American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-10-20

DREADFUL AFFAIR AT LAECASTER-.HufdeF
Of a Man, Uoman and Chih!-.4tctuL Effects Of
intenperanceN The following, which we copy
from the Lancaster, Pa, Tribune, extra, is one
of the most dreadful affairs we have ever recor-
ded, and exhibits the awful effects Of intemper-
ancc:
On Saturday morning, the nth inst, man
named John llaggcrty, living IN South Queen
street, in this city, committed Il series OF muir
dcfs unparalleled in the annals of our Common
wealth Bewtecn 8 and 10 O'Clock, after shoot
ing horse in the street near his door, he went
into the gunsmth shop--near his own residence
of Mr.. Mechoir Fordney, an old and highly
esteemed man; what took place, we could not
ascertain, but boy, son of Mr. Fordney,
gave the alarm that his father, mother and SIS
ter had been murdered by Haggerty. On GO
ing into the room, we witnessed one of the most
horrid spectaces Imaginable. Just inside the
front door of the shop lay the old man, with
his brains battered out. At his side, but with
her head towards the back door, lay the body
of his wife, her brains also battered out; and
near her, lay her child, four or five years old +,
with its skull broken and the brains oozing
theretrom!
Fordney and his wife, it seemed, had been
killed INSTANTLY. The little boy stated, in sub
stance, that Haggerty got at his father, with an
axe, and while he was killing him, his mother
ran in TO interfere, when he turned upon her
and killed her, and then struck the child on the
head with the axe! The child only lived few
hours. The foul deed created intense excite
nent in our city.
Much excitement exists also against High
Constable Brntnal, for, we shall call it by as
mild name as possible, gross negligence, III not
having had Haggerty arrested several days pre-
vlous to this outrage. He had warrant for his
arrest in his possession since Tuesday evening
last, issued by the Mayor, for ill-usagc to his
family or neighbors; and yet, knowing his des-
perate character, he permitted him to run at
large until he has most cruelty murdered nearly
whole family
Elaggcrty was arrested and committed to
prison
A letter in the Philadelphia Ledger, gives
this account of the tragedy:
Yesterday morning, between and 10 o'clock,
our citizens we're alarmed by the cry of mul der;
on repairing to the spot, in South Queen street,
from whence the cry originated, we saw a
healthy, robust man, by the name of Haggerty,
apparently in state of intoxicaton or mad
ness, and tearing about it'll an axe in his hand
crimsoncd with blood He resisted every effort
made for his arrest, and defed them to lay u
hand u, on him, with his axe raised in the air.
There was no other alternative left than TO pelt
him with stones, which was successfully carried
into effect. After the capture Of Ilaggerty, the
house was entered, and 10, and behold the
most horrible spectacle presented itself to view.
There lay two Understanding flesh, stream
ing blood, scattered brains, and the walls be-
spattered with blood-whose vital spark had
flown TO realms above, but few moments be-
fore. On searching the other room, horrible
to relate, there lay an innocent babe, Keeling
in the agonies Of death, with its brains oozing
out.
This is the most unparalleled murder on re-
cord, and never before have we heard of muir
der perpetrated with such elaboration, cool
ness and boldness as was the present one. Ill
appeared that the murderer desired to kill all
around him, and, no doubt, would have per-
formed some serious feats, had not the course
been pursued as was in this case.