New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-17
TBOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN INSANE.
). D. BENEDICT HAS A DECIDED OfiNlON
ON THE MERRICK TRAGEDY.

The rumors about the Merrick murder ana suc'"e
which have been circulated since the Uaseu' vi
Wednesday morning led Tribune reporter ~ 'aN
with E D. Benedict. whose law once 10 III '.ie
Jefferson Building opposite the courthouse WI
Benedict was counsel for Mrs Merrick dur'hs ,he
,,roo her husband abandoned her and by his adVice
she began proceedings for limited divorce Oh ''ie
ground of desertion. The proceedings never az
tanned the dignity of suit. as no papers were ever
servad Nerrick was in St. Louis with his fa'her
and nersonal service Of the summons was. OF COURSE
1.a,,h,o Mr. BENEDICT conferred with New
VII attorney who was said TO represent Merr'ch
but the proposition submitted by him was moS' UNI
satisfactory Merrick. through his lawyer was WIZ
inc his wife should have an absolute uNoice' ou'
no would nav neither amony nor counsei ices
Mr. Renedict would not entertain such Pfopo'i''o"
"a ,rformed Merrick that nc could have ninety Gays
% consider the matter. and II at the end OF ina,
time he did not do the proper thihS ny HE "'''
and child the sui: would be pushed
In the mean time Mrs. Merrick WITH ne' n''> son
usn, " 81. Louis to see her husband While there
w. hrroad her father-n Jaw tina: he insisted
80 md hnal,y brought about reconciliation. ana
the next thing Mr.. Benedict knew his client ana her
Lyle see ssn.n Is the
was one OF the mos, surprised men IN Inc Guy "ne"
read the story Of the tra asSea theory about tn.
murder and suicide He puts the plane ehs,re ay
unusually attractive woman and he believes her
TO have been good as she was beautiiui Duiin
al1fh me
she lived with her mother and supported herself and
her child by her own labor. she was an expert
dressmaker. Merrick he described as man WIN
wheels in his head He was not dsslpateu' Dus
unjusty jealous OF his wife. This disposition was
undoubtedly fostered and nurtured until ne was a
maniac that question. -.
When asked how he reconcled his opinion OF the
murdered woman with the story OF the private de-
fective the lawyer broke out Into storm OF IN
yective against private detectives he declared they
were the .bane of society and had done more to
promote domestic infelicity and instlgate divorce
proceedings than all other causes combined He had
investigated the so-caled detectives story and pro-
nounced 1t false. Mrs. Merrck went to visit her
any other street. but came directly home. Merrick
had been working himself up to state OF frenzy
and the tale Of the detective. Mr.. Benedict said.
drove him mad
Whether or not Mr. Benedict's views about the
detective are true II is now generally believed that
Mrs Merrick not unfaithfu, to her marriage
vows. and the fact that the detective In the case
has been ordered TO give up his special oincer .
badge Is commented on az supporting that belief.
St Louis. April l6--Harrison II. Merrick. father
Of the principal actor In the double tragedy in Brook
Ign yesterday received the first news Of the sad
affair from reporter last evening. Mr.. Merrick
is president of the Merrick. Walsh Phelps Jewery
Company. of the leading jewelry houses Of the
West. He Immediately prepared to depart for New
York and at the Union Station received telegram
which read:
Ida and Fred are dead. Come at once"
The old heartbroken. He said: MY boy
had not lived here Cor ten years He was dutiful
years ago and had visited his mother and father
several times since cannot believe that Jealousy
caused his terrible crime"
Mr.. Phelps. a member OF the firm said the suicide
murderer almost a stranger to this city and
that the relations of father and such that
the latter was rarely heard OF.