Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-03

HOW AND WHY MISS HARRIS KILLED ADoNIRAM J..
BURRoUGHs-A SENSATIONAL TRIAL IN THE DIS
TRICT CRIMINAL COURT-SCENES AT THE ACQCIT-
TAL-THE FAIR DEFENDANT KISSED BY HER LAW
YER WHO HAS NOW TAKEN HER AS HIS BRIDE.
The recent marriage of the venerable Joseph n.
Bradley, the father Of the Washington bar,
and Miss Mary Harris, who In 1865 was
charged with the murder Of Adoniram j..
Burroughs, clerk in the Treasury depart
ment, and acquitted, has revived interest in
ton at the time On the afternoon OF January Goth,
1865. Miss Harris appeared at the main door OF the
Treasury, and, walking up the steps, waited until
Burroughs was leaving The building. when she fired
two Shots one OF them taking effect near his spine
and causing death In fifteen or twenty minutes.
steps. but when taken In custody she became
greatly excited. After the inquest held by the
late Coroner Thomas Woodward, she was COM
lnitted TO jail AT the following {March) term Of
the Criminal Court an Indictment was found charg-
Ing her with murder.
A CELEBRATED TRIAL.
The trial was commenced before Judge Wylie,
July 9TH, 1865, and concluded July 18th. The jury
was composed OF John Scrivener, Moses T. Parker,
Thomas Fl. Barron, Francis Ba1lenger, Michael r.
Combs, Alexander hammond, Thomas A. Tolson,
Butler Baker, Donald McCathran, Zach. B. Brooke
Samuel Crown and A. Fl. Young. Gen. f. C. Car
ernment, and Mr.. Bradley, Hon. Daniel Voorhees,
Judge Hughes, Hon. ChaS. Mason and w. Y. Fen
Gall appeared for the accused.
The trial was one of the most sensational ones
Which ever took place in the District and attracted
10 The court room crowds OF ladies and gentlemen,
who watched the proceedings with the greatest
interest. Several notable scenes took place during
the progress OF the trial Every morning during the
trlal the prisoner upon entering the court room was
Chicago and Miss Abbey, of New York-and usually
leaned on the arm OF Mr.. Bradley.
AN ALLEGED CASE OF BETRAYAL
The shooting was admitted The defense offered
testimony going to show that the deceased and
Miss Harris were affianced lovers that they cor
responded from November, 1858; that in Chicago In
september, 1863. she received two letters signed j.
p Greenwood, which she believed to be Burroughs.
asking her to meet the writer in an asslgnation
house, and that few days afterwards Burroughs
marriage was published; that her conduct changed
about that time; that she suffered from serious
affection OF the nervous system; that she COM
menced suit against Burroughs for breach of
promise and dreaded meeting him herself
The principal witnesses were the two Misses Dev-
lin, who formerly resided in Baltimore. and who
testified to the actions of Miss Harris when she re-
ce1ved the aSSignatfOn letters; to the attempts to
Burroughs wrote them. Besides these letters Miss
Harris produced number OF letters OF Burroughs,
written during the cOurtShip.
The principal witness for the government was
Rev. Dr. Burroughs brother Of the deceased who
denied that the letters were in the handwriting Of
the deceased. and who claimed that the actions of
the latter were entirely honorable.
There was also much testimony OF medical ey-
perts, tending to show that at certain periods and
under certain circumstances, the defendant was
not In her right mind.
The case was thorough: TIED. and was argued
by Judge Hughes and Senator voorhees, for the de-
1endant and MeSSrS. Darlington and Wilson for the
government. At O'Clock on July 10Th the case
was given to the jury
SENSATIONAL SCENES AT THE CLOSE OF THE TRIAL.
The crowd, not expecting verdict within few
minutes, at once commenced to thin out, but word
was received that the jury had agreed and then
followed an indeScribable scene The room was in
a few moments densely packed despite the efforts
of officers to keep the crowd back. The spectators
including ladies, climbed upon seats and chairs It
was with difficulty that room was made for the
jurors. Mr.. Bradley entered with the fair prisoner
followed by an officer, and it with difficulty
that they reached their customary position. When
the verdict "NOt guilty. was announced the cheer
Ing that followed was OF the heartiest kind. The
crowd made for the prisoner to grasp her hand. Mr.
Bradley had by this time taken Miss Harris in his
arms as If she were child, and. kissing her bore
her from the ROOM In an adjoining room she was
forced to receive the congratulations of the crowd
MISS HARRIS IN THE INSANE ASYLUM.
Miss Harris, after spending few days in Balti-
more, was taken to ST. Elizabeth's asylum for the
insane, and remained there two or three years,
when it was thought she was cured Of her mental
trouble. After being released she made her home
for some time In family on street, friends OF Mr.
Bradley. She, however, returned to the asylum
again in a few months, and up to about eighteen
months ago she at intervals spent periods in the
asylum. 1t is now, however believed that she has
been fully restored to health.
District Government Affairs.