night by what hc took 10 be an
nnusna. noise. While partially aroused a light
flashed IN his face from the window Of his sisters
roon. H. leaDed ont of bed. when the lignt ,ilsa,
pared. hen there came flash of from an
approachlug s,Orm-clUud, and attributng the light
Witnessed just prior TO the same agency, he again
refIred ana was not awakened until daylight linen
Sarah Brewer raped OIL his door and Informed him
that something was the matter with tie deceased
He fastened into the room, discovered her
lying Oh the iioOr face upward a crampel mn
natural position, and quitting the room su mmon.,l
physician. Theu the matter OF a missing pane az
glass IN the window discovered. the foot prints
without and u partially consumed match Mt the
window from whence he first observed the Uci 4
lhe supp0sitiOn entertained ia the community il
That the an hors of the outrage and murder were
cramps. Two strange men. one tail and
the other OF lesser stature. were seem
IN tho village about mldnieht. Twn
men, purporting to be sailors from Brook
yn. were arrested on suspicion by
Constable Conkng, near SparEill, res. eriav .f,sr
noon. Inc testimony against them being of nm nm
satisfactory nature. they aerc released. VA