The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-11

= OHlCAdO, LII, DeC. II Mis-. MARY II
Merrill was murdered yesterday by the
man who unsuccessfully endeavored to
wean her affections from her husband.
The body of the murderer, who then
took his own life, lies at tho morgue.
HAPPY HOME.
Benjamin w. Merrill, salesman for
N. A. Crobell & Co., lived with his wife
at 26O Illinois street, where Mrs. Merrill
kept boarding house. She was n hand
some brunette, refined and attractive in
manner and popular with all who knew
her. She and her husband always lived
happily together. She thought everything
of him and he was equally kind to her.
Since their marriage In Dayton, o., in
1888, Mrs. Merrill has been energetic in
her efforts to aid her husband, whose
salary was not large, and she hit upon
the expedient of opening a boarding
house, plan which she put into oXecu-
ton soon after their arrival In Chicago
in 1884. To furnish house the couple
ran considerably in debt, and TO clear off
this incumbrance was the aim of their
lives. They had almost succeeded and
yesterday had paid all all but $40 Then
the blow came that cost Mrs. Merrill her
life and almost drove her husband crazy
with grief.
YOUNG MAN APPEARS.
Some six months ago Andrew Martin,
a good.looking young fellow, 81 years of
age, came to Chicago from Richview, a
town on the Illinois Central Railroad in
the southern part of the State. He Sc
cured a position as electric light engineer
for the Union Steamboat Company and
took room at Mrs. Merrills house. His
work kept him out at night and he had
much leisure time during the day which
he occupied by cultivating the acquaint-
ance of Mrs. Merrill, with whom he soon
fell desperately in love.
So noticeable became his attentions
that the other occupants OF the house
commented upon the state of affairs and
Mrs. Merrill, in self defense, was obliged
to come to the conclusion that the young
man must leave the house. In this
opinion she was confirmed by her hus-
band, to whom she contided her knowl-
edge OF the st to of Martins mind, and
it was decided that the young man must
go as soon as he gave his landlady any
excuse to dismiss him. Martin was the
only one in the house who could not see
the condition of affairs. He seemed to
think his overtures were received with
favor and soon assumed kind of pro-
prietorship in the house, and his efforts
in this direction became very annoying
to her.
Sunday night she told her husband
that this could last no longer and that
she had decided to give Martin his congo
yesterday. In this her husband be-
lieved, and SO when the opportunity came
in the forenoon Mrs. Merrill was quick
to graspit In her employ was girl
named Hattie Berk, in whom Mrs. Mer-
rill had always had the greatest conf
dence Hattie had been the first to note
the comments on Martins conduct and
had told her mistress Of them. Martin
learned of this and disliked the girl.
b About 10 o'clock Martin approached
Mrs. Merrill who was sitting in the par
lor and endeavored to persuade her to
discharge Hattie who, unknown to both
parties, was in the adjoining room and
heard the conversation. Martin said
Hattie was q kind of loose character and
would bring disgrace on the house. Mrs.
Merrill turned on him and said it was
time that he was attending to his own
business and leaving the affairs of the
house alone. She did not care to have
any more of his interference with her
business, and hoped he would leave the
house as soon as he could find another
boarding place.
do you mean that?" asked Martin,
raising from his chair.
II certainly do, Mr.. Martin. 1t will
be best all around if you do"
Martin said no more, but left the house,
and Mrs. Merrill went up stairs to the
rear bedroom, where she was Joined by
Hattie. A moment later the front door
opened, and Martins step was heard in
the hall. He stopped at the parlor for u
moment, and then going directly up
stairs, opened the door of the room where
Mrs. Merrill and Hattie were talking. AS
he entered he drew revolver and de-
manded, "Who are you talking about
now?'
BESIDE HIMSELF WITH RAGE.
Then, without waiting for reply, he
raised his weapon and fired at Hattie,
who was sitting on the bed. AS soon as
the girl saw the weapon she reeled over
in an effort TO escape on the other side,
and the motion probably saved her life
for the bullet passed over her and went
through the window. Hattie rose and
ran out through the door, while Martin
fired at her again, and once more missed
her.
Mrs. Merrill all this time had been
seated in chair in the northeast corner
of the room. She was actually paralyZed
with fear and could not move. AS Hat
tie escaped from the room and she found
herself alone with the murderer, she
made desperate effort and rose TO her
feet. As she did so Martin fired at her
and the bullet struck her in the right
cheek two inches above the eye and
passed through her head, going out just
below the left eye. Mrs Merrill fell un-
conscious to the floor; as she did so,
Martin placed the muzzle of his revolver
at his right temple and pulled the trigger.
THE DEATH or THE MURDERER.
He fell in heap and died instantly,
while the revolver fell at his side.
Meantime Hattie ran screaming from
the house and met two pedestrians. to
whom she told the story, A policeman
was notified, and in few moments
Lieutenant Nelson of the East Chicago
Avenue Station arrived with the patrol
wagon, while physicians were sum
moned. Mrs. Morrill, lay as she fell, her
head resting in pool of blood that
gushed from her nose, mouth and ears
and the wounds in her face. Her head
was raised and two pillows placed
under 1t.
The friends who had come in thought
haot not ~ ~ ar,,tiun 1;at,,,.I hnr and