The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-03
The s;e<limg Homicide.
pArlinR, MOTHER AND BROTHER mURDsRrp BY
soN-BxAMRATIoS or NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.


or THE MURDERER
TFrom The oswego Times and Journal! 49,
We yesterday evening visited The scene Of 1ne as ~,
rhe tragedy in the town Of Sterling ana wiz Se r IT,
geraIds family reside about 10 mile west OF TINS cs anu
shout and half miles from the or,n y Ms on
Mary Ftrrcrnlds and their three sons Patrick John ana
James aged % is aud n years epeevem 'onS .ne
INIT ,eceptv Seen in the Auburn Jail for horse stealing
his father order C o'ssn sd es ba Spea
worried 1, endorse With him noe to raise money for
ne w n lf esc linn sssus q b. hespna l h
Imprisoned until The court set when he would assist the
father IN obtaining his release lie added that John was
character would not amend his ways Mr. Mex told the ia
ter this on The arcngh oconyersatons he had had with
John when in his employ The father however obtained
500 from G iiliord ESQ residing at the Mills, be.
tween North Sterling and Sterling Centre chottel
mortgage on his farm, md had bis liberated,
SON Of Mr., Titzgerads died and was buried on the
2flb Of last May John would not attend the funeral,
aud remarked he had agun he would shoot the
from ef the hearse This coming TO hi fathers ears,
would be supposed dsleased him very much and since
that time Johns hatred TO his parents has been gradu
ally on the increase till The 6nal contamination Of this
From The confession ii will be that he attempted
poisoning his parents about week since. by placing
srychnnc IN the sugar but from some cause his design
o. weane;dsy evening he had an alteration wh hi
mother, md refused TO 10 bed, sukiy lying down
The Kitchen noor. The father, mother and murdered
brother slept in room of the kitchen The house con
John refused 10 40 10 bed on Wednesday evening lay
down thc floor, while Patrick sept IN the recess
About three O'Clock in the morning Patrick
awakened by hearing a nuisa in the adjoining room,
which be supposed was caused by James falling of the
lounge which he slept the bed OF his parents He
Immediately got up, wien John ou. OF the room
ssyng there was man in there doing some mischief"
So but vsa pt or rae s aoG fat
of his brothers. guilt fastened upon him. on finding the
osr s Gn s s w n he nfs from
lie awokc U'Nei and they together vent back to the
ls Just tn nm down de road to the woods Patrick and
pNeil entered The house and found Air ara Mrs litz
GRADS weteiing in THEN gore Patrick Immediately
farmei The other neighbors and then went for pr.
touaat, physician living near by.
lved et the house about o'clock in the morning and
rom particulars he could gather caused John to be or
estcd He manacled, and kept in The
second floor during he d9y.
Mr. lilford waited until O'Clock, P. NJ FOR the Core
ner who sent for at Auburn but he net having ar
rived Al That hour proceeded, through the advice Of
those prcset 10 enpanei jury and instgae an exam
nation The following gentlemen were empaneied q:
Abam Powers, Ralph Hewitt Alexander Dugot John
Cochran James oill, Joselh Tinkey, Norman Jerred,
Jchn Ireland George Cooper The following testimony
Louis oNeilI eworn testiGes-I to Fitsgeralds'
house before daylight at the request of Patrick fzger
aids who came after me saying something was wrong in
their house In coming to the house met john upon
the road before the door who told two niggecs had
been there and illed his father. went into the bed
room, and Mr. and Mrs Ttzgerads the bed ina
fsorc of blood snl James the floor. saw In
ri,c next yard after Daylight
Pat c titsgeraids says-l last night slept IN
the of the Kitchen John lay the kitchen floor
-wouldnt 70 20 bed; father mother and james slept in
sdjoning room; was walked about three O'Clock in
tic morning by noise in the room where father mother
and James slept; thought the noise originated from
James falling off the lounge got up went towards the
there " q man in the room doing some misc hicf "
ran across The road to oNe's when uNei and came
grocs running down the road oNei and went into the
house Lit candle and went into the room found f.
ther mother James all in their blood went then to
Glenis and Olaefes neghbors and alarmed them; then
went for Dr.. roudht the family went to bed last night
after ninc O'Clock WE'LL when went to bed John lay on
iAcLitchen noor would go to bed undress; shcn
went 10 the door to call for assistance found II tcea
on The inside 10 one could in from the outside till
that unboed have heard John say lie would shoot
father, they have bad several disputes heretofore
DR.. II. y Prcndft sworn, testified am practising
phyIcian called on this morning by Patrick fity.
gerads who said his folks we're all poisoned Or killed
lie thc devil and aail there negroes in the
house asked Patrick i there wa any poison in the
The sugar last Sunday; when came to the house
'am;s lying on the hoor covered with blood had arg
ers Of inch above in the temple; thought it done
aye; sewtd up wounds have examined The bodies OF
aarh lisry and James ltpgeralds; find Mark Fi,zge-
taIds neck literally severed from the body excepting
ssn in two places said wound in my opinion was made
with while deceased in bed. causing instant
death Mary Fageralds has four wounds superficial
vonad in the neck the large blood vessels are not cut
Giles tbat crrpea the shoulder; towards the right
shoulder, partly seyerng the spinal column and one
nave no aob, # the blows uicted canssg her death
James hsd one wound on the check and one on
pie made with an axe am satisfied they wess the cause
blood on the heve, in several places think from rust
1t that hsd been washed the handle wa: secured
and 6crspe1, during who tme Of examination, John
in great exctems Mt, saying " Oh my father; ch
my mother, Oh, my brothegi whs! made m do this,
br. 8 6. Iiace sworn practising physician |
examined The bodies with lr. Proudht and jury; the
wounds inflicted by heavy sharp Instrument |
think axe Agreed with D. Prcudh as 70 other par
hcuars
With prisoner he confessed 20 Dr Plumb and my self that
he killed his fsher mother and brother with aSe he
Attending bis brothers funeral BY fcrbiddng the
msn by whom he was employed paying him his wages
aid he tried 10 poison his parents about week ago
with stychniae or some poison placed in the sugar.
Patrick knew nothing Of h5 Intentions Tor killing
nis brother that he prisoner angry with him.
said he killed father AIRS. then mother, afterwards
James he appears perfectly rational had intention Of
killing Patrick found blood prisoners vrstband and
sleeve of dirt which appeared as though tried TO have
heen rubbed OF ALEC found blood on shoulder and on
both feet; acknowledged the bottle found 10 his trunk
brought home from McEarlands where he at work
hed potion he intended e LII hi iather and mother
The examination here closed The following is he
statement o. Messgs Ad4c and itumb, 70 whom The pri
soner made confession
John Fitgersds eonsssses that he aid XIII his father
niothec snd brother with axe about three O'Clock,
on the morning OF Thursday, August soth That since
hc did not at'endhi, parents have been disrleased
with him ana be angry with them for their course
&C % poison them by putting s'yebnine into
htumber o. eugar TWAS from the satae bottle Which
found in his trunk, Says knew any thing Of
Lis intcntio on 20 XII them. (sgnedy pETFE ABLE,
s. H. Pill NIB.
After the examination of witnesses Justice Tord
ouesed te presence Of the prisoner appearing he
.sd 70 him John you charged with the murder Of
your father mother and brother wish to ask you
lew quotations. but viii sar 70 you, that you need not
answer them unless choose. no you know how your
f,tLer mother end brother rcceiI ed their wounds -
prisoner-l do With
Justca---In whose hands
Prieoncr-In nly own 1 tried - poison .ather ana
mother about q week ago.
Justice What vss the poison in
prfsoner-In phinl in my trunk. got II IL oswego;
don't know who cf did not get poison with intent to
I'LL father and mother.
Juecc--Hsdyou conversation with any one IN relation
60 the matter before you committed the deedt
a. -.