The San Francisco call., 1905-06-13
Also Lays Death Of
Boston Dentist
to Her.
Says She Speaks TO
Aid accused Doctor
Police Do Not Credit
Story, but In
vest1gate.
F1udfng Human Bones
Moves Her to Talk
Alleged Homicide Is
Lying IN Her
Grave.

There was told to the police yester-
day by woman ghastiy tale of MUIR
ders alleged TO have been committed in
n house IL this city many years ago.
The one who is charged with the awful
deeds YVES woman also, but she has
lain in her grave for decade and is
not here 20 refute the charges made
against her nsme.
Though the alleged crimes are said
to have been committed thirty-fve
years ago and the onIy person who
could have been prosecuted for them is
dead, the allegations rsnde are SO hor-
ribie that Chief Dinan, while putting
little credence in the tale, has detailed
Detective Ed Gibson to probe the mat
ter that any mystery created by the
alleged crimes may be cleared up for
the satisfaction OF any living person
wlo may be Interested.
TO the Chief of Police yesterday Mrs
Ida May Smith, who lives at a rooning-
mousse at 93O1a Mission street. made the
statement that in 1870 her foster mother
Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Merrill. Who
then lived in a house at 22S Post
street, where she kept lodgers, killed at
different times two young Norwegian sail
ors and one mining man, her object being
to obtain their money, and buried two of
the bodies in the cellar and threw the
other into barrel of quicklime there.
In addition to this, Mrs Smith says. Mrs.
Merrill had previously murdered a dem
fist named Coolridge in Boston because
he knew of her having contracted big
anous marriage.
So startling is the story of the many
murders told by Mrs. Smith that there
is a natural impulse not to give them
credence, but she has not the appear
ance of an insane person. She looks one
sGuarely in the eye and all her dates
and statements fit in proper sequence.
She mentions names of persons she says
existed in San Francisco at the time of
the alleged murders and who, she says.
may have some descendants to whom
they impaired corroborating circum-
stances, but every one who could give
that confederation directly seems to be
dead. The enormity of the charges she
makes gives pause as to belief in them.
In addition to the terrible crimes said
to have been committed here she un-
ravels mystery that had all Boston ex-
cited nearly forty years ago, according
to her story.
There is serious discrepancy in Mrs
Smiths story in regard to the many per-
sons supposed to have been placed under
u.
of the characters in her tale, is dead. She
must refer to the George Green who Is
now a member of the Morse patrol. He
never was killed, as was the Green of her
story. but is very much alive.
Mrs. Smith says she was led to make
her confession through the remark
made by a lady she did not know, who
sat beside her on a Post-street car as
it passed the place where she declares
cOyavniffRd- he led
remarked that DR.. de Haven, who had
an Office there. had been arrested for
"a crime and that 1t was likely to go
hard with him. some human bones
had been found in the basement. Mrs.
Smith says she knew nothing about the
case Of DIR. de Haven. but she thought
it her duty to explain why the bones
were there.
..In 1870 lived with my foster mother,
Mrs Merrill; my sister by adoption, who
later became the wife of George Green, a
special officer at the Emporium. and Mrs.
Merrilrs little son Frank whom Josie,
later Mrs Green. and myself always
called our brother, as we called ourselves
sisters Mr. Merrill had separated from
his wife at that time and was conducting
a carpet beating establishment on Stew
enson street, near Fifth. A short distance
down the block on Post street lived a
man named Gushing. His wife's cousin
was a mining man nam Phil some
thing-I have forgotten his last name, but
it began with p One night he came
to our house late and stayed there all
night. I think he was there two days,
maybe At any rate l remember my
foster mother said tna4 she didn't want
him to go and tell Mrs. Gushing he had
been at our place, as it would ruin my
foster mothers reputation
sHe said he would walk down there with
her She went upstairs and dressed and
then pretended to help him put on his
hat, / think. She drove a dagger into
his body near the base of the neck
remember her putting white handker-
chief over 1t and she then pretended she
was sorry and said she would take him
to doctor There were three doors lead