Case Number: 1481
Merry, Mrs. Paulina, body found in ditch, 87th St., near Western Av. Christian Merry, her husband, and James Smith arrested in Princeton, Ky., and brought to Chicago Dec. 19, 1897. Merry hanged April 22, 1898. Smith sentenced May 23, 1898 by Judge Waterman to eight months in County Jail. James Ryan arrested as accessory.
Circumstances
| Date of Offense | November 28, 1897 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | November 28, 1897 |
| Address | 87th st., near Western Ave. |
| Type of Location | Street, or other non-commercial public place/alley |
| Type of Public Place | Street, sidewalk or alley |
| Location Description | ditch |
| Type of Death | Homicide |
| Type of Homicide | Intentional murder |
| Weapon | body found |
| Description | Family quarrel |
| Total Number of Victims | 1 |
| Location | ditch |
| Number of Defendants | 3 |
Victim
| Name | Merry, Paulina |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female |
| Race | White |
| Employed | Yes |
| VictimEmploymentType | Outside labor force (incl. criminals) |
| Ethnicity | Other, european |
| Occupation/ Skill | Housewife |
| Related by Blood or Marriage | Spouses |
Defendant
| Name | Merry, Christian |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Ethnicity | Other, european |
| Race | White |
| Related by Blood or Marriage | Spouses |
Police
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
|---|---|
| Arrest Made at Crime Scene | Out of state arrest |
| Location of Arrest | Princeton, Ky. |
| Time Between Crime and Arrest | Weeks |
| Total Number of Defendants Arrested | 3 |
Legal
| Charges Against Defendant | No |
|---|---|
| Type of Legal Decision Recorded | Coroner, trial |
| Allegations of Police Corruption | No |
| Length of Sentence | Death penalty |
| Outcome of Trial | Guilty of murder |
| Post Trial Information | Death sentence carried out |
| Sentence Completed | Yes |
