New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-18
A BULLET IN HER BRAIN.
MARTHA ]. FULLER. A STENOGRAPHER.
SHOT IN A NASSAU-ST. OFFICE:
IT is SUPPOSED THAT SHE KILLED HER
SELF. But HER RELATIVES SAY SIZE
WAS MrRDERED-A YOUNG LAWYER
ARRESTED on SUSPICION OF
KNOWING ABOUT HER
DEATH.

DEATH
Martha J. Fuller, Of No. 633 East One hundred
nd-thirty- -ninth-st. a stenographer employed IN
the law office of William NJ. Mullen at No ia
Nassau-st. died from bullet wound In her fore
head yesterday afternoon In Mr.. Mullens Office
Whether the girl committed suicide was
murdered has not yet been determined. Joseph
r. Magee. a young lawyer. who has an Office
adjoining Mr.. Muen's. was the only other per-
son around a the time and he was the first 10
announce the tragedy. He was later arrested
on suspicion Of knowing something about the
girls death He denied having killed the girl
but her relatives assert that she was murdered
According TO the statement OF the dead girls
brother Magee was attentive to Miss Fuller
and had been repea tedly repulsed by the girl
Mage IL thirty wears old and lives with his
uncle Frank Thompson, who IL a manufacturer
OF machinery at No 17S Ccntre-st.. and who
resides az No "a West one hundred an twenty
sixth-st.
Immediately after the pistol-shot was fired
Magee ran out of the building and summoned
Il policeman and turned in call for an ambu-
lance The policeman found the girl lying on the
floor of Mullens office. Blood was running from
an ugly wound in her forehead. and a revolver
was by her side. When the ambulance arrived
the surgeon in charge found that the bullet
had entered the girls brain. She was still gasp
ing for breath. but was unconscious. and a few
minutes later she died.
\ Central Office detective who was IN the
building at the timc. put MaGec under arrest
lie asked Magee who owned the revolver. and
he said that he did, but he did not know now
the girl got it. he added
The dead girl lived with h"r mother and
brother. and hor body was taken to her home
late last night. The relatives Of the girl SAID
that she had known MaGce for number ot
years and that he had been persistent In his
efforts 70 force his attentions upon her. and that
she had time and again told him that they
were dsiasteful 10 h'r.
Mage spoke last night about the affair az
follows: Il was IN the adjoining Office when
heard the report q ,nnG Gs'3b ~. gr 'u'nai haG
shot herself / just about - - home
| had stepped into the outer oih'e % WASH my
hands When passed through m" room ',cu-
pied by Miss Fuller she WAS putting on her max.
When I had gone ont she closed tho door that
connects the two Offices | thought nothing "i
this. and went washing my hands. had
about completed this work when | heard inc
pistol shot and rushed into the room.
IL know of no reason why she should tax" her
life. She was pleasant and cheerful all the alter
noon. and upon several occasions h'ari h"r
singing bits - songs She has had n trouble
that | know a. Miss Fuller had been employed
%. Mr.. Mullen for IN" last three years. have
most every day In fact. know ~ no SORROW
that she had She certainly never spoke -
any. Her home lie was pleasant She at
tended strictly - her business here nnd gave
satisfaction to nor employer II Il certainly
very strange that she should Kill herself"
The brother of the dead girl said last night;
II cannot believe that Martha killed herself
She has been IN good health and spirits. know
nothing ~ Magee, except that he had charge
~ the Office when my sister went there - work.
two or three years ago. Soon after taking IN"
position Martha told MS Magee began paying
attentions to her but she never encouraged him
and I'm fact discouraged him and rcpuscd all his
advances Magee seemed not at all Discouraged
over his poor success. and sine" h. nrst at
tempted 10 make love to Martha he has re-
neWed his attentions. lie received no encourage
ment whatever"
f. u Tcar.s ~ ~. 2.Jl3 Fifh-ave.. an uncle
of the girl. said when he heard that the pistol
belonged To- Mage: Il cannot but believe that
Magcc murdered Martha. Sh" would never have
killed herself
Magce's uncle. when Informed IL his nephew's
arrest and the girls death. said. Il know there
was never ANYTHING between tho two. There
was no love affair between them Ny nephew
ort"n spoke of Miss Fuller. but always In a very
respectful and drfcrcniial manner. once he
told me MICS Fuller was very hard 10 become
acnuainied with The suggestion that Mage"
shot the gin IS prcposterous. | cannot believe
IT,"
Magnc's uncle said that he would get bail tor
him az soon possible
Mr. Mullen and his son. In whose ONO" the girl
died had gone for the day q few minutes brfur"
tho shot was fired Mr. Mullen heard of the
girls death late last night at his homo on staten
Island and he Immediately came To the city.