Smyrna times., 1858-11-04
E'rightful Tragedy in New York,

EriShtful Tragedy in New York,
One of the most horrible, bloody and unnatu
f raj tragedies which has ever occurred in thi,
? city, took place at the mansion of Mr. Francis
' Gouldy, 2l7 West 30rh street, obout 1OI
O'Clock on Tuesday night. Francis A. Gouldy,
young man l9 years of age, and son of the
! gentleman first named. returned home Tuesday
, hlght alter all the family had retired, except
MS fdter, the latter of whom let him in when
the bell was rang. The young man acted ra-
ther strangely, and at once proceeded up stairs
TO his room. where he took off his coat and
boots Being in his stocking feet, he seized a
heaVy hatchet in his right hand and cautiously
went below. Creeping into the sleeping room!
WheFc MS iathCr and mother were sleeping, the
\ youth dealt his father powerful blow on the
head with the halchct, which split his SKULL
he deadly weapon then fell with tremendous
force upon the head Of his ged mother, fractu-
ring the skull and laceratlng her face most
trlghttully. This fcnd in human shape thea
entered the room where his two younger uto.
thers were sleeping, and struck each "i them
! OIow with the Ratchet still rCeking with the
OIood OF hts parents. The brothers v:.rt.
KhocHed lnsenslbie at the first blow. and 1hc}
are likely 10 die from their injuries The mur.
derer then came to a room occupied by the tive
servant girls and served them IN like manner
Two of his sisters, ore Il gJrl ID years Of age
aud the other chiid 81 months Old, were il
an0ther room, aud on account Of not leaving Il
Their lives were saved, or the desperate either
overlooked them or preierrcI to let them lIle
After dealing al the deadly blows in his power
Tue murderer ran up to has own room a9aIn.
aud placing revolver to his head Just abov,.
The right ear, blew his brains cut. The report |
"f the pistol, and all alarm made by some one |
attracted of
MorehOuse, Of the 20th precinct, then on duty
IN the neI4hborhood, and they hastcncd to the
spot. Finding the front door barred and bolt
ed, they were temporarily delayed, but beng
satisfied from cries and groans they heard issu-
ing from different parts of the house the door
was burst open. horrible and sckening sight
was then presented to the officials, as in the va
rous rooms lay The bleeding and fully nsens-
BILE victims. The officers managed 10 learn
who the pcrpetrator Of the bloody work wa aud
then went to the room Of young GOudy, whom ;
they found stretched on the floor in the agonlcs,
ot death Beside HIN WAS pool OF blood and
ne pistol with which he had shot himself also
the fatal hatchet and large carving knife
which, apparently, had not been used. Capt.
curry was lnmed ately informed OF this most
horrible affair, and went with posse of officers
10 the house Of Mr.. Gouldy. Physicians wele
called to attend The victims, and everv thing .
possible was done by the police and citizens to
mitigate the suffering of the unfortunate peo.
pie. The doctors In making examinations
ound that Mr.. GOuldy had 4 compound fracture |
'f the skull, and his eldest son, lad some /
lear5 of age, was III jured in the same manner. |
Large pieces Of the skull were taken from {
each head, and it seems totally impossible for q
9iiher father or son to survive, even for short
me. BY advice Of the physicians the two SER |
iant girls were removed to Bellevue Hospital a
nr treatment 1t Is thought they will recover :
The causes which led to this terrible affair have /
rot yet been satisfactorily ascertHned, although,
according to rumor, the murderer was highly l
ncenSed at his father for having undertaken to G
eprOve him. twas rumored this "wednesday I
morning that young Goudy had taken his ia. S
hers bank book without his authority or con- |
sent, and drawing money from the bank had !
lsed 1t Tor his private purposes. The young !
nan, among other wees, was in the habit OF 5
staying out late at night, and his father think
ng he was not IN the best of company or ac-
lulrlng habits which would rebound to his a
credit, reproved aim gently, aud requested that /
he should come home earlier and go to bed al a p
espectable hour. Mr.. Gouldy was highly 2
respectable and wealthy citizen, he being a re-
ircd hardware merchant. His son, the author il
IT the bloody work, and whose act has cast r
uCn gloom over the family relations and the 6
generally was engaged in a hard '
ware store either in Patt street or Maiden e
Lane. He was inclined to be a fast young
nan, and withal is said to have been possessed
If revengeful and malicious disposition n
coroner Hills was notified, and will hold On in. !
luest on the body of the murderer. 1t is chari- n
able to believe that the young man was quite a
erauged at the time of committing the awful f
Iced, and for the sake of humanity it is hoped C
hat such was the case. The affair caused the =
,featest excitement in the upper part of the ii
y when it became known.-N y. Journal ri
+ Commerce.