The evening times., 1896-06-19
BURRss STILL II DANGER
''D0ped" Farmer Was Unable
to Appear in Court.
CONDITION IS CRITICAL
Detectives In the Meantime Are Pill
Ing Up Testimony Agai@,st Merigan.
Measured and His Picture Taken.
Thought to BE Mixed Up In Several
Other Cases.

Precinct Detective Sutton has made cut
aclear-cut case of highway robbery eainst
Matthew F. Merigan, the suave fellow who
administered ''knock-out drops of chlora
TO farmer Richar rd j. Burrss, and then rob
bed him of his watch aud $l2 in 81 bills,
as told in The Morning Times.
II was learned today that Merigan was a
member OF the crooked gang which infests
jackson City and vicinity, and several
across -tbe-river sharpers were at the
police court this morning to see what dis
position would be made of their pal
In this they Were disappointed, as the
prisoner was not arraigned today, owing
to the serious condition of Farmer Burrss.
He is still at the Emergency Hospital, and
the physicians there notified Lieut.. Amiss
this morning that the countrynan was in a
serious condition from the effects OF the
poisonous stuff which was administered to
him by Mcrigan.
JUST IN TINE.
Sergt. Joe Acton said this morning that
if the patrol wagon had not reached the
victim as soon as it did, the prisoner would
have been required to face the charge of
murder instead of highway robbery.
The spot where Burrss was found, after
being doped, is n ciump of bushes near the
electric road, between Waterloo and Four
Mile Run. Had he not been found and
treated Immediately the physicians believe
he would have died by the roadside be-
fore morning. .
After taking cab with Merigsn, the
farmer was driven across Long Bridge
TO the saloon kept by a widow named Mrs,
Alexander, where the knockout drops,
were placedin bottle ofbeer which Burrss
drank. He became unconscious in "a few
moments, and was robbed and left in the
bushes, where the First precinct police
found him through information furnished
by the cabman, Peter Maginnis.
AT HEADQUARTERS.
Matthew F. Merigan was brought TO po.
lice headquarters this forenoon by De-
tective Sutton and Policeman James Tay-
man. He is forty-seven years of age and
was born in England, where several years
ago he figured as a circus clown and show
shouter He came from Philadelphia To
Washington. In the Quaker City Merigan
was known as Happy Jack" Lawson and
Funny Mergcn." He is believed to have
long and black record in the annals OF
the police of other cities.
After being measured by the BertiIlion
system at headquarters by Detective Board
man. the prisoner was photographed Tor the
rogues' gallery For several days past
Merigan had been stopping at a boarding
hocse known as the Temple Home No 3O5
Missouri avenue
While at police headquarters the prisoner
was fully identified by Mr. James Bra
gonia, the clerk in the Library Pharmacy
corner OF Second street and Pennsylvania
avenue southeast. as the man who called a t
the drug store and purchased the bottle or
choral which was found on his person
Merigan wrote q prescription for the
poison, and signed il "Dr. n. Curtis.r
When questioned By Clerk Bragopia, the
prisoner sald he was conducting wild
animal show in Alexandria and wanted
the stuff to use on some OF the beasts, who
were uncomfortable. kerigan offered Mr.
Bragonia several tickets to the show,
which the drug clerk refused to accept.
IDENTIFYING THE WATCH.
Sergt. Acton said when Merigan was ar
rested last night with Burrss' watch in his
possession, the fellow remarked:
NO living man will ever identify this
watch"
His words nearly came true remarked
the sergeant. FOR Burrss had 4 hard fight
for life, and is not yet out of danger."
About seven months ago Henry Bloss
German saloonkeeper, at No. 90S First
street northeast, was robbed of over 500,
after himself and wife had been kn ocked
out with choral drops, given by three
strangers.
The First precinct police are going to
have Mr. and Mrs Bloss Iook at MeriGan to
see If they can identify him as one Of the
men who ''doped'' and robbed them.
The case against Meriean will he called
in the police court as soon as Eloss is able
to appear.