Worcester daily spy., 1851-06-10

/ AWFUL TRAGEDY.-One of the most distressing
events that has occurred in this hborhood for many
years, took place RoXbury, Saturday evening"
man named Ephraim Daggett, Of Hope, Me., had been
noticed il laboriag under religious hallucina-
on, wandering about the city during Friday, andcaled
at several houses He represented that be was subject
to epiIecc fits, and pleaded great poverty and begged
| food.
On Saturday morning. about II O'Clock. he called at
the house of DR.. A. J. Cummings, said he was hungry
| and that he willing TO chop wood, or do any other
jobs about the house for his dinner He was supplied
with i1od, and alter dinner oitered about the house
until six O'Clock, when he furnished with tea The
doctor went out about O'Clock on professional
errand leaving Dagget, who soon after conirlaped of
pain IN his heart. Heasked leave to sit at the kitchen
hre ioI the purpose of warming his feet and permission
was granted lie subsequently entered the sitting
room, still complaining of pain, took a seat united his
neck handkerchief, opened his shirt BOSOM and said
ne wanted to see DIR. Cummings. His strange manner
alarmed Mrs. Cummings, and she asked Miss Crosby
who was present to go and call in some of the neigh
bors' Miss Crosby, who was holding in her lap DR..
CUMMINGS daughter, child about four years old set
the little girl down tcr the purpose Of complying with
the request.
The moment she did so, Dasgett rose, and after NUT
terlng in low tone for moment. exclaimed 1t is no
use, she must 60" He seized the child by the hair of
the head pulled her his knee and cut her head
almost off with which he drew from his pocket
The appalled, mother attempted to rescue her sweet in
nocent from the grasp of the saughterer but she
attacked. and sustained wound in the hand. She |
finally succeeded in rescuing the lieess body of her
child, and with it into the street, the Infants head
dangling her shoulder Dagge still in pursuit, at
tempting to strike her neck with the raised razor
The appearance Of the alighted mother, she ran
frantic through the streets for help-holding in her
arms her almost headless child, bleeding from every
severed vein sight too awful De described.
The neighbors heard her cries, and upon their
lpproach, Daggett, who had followed Mrs. Cummings
distance, receded the Doctors house, and there
ut his throat in such as to produce death
n less than ten miIeltes.
DR.. Cummings returned in the midst Of the confu-
ion He found Daggett in his parlor with his throat
ut from ear to ear, and still breathing He attempted
dress the wound, but death rendered the task unnec-
ssary. All this time the doctor was unconscious that
was the body of his only chiId whom he had car.
essed but half hour before, that lay bleeding upon
he table
Daggett issupposed to have been insane His strange
manner the day previous to the murder and suicide, |
you'd seem to warrant that supposifion He carried
n his pocket small bible, and several times during
he afternoon. and just before the slaughter, he took
ut and pretended to read from it. The razor with
which he committed the deed he took from shelf in
Dr.. Cummings kitchen unnoticed.-Boston Courier.