The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-06-14
Negro Says He Crushed Her Skull
With Brick Because She
Opposed His Marriage.
SERVANT AS AN ACC0MPLICE.
Fiancee Wanted to Marry Him
in Jail. but Changed Her
Mind and Will Wait Till
He Is Free.


| REPUBLrc SPECIAL
Philadelphia. Pa, June 13.-Philadelphis
mas not yet recovered from the sensation
| produced at the Coroners Inquest yesterday
| when. TO the surprise of everybody but the
| detectives and few attaches Of the Coro-
| ner's Office. the jury found that aged Mrs.
Mary Haggenbotham had been murdered by
her son. John Haggenbotham, who had
merely been summoned to attend the in
quest as a witness.
Mary Wright. alias Mary Rider, a coIored
woman, on whose clothing blood stains
were found on the day OF the murder was
until yesterday the supposed principal in
the brutal crime. II was upon her testi-
mony that the Coroner's jury based its
opinion that John Haggenbotham had
killed his mother, and the servant was
committed as an accessory before and
after the fact. Mrs Haggenbothams death
was not entirely cleared up by the develop
ments at yesterdays inquest. Detectives
are tonight securing Philadelphia Atlantic
City. Somers Point, y. j, and other places
Tor man Mary Wright says was with
Haggenbotham In the house at the time of
the murder.
Discovery OF the Crime.
ME- HaSgenbotham. who was rs years
Old and IN comfortable circumstances, re-
sided with her son. John Haggenbotham, a
decorator. at 32l6 Chestnut street. About
Z:O O'Clock on the afternoon of June 4
Mary Wright. her colored servant. ran into
an adjoining apartment house and asked
tnat q colored waiter be allowed to accom-
pany her home. exclaiming. Il am afraid to
De In the house. something has happened!'
Mr. X Courtney. boarder. went over to
the house and found Mrs. Haggenbotham
lying unconscious on the floor. She was
w0lrndc on har hsoA md
lace. and fragments Of bottle were scat
tered over the floor. Mrs. Haggenbotham
was removed to a hospital and died on Sat-
urday last.' without having regained con-
sciousness Suspicion at once pointed to
Mary Wright. and she was arrested. Until
MONDAY last she asserted that she was in
nocent; and did not know who had as
the detectives that John Haggenbotham m
had killed his mother, and reDeated the
story at the inquest.
Mysterious StranEer's Part.
About O'Clock on the afternoon of
man came downstairs. He had blood on his
hands and had q light mustache. He told
me the bundles he carried under his arms |
were given him by Mr.. John. They were to /
ps put IN my trunk to go to Somer's Point. |
He told me he was a friend of Miss Fer |
ners. and John had let him into the house.
I told him nothing from that house could
be put in my trunk. and he carried the /
packages to the cellar. When he came up |
ne said to me: My. but John has a hard
heart! We were coming downstairs from
the fourth floor. when his mother spoke to
! Ohm He did not answer her. and. as she |
turned to go into her room. John struck
her over the head with a beer bottle he |
was carrying. Then he picked I'D a cane |
md suppose he is finishing her now. |
Then the man left, saying there was no
money in 1t for him.
Mothers Plea for Mercy.
II then went upstairs and saw Mrs Hag-
genbotham's body lying on the floor.
called and John opened the door Of her |
'oom asked him what he was doing. and /
ne told me TO be quiet He said: Don't
was to do this for me weakened. and
had to finish It" Then his mother got part
up and said; oh. John. why did you do
He said: oh. my God. I can't have her
eiling on me like this and picked up a |
rick. He struck her three times and she
roancd and fell back. John picked up the
rick again and struck her in the face {
nder the lounge. The blood spurted on my
ress."
The Woman I'm the Case. IL
Mary Wright said Haggenbotham killed
Is mother because she objected to his pro-
osed marriage to Clara Eerner. After the
larriage license. but could find no one who
ould marry her to the accused murderer.
o.day Miss Ferner made this statement: e
VIII not marry John Haggenbotham un- I
OF because l would not willingly do so but | Z
ecause have decided. on second thought, |
lat cur marriage had best be deferred on | 3
count OF the Implication made that / |
anted to marry John so ! could not be a {
itness Ny impulse yesterday was to mar
MIN at once. SO could have the right
care for him. but I see that this is not |
10 oest course to pursue. 50 1 shall wait"