The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1858-10-07
siss k,"g Tragedy.

from the Ono Statesman, sept q,
Our citizens were shocked yesterday morn.
ing by rumor that u terrible tragedy Ind
occurred near Grove City, village about
nine miles from this place, the particulars
Of which, as given to our reporter, on the
spot, are substantially AZ follows:
A woman by the name of Christiana
5chilllug, residing with her husband, about
half mile from the village Of Grove City
jackson township. in this county, yesterday
morning about or o'clork, during the
absence of her husband, murdered her four
children, three girls and boy. by throwing
them into well and afterwards jumping
in herself From the evidence elected by
the coroner, and the statements made to
our reporter by the neigbbors. il appears
that Frederick Schilling, the husband, was
attending wedding party, near Grove City
when the deed wins committed, and that the
wife, Chris,iana Schilling, conveyed the
children from their beds 10 the well, dis
lance Of ono hundred yards, while they were
asleep, and then pitched them into II, and
afterwards flung herself in. No possible
motive can be assigned for the deed. and 1t
is the general impression among the neigh
bors that Mrs. Schilling was insane.
Neighbors passing the house, which il n
miserable log cabin, standing about quar-
ter Of mile from the main road, say that
they heard the mother and her children
singing hymn about ten o'clock at night.
The husband and father. it seems, did not
return from the wedding party until day.
light, and before that time lady neighbor
having occasion to draw water from the
well. hnd discovered the bodies of Mrs.
Schlling and her four children floating on
the surface. She Immediately gave the
alarm, Ind several gentlemen came TO the
spot and raised The mother and her four
children from the well. The family consists
Of boy named Valentine, ten years Of age,
Christiana. girl twelve years OF age, Caro-
line. five years, aud Augusta, three years Of
Age. Mrs. Schilliuy was, about thirty.six
years OF age, and was, to all appearances,
an intelligent, healthy and handsome woman.
When our reporter visited the house. the
dead bodies OF the i've unfortunate beings
were laid upon two beds in the only sleep
ing apartment in the cabin, and more mel
ancholy spectacle il has never been our mis-.
fortune to behold. The children oil looked
healthy. robust and beautiful, and with the
exception Of a slight scar on the forehead Of
the boy, no marks VI violence were visible.
A crowd Of people of both sexes were in the
room, oil awe stricken by the horrible catas
trophe.
No evidence elected by the jury of in.
quest goes to show that any other person
than thu mother could have committed the
deed. 1t is generally believed that she was
laboring under fit Of insanity IA it WAS
stated that she had. about year ago, at.
tempted to commit suicide during fit Of
phrenzy to which she was subject This is
the only probable and humane view that can
this mantle Of charity should be thrown
over the deed.
No relatives Of the unfortunate family re-
side in this country, but those intimately
acquainted with Mrs. Schiliug say that she
was an eccentric and superstitious being, and
that she frequently said she was bewitch-
ed !" aud the neghbors say she had occasion
w 'N NaiphN w utt uuNbouht Nhat sut "s'
illtreated. &c. 4 thousand vague and dit
terrn, reasons arr assigned for the deed but
the true motive il covered with veil Of I'M
pnetrabe mystery No responsibility has
yet been laid to the husband OF the deludcd
woman, and no doubt whatever can bc en-.
tertained that he was entirely innocent OF
the DEED A horrible and mysterious ca
lam,y has ,ksolatei bis house. the true his
tory of which can only bo unravelod 10y
wisdom higher than earth
The lady who hrs, discovered the bodies
in the well says that she intended to get
some water from the same, but found 1t i'm
poSSible 10 sink the bucket. and upon look
ing down, sbe could scc the clothes of the
woman ami Children floating on the surface.
She was a, loss to imagine what II was
tina, obstructcd the bucket, aud was terrified
when she found that Il WAS the bodies OF the
family Of her ncighbors The well is thirty.
i've feet dtcp, and contains abon, five feet OF
water, The windlaSs and bucket werc in
their proper PLACES when FIRST discovered,
and no sigus whatever were visible in the
darkness of the morning Of the terrible deed
An Irish Gllnv in Albany IL .-niny 10