Year: 1867




Full Confession of Bridget Durgan.


After the execution Of Bridget Durgan at
New Brunswick, N. j., yesterday, as reported
at length in our special dispatches from that
place


Mr.. Adratn read to the representatives OF
the press the confession dictated to hun by
Bridget Durgan, as follows:


real name is Bridget Dagnan. My father is
dead, but my mother 10 still living in Dun
elffe county, Sligo. ireland, where I was
born. Have two brothers living there, and
and the other is older, married, and living in
England. Game to this country two years last
Christmas. / lived first in Brooklyn, then at
Poullis' Ferry, and in Piseataway, and in
Plainfield, N. j.. and finally with Or. Ooriell
at New Market Mrs. Corief was very kind an
pleasant to me, and l never had any quarrel
with her. About half-past 10 O'Clock on the
night Of February 25th last Mrs. Coriell was
lying on the lounge in the sitting room. Be-
fore lying down she complained Of not feeling
very well, and said che would not 60 to bed,
Mamie. who was sleeping in the cradle IN the
next bed room. AS Mrs. Coriell was lying on
the lounge apparently asleep, came ont OF
the kitchen with the bread knife in my hand
that was exhibited on the trial, and picked up
the Kerosene lamp which was standing on the
table not lighted, ana approaching her struck
her with the lamp on the head. She started
up bewildered and went into the bed room,
and followed after her. She stood by the
side OF the bed, and as / came near her she
grasped the knife out OF my hand. l turned
and picked mp another knife from the table In
the bed room. which was concerted by a clo tn
which had thrown over it, had found 1t in
q bureau drawer and placed ii there I then
turned upon Mrs. Coriell, pushed her back on
the bed, and struck her repeatedly with this
knife. The other knife had fallen on the
floor and was not used by either, and do not
know how it become bent. She resisted all she
could defending herself with pillows, and
the bed, and, supposing she was dead 1 pick
ed up little Mamie out of the cradle
and went into the sitting room and sat On the
lounge for few MINI utes. i then went into
in pot OF water sn the stove. 1 then returned
to the sitting room and bed room. and found
Mrs. Coriell had gone out OF the house /
found her going towards the gate. told her
to go back again. She said nothing. but went
back. and as she was passing through the sit
ting room stopped and kissed little Mamie,
and then sat Gown on the floor between the
sitting room and bed room. While she was sit.
ting there took the child's small chair ana
struck her two or three times. never hit her
On the neck. as was supposed. l then drew
her into the bed room and laid her down on
the floor. then came back to the sitting room
and afterwards lighted Mamie's dresses and
some paper and threw it burning on the bed l
carried the child out OF the house In the same
l went down 10 the gate, and while standing
there thought heard a man coming I went
back into the house and sat on the lounge i've
minutes, and then lett the house and aroused
the neighbors, representing that robbers were
in the house.


The confession then recites several facts of
no great importance, most OF them being con.
Trajectory OF previous statements. She states
that Mary Gllroy was not there on the night
OF the murder, and knew nothing about it,
being entirely innocent.


The confession then concludes as follows
There was no truth in my story about two
men coming to the house on the night O: the
murder; and Annie Given, whom l uniustly
charged, had nothing to do with it, There was
no design or sttempt to rob. The murder was
for another purpose. 1 killed Mrs. Coriell
min King that might take her place. This
alone led me TO commit the horrid crime The
idea OF numbering her did not come upon me
suddenly that night; had thought Of it long
time before. l have told q true story am
sorry for having committed SO great a crime
and hope God will forgive me.