The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-02
|ELOQUENCE SAVED HER
SENATOR YOORHEEs's APPEAL TO A
JURY IN A FAMOUs TRIAL.
Nary Harris. Who Killed Burroughs,
diana Mans EIOquence.
Washington Post.

The recent death of ex-senator Voorhees,
recalled TO the pablo mind the manys ensa-
tional criminal trials in which his voice
was heard and his eloquence prevailed.
Never did his character as a defender OF the
defenseless SHINE forth more prominently
than in the case of Mary Harris, tried in
1865, for the murder Of Adoniram j. Burr
roughs. One of the most brilliant argu-
ments OF the ex-senator's legal career was
delivered in her behalf, and gained her ac-
quittal.
Few people of the present day can dis
tinctly r~ecollect the details of that mysteri-
Gus and sensational murder. 1t was said at
the time to be 'unexampled in the annals
of crime" The victim, a man Of education
and refinement. was shot down in one Of
the principal corridors of the Treasury De-
partment, just as he had turaed his face
hcmeward, where his loving wife was
waiting to greet him after his days work
was done. The hand that in broad day light
directed the fatal bah, was the delicate
Nhite hand of a beautiful woman. The feel
ing of hatred which bIackened her heart.
and, as Mr.. Voorhees, asserted IN his speech,
clouded her intellect, was the consequence
of 4 train Of circumstances, exceeding in
dramatic interest the most fertile imagins.-
ton of the novel writer.
The story, the facts of which came out
in the course Of the trial. can better be I'M
dorstood if related from the beginning.
Somewhere about the year 1876. there
lived in Burlington, la, a little girl, nine
years Old, of the name of Mary Harris. She
was a very pretty child, with roguish black
eyes and soft. dark curls, and as she ran
about the little fancy store where she was
employed, more as an ornamen than any
A,A~ To- d. -,
Not only were the small boys of the place
led away by her charms from the straight
path of scholastic lore to the maze where
Cupid rules, but older hearts were caught in
the meshes of her dark hair.
Among the stock in trade in the store
where she worked were gentlemen's fur
nishings of such fancy description as neck
ties and handkerchiefs Thither. therefore,
to purchase these things, and incidentally
to pull Mary's pretty curls, came a young
business man from Burlington, Adoniram j.
Burroughs. What an innocent and bright
first scene in the dark tragedy, the last act
of which Was played in the Supreme Court
of the District of Columbia the Sd Of July,
1865.
KNEW HER AS A CHILD.
AS time passed young Burroughs became
much attached to little Mary; he even
charged himself somewhat with her educa-
ton, gave her books to read and advised
her what studies to pursue. Being himself
a man of education and refinement, he sue
ceeded in forming the chid's mind much
above her station, so that her social SUI
periors began to notice and receive her as
she grew up. This state of affairs continued
until Mary was thirteen years old, when
Burroughs left Burlington on account of
bt,eiDasG dtfEanltias and want IN ffbipao on r
Then it was that he received tds .hfst letter
of that long and loving correspondence that
was to be read, commented upon and
sneered at in public by great lawyers in the
years to come.
Not satisfied with communicating by let
ter, young Burroughs frequently came to
Burlington to see Mary, and on such ocea-
sions met her at the house of a mutual
friend, as her father did not approve of his
attentions. Finally he wrote her to come on
TO Chicago, where he would secure her en-
ployment, in order that she might be near
him. She acted upon his Instructions, and
took a position in the principal book store
OF Chicago. In a short time, however, her
employer demonstrated with her upon the
nature of B~urroughs's attentions and she
left at once, returning TO her native place,
escorted by her devoted admirer. When in
planned thai he brought Mary back,
because he was soon 10 make her
his wife and he did not wish her to
continue in the store. He soon wrote her to
join him again, and this time she was en-
ployed as bookkeeper in the millinery store
of the Misses DeVlin, with whom she re-
manned until her last fatal Journey 10
Washington,
Once established in her new home Mary
was at first very happy. but Burroughs
was ON the move again. This time he came
to Washington IN search OF a position, and
sueceedod i'm obtaining one in a public of
flee. From this city he wrote to her to join
him, and that he would get her a situation
under the government; but he said nothing
of the often deferred marriage. so she did
not come. Nevertheless, they still continued
on friendly terms, and he called on her In
Chicago.
THE MYSTERIOUS LETTER.
Now comes the part of the story upon
which Voorhees, defense largely depended.
The events. and the motives governing
them. are at this point so involved and
mysterious that they seem never to have
been satisfactorily explained even in the
great lawyers brilliant address.
Upon calling one day at the general post
office for letters, Mary received a eonmuni-
cation in a feigned handwriting, purporting
to be from a stranger. In spite of the dis
guise Mary felt sure she recognized the ia
miliar hand Of the man she loved, and was,
in consequence, doubly Mortified at the con-
tents of ehe letter, which read as follows:
Chicago, Sept. s, 1861.
Dear Molly-I am aware that it is step
ping somewhat beyond the bounds of true
propriety for a comparative stranger to adj
dress a note to a young lady, requesting
her TO meet him, but my hope Is that you
win excuse the presumption and accede to
my request. / hay had the pleasure of see
ing you several ines, but never have had
the honor of an introduction. Now, my dear
Molly, / have some things to say to you
which l know you will be glad to hear, and
| know of no better way to say them than
for you to meet me, say, on Friday. Sept.
II. at No. "a Quincy street. at 1880 O'clock
in the afternoon. / am perfectly well ac-
quainted with the lady who keeps the house
and / know that we can talk there without
interruption. You will, perhaps, have some
h%esitancy in coming. but you need not have,
as / can assure you. my sole motive i'm re-
q|uesting the interview is that we may be-
come acquainted, and that mutual friend
ship may result from IL. / an confident /
can convince you with a few words of con-
Vcrsation that my sole desire Is TO be your
friend, and / think a meeting would do us
both good. VIII you Gomez DO. Your
friend, +. +. GREENWOOD.
Mary was sufficiently acquainted with the
WAYS of the world 70 suspect the true de-
sign Of the man who had written the letter.
She accordingly showed IL 10 the Misses
Devlin, who at once pronounced Burroughs
to be the author. They then made Inquiries
street and found it to be a house of tho
worst description. Miss DeVlin wrote an an
swer to the communication. signing MaFy's
name, and herself deposited 1t in the gem
eral postoftice. She then requested the clerk
10 AXE particular notice Of the man who
would call for letters addressed to +. 2.
Greenwood.
Kindly notice him so you can describe
him. and particularly his hands, she said.
When she returned 70 ascertain the result
= 49, an- cha mo-