The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-03-12
Horrible Butchery In Philadelphia.

One OF the most fearful tragedies that has been
enacted in Philadelphia brought to light in South
wark at half past o'clock this morning. Two sis-
ters named Hannah Shaw and Ellen Lynch, living at $50
Federal street. between Seventh and Eighth streets
| found brutally murdered.
As soon as we heard of the circumstance hastened
three sor1
building the south side Of Federal street Upon en-
tering the house the most horrible sight presented itself
which has been lot to Witness In the front
room, the first floor the bodies of two females ap-
parenty not more than twenty Ave or thirty years OF
age sy welorng in blood Both lay across the room'
The wieh lay in the front part Of the room was the
body OF Ellen Lynch She was in her night clothes and
was lying upon her face Aeopous stream Of blood had
floor. One Of her hands clasped and much cut 1t
was evident she bad gasIed the knife Of the assassin
was lrobaby caused by blow upon the head inflicted
with 81. me heavy instrument.
The 9TH victim Mrs. Hannah Shaw. She was in
her ordna, dress and lay upon her back in the part
of the room n is woman bad cash in her right check
and wound in tho breast evidently inflicted with knife
The carpet where she lay was completely saturated with
blood.
The in which the fe,rfn tragedy had been enact
ed comfortably furnished and the articles in the
apartment not dsarranged the carpet upon
the floor (Which ordinary rag carpet and laid
down in strps was as smooth as though the murdered
about the indicated serious struggle except the
ghasty remains lying upon the floor
full affair have transpred, it seems that the house in
which the murder was committed is occupied by John
Lynch and his wife, Mrs. Lynch was confined about
The room in which the foul deed committed is used
for Sabbath school purposes by John Carol Mrs Shaw
has been staying with her sister since her confinement
and they have had several quarre together Carol and
his wife were also in the habit Of quarrelling.
1t seems that Carol and his wife went to ball. to
party Of kind last evening" and were away all
night this morning Mrs. Carol returned home alone,
about half o'clock and the first to discover
the dreadful spectacle. The mlkman at the door
when she returned and she called him in to witness the
scene The neighbors were also alarmed The infant
children, SO suddenly left without mother were found
in the second story front room, crying.
At the time we left the scene the knife with which
it is supposed most of the wounds we're inflicted, had
not been found. piece of leaden pipe about eighteen
inches long, much battered found. Those who
first upon the ground there spots Of bood and
some human hair, upon the pipe when they first it
1t probable that the fatal blow was inflicted upon Mrs
Lynch with this weapon.
candle, partly burnt, was found in the room; the
wick appeared have been eatngushed purposey The
brass caDdlestick had blood upon it.
Mrs Carol saws that when she left home last night
young man named John Ryan was there. Ryan has
since been arrested. Mr.. and Mrs. Carol are also in
custody.
Coroner Goldsmith empaneed jury, and commenced
the Investigation We compelled to to press before
the post morton examination is made upon the bodies
The evidence SO far, is as follows
The first witness examinedwas Mrs. Mary Ann Fitzpat
rick; she was sworn, and testified as fcllows:-
! live next below, at No 2Ss; | have known these
Shaw drank they were both married. never in the
house, heard them quarrelling on Wednesday night;
don't know who visited them saw Mrs. Shaw yes,
terday morning, she had been drinking Mrs Lynch
Wednesday afternoon believe brother of John Car
rolls boarded with him: Mr. Lynch is in New York. he
went on Wednesday morning. bartholomew is his first
name; Carol used to hayea good many men coming in;
thought they drank good deal; heard noise last
night went to bed at half past nine; heard noise
whatever last night; got down at half past five this
morning; the wife Of John Carol come home at
half past o'clock she said she had been party
she opened the door with dead latch key; went into
house she afterwards and knocked at my door
milkman
copseyng on the floor came to the door and looked in
the bodies lying in the front parlor dead; my hus
band was there, and took me out
The rest of he evidence of this witness very
important She became quite sick and taken out of
| the room.
Juiia Fitzgerald swon-I live at q Titzwater street.
knew both the deceased to speak to them; Mrs.
SINCE sLe was conhneo her husband has gone to
New York: he emp yee in the Navy Yard; he said
he was going to stay five or six days don't knew exactly
story font room with the nurse the husband believe
doad her; Mrs shaw was here at the tme have not
Mrs Is nch since; she left two children in Ireland
she was nice woman; don't know much about Mrs.
Shaw: she is arried to second husband; cant tell
how long since her first husband wa buried Mrs. Shaws
first husbands name was Leavitt
Anna Gay, young woman sworn-l am seamstress;
ye IN schuylkill Fifth below Walnut have met Mr. and
Third don't know whose house the balls were at met
them there - last night they we're very sociab To-
gether we left he ball room about daylight Mr. Carol
did not 20 away Though the night they (Mr and Mrs.
C) left shortly before did; can't tell exactly at what
time went to the ball. think it vas not nine Mr.. and
Mrs Carol were both there when reached there don't
know either of the deceased never them until this
morning; did not know what house Mr. and Mrs. Car
| ro lived in
below know the people of this house John Carol
| the proprietor his wife lived here; William Car.
rol boarded with them Bartholomew Lynch and
wife rented second story, front room; Mrs Shaw
did live here formerly; she Is q sister of Mrs.
was conned Carol his wife, and their visitors are in
the habit Of drinking aud csrousng; they quarred
much on wednesday night that the nesh6ors gathered
in the habit of quarrellipg was not away from
home al of yesterday heard no noise yesterday; went
to bed early heard screaming afterwards don't know
what time precisely wife told me in the evening that
Carol had taken his wife to a party to make up the
quarrel OF the night previous afterwards heard the noise
before twelve O'Clock sure; and thought they had
raturned, and were at il again
nv house. saw Mrs. Carol coming home alone. she
had her ball dress and her shawl over her head the
mkman at this door; we (Mrs. G. and y made some
testing remarks the mikman and she went in the front
door together went into my house and moment after
Mrs Carol and the mkman to the door and called
floor she asked 20 did So and the corpses,
and went up stairs 10 look for the children and found
them lying on % the bed crying y Mrs iynSh husband husband is
bushed in the face when she first came home this morn
ing and much agitated when she to door with
the mikman. brown coat was exhibited to the wit
ness he said he had Mr.. Carol brown coat
but did not recognise that the have Carroll
brown coat; don't know his business; he dis.
tbued books and taught Sunday school in the front
room: Mrs. Carol said "My God my God ~ when she
went into the where the bodies lay.
Margaret Fitzgerald sworn-Liye in Fitzwater street;
know Mr. and Mrs. Carroll don't know any thing of this
affair; called to Mrs Lynch on Sunday week, since
her confinement; know Mrs. shaw, b-t don't know her
habits.
John pcvine, the mkman, was sworn, and testified as
follows II hive in Eighth street below Reed served Mrs.
T. nch and Mrs. Carol with milk serve them every
morning. nothing wrong about the house usually Igo
here about O'Clock this morning ard rang good
bit; Tcoud not get in and went away returned again
about * o'clock raped and got answer was about
going home when Mrs Carol coming up the street.
they remarked about the detention she said she had
been out all night at party she csted with Mr. Fitz-
patrick about it, she went into the front room on the
first foor hosed the window and opened the shutters
while stood at the front door when she turned around
she looked in ama2ement for time and then turned
to and said, my God, what is thisY Mr.. Devine
in went in, and saw the bodies lying stiff aud
cold she moved the bodies and said who they
proposed TO alarm the neghbors went to Mr.. Fitz-
patrick and knocked she followed me- and gars the
alarm. proposed to examine house. We went up