The Newtown bee., 1889-11-01
BRIDGEPORT.
MRS FREDERICK MERRILL

MRS FREDERICK MERRILL
 BEATEN TO DEATH
 Coming home late at night, Saturday, so intoxicated, as he alleges, that he was not conscious of his acts or words Frederick Merrill of No. 6 Hall street near. r.lIousatonic avenue, beat, choked and kicked his wife so brutally that she was rendered insensible and died at the hospital, Monday, without recovering consciousness. Mrs Merrill, bruised and battered, was discovered by Il neighbor Dr N. 10. Worden, who was called many hours after the crime, found her in a comatose condition. Merrill was arrest cd and charged with assault with intent to kill but, after the death of his wife, the information was changed to murder and the ball bond of 5000, allowed un- drr the first charge, was withdrawn. Mer- Till himself appears to realize the enormi- ty of his crime and weeps and moans, saying that she was good wife to him, that they had never quarrelled before and that this was his first drunk. Ac- cordlng to the post mortem, death was caused by convulsions, proceeding from hemorrhage of the brain, which was also congested, There were numerous black and blue spots on her body.
 They had been married only about eight months and Merrill was apparently . sober, hard working fellow. He was lately employed by the Brass and Bronze Aluminium Co.,, but had previously been driver for Wheeler & Howes. His wife, before her marriage, was Miss Lottie Tonkins of Stcpney Depot. She is des- cribed us about 30 years of age, Il year older than her husband and of very quiet disposition, not easily melted to an ger. Until her marriage, she had lived with her mother, Mrs Betsy Tonkins and brother Oscar in the house owned by Mrs NJ. F.. Beers, opposite John Benedict's tin shop at Stcpney Depot. The family had lived there some four or five years and one daughter, Jennie, who died of consumption, Is buried in the Stepney cemetery The father, George D. Ton kins, was killed, several years ago, while rescuing two young girls from being run over by heavy truck which was rapidly driven upon q ferry boat; he lived only long enough to say few words. The family ut one time lived in Brooklyn, where married daughter, Mrs Ida Smith, resides. Before that, they owned and occupied a house in Hattertown, now be- longing to Fred Porter.
 Intelligence of the murder of his sister was carried to Oscar Tonkins at Stepney Depot, Monday morning, by an article in the News. He at once started for Bridgeport, but arrived at the hospital too late to see his sister alive. Mrs Ton kins was in Brooklyn and thither he proceeded, returning to Bridgeport, Tues day and to Stepney in the evening, ac- companied by his mother, sister and fam fly. He says that he saw Merrill in pris- on, but that he (MerrilD could say noth- ing about the case, save that he was drunk. Arrangements were made for the funeral, Thursday, at } p m, from the house at Stepney Depot. Rev J. F. Robertson of the Methodist church was to ofliciate, with the burial in the Step ney cemetery; c. W. Edwards, Charles Hawley, John T. Eastwood and W. J. Candee bearers. While in Bridgeport, the body was in charge of Hawley, Will mot & Reynolds.
 No one saw Merrill abuse his wife; no one knows when or for what motive he did it; he himself says that he was so drunk that he didn't know and can't re- member what he was doing. A State law prevents his hanging on the simple ground of drunkenness and the beating was apparently done on sudden fierce impulse.