The Washington herald., 1915-11-07

moor. where he was allowed the free
use of an extensive library. DR.. Minor,
by the way. Is an American surgeon,
, who had left the United States to visit
London. Here Is the story Of the muir
der:
Murderer an Americas.
In the Beivedere road. Lambeth. close
I to Hungerford Bridge. a few hundred
yards from DR.. Minors lodgings. stood,
and stfll stands large brewery known
as the Lion On the night Of February
II. ls72, about 2 o'clock in the morn
Ing, DR.. Minor. who was then absent
I from his rooms almost nightly. was re-
turning home, evidently in a highly ex-
cited condition. The night was clear
and starlit. Close to the gates OF ths
brewery the American suddenly encoun-
tered one of the employees there, George
Merritt, a stoker. who was then going TO
his work. Suddenly three shots rang out,
and the nearest policeman rushed to the
scene TO find DR.. Minor standing with a
smoking revolver In his hand.
Who fired those shotsT demanded
the policeman.
did, replied the American, with
complete calmness. coming forward.
there
BY this time another officer arrived,
ana going in the direction indicated by
the American he found the unfortunate
stoker's body Death. resulting from one
bullet wound in the neck and another In
the back. had been practically instanta-
neous: The doctor. whom the policeman
described as entirely cool and seIf-pos-
sessed, was disarmed, arrested. and AZ
once conveyed to Southwark police sta
ton, where he was imprisoned
Dr. Minor was tried at the sprfna
assizes In the following April the trial
having been postponed to permit his wife.
his brother and other witnesses 70 reach
England. The case was tried before
Lord Chief Justice Bovill, the prosecution
being represented by Mr.. Denman. Q. G,
and Mr.. ]. c. Mathew. and the prisoner
by Sir then MrD Edward Clarke The
proceedings were comparatively brief
the evidence Of the prisoners brother and
wife Cthe latter's appearance excited
great sympathy. as well rs the evidence
of the police, making it obvious that the
act was that Of a deranged man. There
was the police letter to America, too.
written before the crime. not TO mention
the fact that the prisoner and his victim
were absolute strangers. The jury after
being charged by the Lord Chief Justice.
brought in verdict OF not gully. soon
after DIR. Minor was taken to Broad
moor. there to be confined during her
majesty's pleasure as the ofiCia9 phrase
then went
Now Living I'm the United states.
Sir James Murray. Mr.. Hayden Church
tells us. was exceedingly reluctant 10
have the story published. consentinE at
last only in view Of the scientific rmpOr-
tanCe of the case from the psychologists
standpoint In fact, various men Of emi-
nence in the scientific world acted with
the friends of the distinguished Or. Muir
ray to effect the release Of DR.. Minor.
who at last accounts was living happily
in the United States. his present where
abouts being withheld for .obvIoUs rea-
sons. The strangest part Of his story is
that the learning which made him so
important in the history Of the most am
bilious pathological undertaking in the
history OF English photography was &C.
quired within the walls of the lInatiG
asylum during the period of his incar-
ceration.