Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1889-09-10
ALMOST BEHEADED.
Young Woman Brutally Murdered
at MerOhantville, N. ].
A TERRIBLE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE

Annie Laconey's Horrible, Fate-Ontrago
Attempted and Murder aud Robbery
AccomplIahed--sca FOR the Crlml-
nal--A Negro Farm Hand Arrested ON
suspicion-camden County Excited.
MERcHANrvILLE. N. j.. Sept. TO-
Miss Annie Laconey, of Merchantville,
was found lying ON the kitchen floor at
her uncle's farm house with her head al
most severed from her body and her
clothing torn in shreds. Henry Lingo,
colored man, was arrested for the
murder. The murder is one of the most
brutal ever witnessed in Camden county.
The Laconey homestead Is situated on
Church road, leading from Merchant.
vile to Colestown cemetery, two miles
from MerchantvilIe and one mile from
Colestown. It il an old farm house ly-
ing back from the road with a mill and
mill dam adjoining it.
At o'clock in the morning Lizzie
O'Donnell, little girl, went to the mill
for chicken feed, and. finding no one in
the mill. she went into the house. When
she opened the kitchen door
A Horrible sight Met Her Gaze.
Lying ON sattee cushion on the floor
lay Annie Laconey, her head lying back
in the cushion in pool of blood and al
most severed from her body. The hor.
ror stricken child ran from the house to
the place where Chalkey Laconey was
at work. The authorities were notified
and Detectives Aaron Burr, of Moores-
town, James ID. Henry, Patrick Gal.
lagher and several constables went to
work on the case. When the reporter
reached the scene Of the murder the
yard around the house and old mill was
filled with stern faced farmers. There
was little talking, but meaning words
were spoken. The reporter was escorted
into the old farm house where several
woman sat weeping.
On the floor in the kitchen, just as it
was found, lay the body of the MUIR
dered girl. Her clothing was torn and
some of her undergarments were in
shreds, showing that an unsuccessful
attempt had been made to feloniously
assault the girl.
Evidencs of Struggle.
The body lay between q settee and
stove, where the settee cushion had been
dragged. There was evidence of ter
rible struggle. Carpets were torn up,
bed clothing and garments were scat
tered about in confusion, and every
thing tended to show that the girl had
sold her life dearly. Beside the body
was a large butcher knife. The MUIR
der had evidently been deliberate one.
The knife had been selected from box
of case knives on a cupboard. The muir
derer had evidently had the girl on the
floor. An incision against the spine on
the right side showed where the point
- = =.
knife had afterward been driven through
the neck Just in front of the spine and
drawn forward, cutting @arteries and
windpipe, 30 that the head was attached
to the body only by the spine. County
Physician lizard and Coroner Stanton
say that death was almost instanta,
neous.
Robbery.
After the murder the brute had gone
to the second story of the house and
hastily opened a chest belonging to
Chalkey Laconey. In the old wooden
chest were two wallets. One Of these,
containing 5000 in gold. among which
was $3 gold piece with hole IN it,
was taken, but the other wallet. con-
tanning $207, which was In small draw
in the chest. was overlooked. There
were tracks of blood TO the second story
and the prints of four fingers of bloody
hand on the window casing where the
murderer had closed the shutter.
To the reporter Mr.. Laconey said An
ME got breakfast for himself and hired
man at 5 o'clock. Immediately after
breakfast the men went to the field to
pick citr0n for-market and were engaged
at this occupation when the little girl.
in terror and breathless, told thenl Of
haw crkne&lxv end
Arrested ON suspicion.
In casting about for the perpetrator OF
the crime suspicion fell upon Henry
Lingo, a day lab0ref, who had often
worked at the farm. ConstabIes pro-
ceeded to the neighboring farm of man
named Harm and arrested Lingo He
was found at work and made no resis-
tance to his arrest. Upon arrival at the
lie Coney residence he was searched. but
nothing Of a eliminating character was
found on him. Lingo, the suspect, lives
at Matchtown. He is about 80 years Of
age, Is married. and has q family. He
Is known to have left his home at about
B o'clock 70 60 to work on the Harm farm.
He arrived at the farm at 6:15 o'clock.
and had not left there until the time of
his arrest Detective Burr was OF the
opinion that Lingo was not the guilty
party, as be thought the walk from
MatchtOwn to the Harm farm would Eli
IN the time between his hour Of leaving
home and his time of arrival az the farm.
The COroner's Jury.
While the negro suspected Of murder
was being guarded In the parI0r Cor
oner Stanton was empanelling jury in
the kitchen where the murdered woman
lay. After he had selected twelve re-
putable citizens Of the county, they
grouped around the mutilated corpse,
while County Physician lizard explained
khn ror1na RI aoa<k