The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-21
FARRELLS THIRD DEGREE.
EFFORTS TO MAKE HIM CONFEsS
KILLING MAMIE CUNNING HAN.

hNNa-tNe Eotnor hrnuuCeu Rher NIotnen
and Reproached Farrell for Tearing Them.
The taking of testimony in the trial of Frank
Farrell, charged with the murder OF l3.yeRr-old
Mamie Cunningham, commenced yesterday in
Pert w., General Sessions, before Recorder
Con and q Jury. Mamie Cunningham was the
daughter of n widow living at $40 East Thirty
seventh street. She was found strangled to
death In q room in her mothers apartments on
Nay 80. 1896. The child was a favorite among
the neiGbbors, and was noted for her piety.
Several persons were arrested on suspicion of
having committed the crime, but all of them
were discharged. and 1t was believed for o time
that the police had abandoned the case.
Central Office Detective McCaffcrty, however,
continued to work on the murder mystery, as
did Inspector Brooks. After several months
Frank Farrell. who lived in the house where
the murder was committed, was arrested. He
claimed to be ono of tho fret persons on tho
scene Of the murder, and added that Mrs. Cum
bingham, the mother of the dead girl. had re-
Quested him to go after tho police. Mrs. Cum
bingham said that this was not 30. and 1t was
owing to this story that suspicion was first
thrown on Farrell.
Tho first witness called yesterday was DR..
James A. Sinsabaugh, who was called into tho
house at the time Of the finding of the girls
body. II was evident that the girl had been
s~trangled to death. he said, and the room OK
hibitcd traces Of a struggle.
Policeman Charles Braun Of the East Thirty
nfth street station described the condition of
the room when he arrived at the tenement. He
said two bloody towels and a knife were found.
One OF the towels had been used to stranRle tho
girl, and he believed that the knife had been
used by tho murderer as u threat. John Wood
hed that Farrell reported the murder. Coro-
ner,s Physician Weston testified that tho cause
Police Inspector Brooks testified that no was
positive that Farrell was lying when no an
'%efS obs SsTss1n a q scrsteS o% az tS fe9 ls sfnt side h Of Far.
rellsiacu,' said tho Inspector. and asked him
E Shop % sf got ge II he sb sSiS he f9 96i d b II int It Did GHT neF
look like n scratch from a razor. One OF the
buttons Butte t ns c TSs torn p,o partly from v hF e Goa hS and "
told him | thought, the torn cloth and button
tGoEe IA q" ~ II he ne m. might nt have have been been IN. a c struggle ans
weeks before while he was skylarking with a
Inspector Brooks produced three keys. which
no said Farrell had in his possession at tho time
OF his arrest; The keys were ADMITTED in svi-
Eell had admitted to him that one Of the keys
lifted the lock of the cellar door and had been
also fitted the lock on the door leading from the
hall to Mrs; Cunningham's apartments.
Inspector Brooks and tried to get in evidence all
q tho facts concerning the arrest Of Edward
uniting the murder. This limo of inquiry was
The mother of the murdered girl, Mrs. Annie
Cunningham. testified that she was now living
at BAT Third avenue. She was the housekeeper
street when tho murder was committed. Nine
families lived in the house and onr set of apart
ments was vacant. Frank Farrell lived there
with his folks: On the morning of the tragedy.
Mrs. Cunningham said. she left her home at half
When she returned at 2 o'clock in the afternoon
che found one OF her windows open ~ was the
G Tlns g Tying isins dead HSt % on the the floor oor. Sn' round neF
At this point Mrs. Cunningham broke down
and wept. 1t WINS several minutes before she re-
COyaTaI Suf1ciently IN he able TO tnStify. Com
her daughters neck. The towel was saturated
Under cross.examination by Mr.; O'Hare, Mrs.
Cunningham testified that she had not told Far
rell to inform the police that her daughter had
been killed. She said she did not see Farrell
until after the police came to the house. Lawyer
months after the tragedy Farrell was placed
under i, arrest and put through the n;n third de,
room in which the murder occurred and there
made him get down on his knees before a little
altar. and nfterward made him kneel before the
picture of the murdered girl with the purpose of
forcing a confession from him.
degree; as the police call It. !,
choked my daughter, answered. the witness.
2;.Didn,t you tie y towel about his neck
"o.NDo YOU remember Oficor McCafferty fore
Ing Farrell down on his knees before an altar
confessl' Al don't remember.
"" Z IL arrangements " ~ liilIu uo-
gree were completed weren't they completed
with the production of a knifef A knife
was taken from the closet.
.,Q-Wasn't tho prisoner forcibly brought to
the crayon portrait Of the murdered girl hang
down on his knees and threatened by the de-
%tectivesl Al believe he was brought before
o.ppAnd didn't they force him down on his
knees before tne,i that t. altar; ana d tell enn 9im thSt; as , he
shrine Of the Blessed VirginI Al don't re-
member; ! was very much excited at the time.
of your daughter. didn't the detectives tie a
towel around his necki Al could not say ono
Q.NDidn't the detective strike him whilo he
was down on his kneesi Al don't know
Q-Didn't you strike, hint Ayes; 1 hit
-Q.-where did you hit hint AIN tho face.
j gave him n couple of slaps.
Q.-Was that all you did Al said q lot Of
Q.eDil you notice Detective McCaforty take
view Of Farreiii A.Nididn't notice any revoi,
ver in The detectives hand.
were in tho room pull out a revolver at the
same time. MeCafferty had a Eeyolyer put, and
theref Al didn't see either OF the detectives
o.NWasn't some of this girls clothing thrust
in front of Farrell's face and exhibited to HIM
AoIWho exhibited iti A.-Either I or Nc
Cafferty: think it was her waist,
. Q-What was said at the time A.IAs far
10 how he had the heart to do such a thing and
tear her clothes In such a way.
Q-After being there an hour he was permitted
10 20 out. At that time did you SEQ the do
tectives going down In the hall force him 30
that he nearly went down the stairs head fore-
mostl A.-No, sir.
Odd you hear Detectives KesselmRrk and
McCaferty making arrangements to try to force
Farrell to go ahead and run so that they might
get a chance to follow and kill him with their
pistols A.-No, sir.
O-Can you tell mo that such a thing did not
happen In the hall Al cannot say; / did not
see IL happen.
The trial will be continued to-day.