Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-09-29
From the Ohio Statesman, Thursday, Sept -.
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
A WHOLE FAMILY DROWNED.
4 Mother Murders her Four Children and
COmmjts Suicide.

Our citizens were shocked yesterday NOR
ming by rumor that terrible tragedy oc-
cured near Grove City, village about nine
miles from this place, the particulars Of
which, as given to our reporter on the spot,
are substantially as follows:
A woman by the name Of Christian Schil-
mile from the village Of Grove City. jack
son township, in this county, yesterday NOR
ming. about l or o'clock, during the abb
sence Of her husband. murdered her four chill
dren, three girls and boy, by throwing
them into we'll. and afterwards jumping in
herself From the evidence elected by the
coroner, and the statements made to our re-
porter by the neighbors, 1t appears that
Frederick Schilling. the husband was attend
ing wedding party. near Grove City, when
the deed was committed, and that the wife,
Christian Schilling, conveyed the children
from their beds to the well, a distance of
one hundred yards, while they were asleep,
and then pitched them into it, and after
wards flung herself in. No possible motive
can be assigned for the deed, and 1t is the
general impression among the neighbors that
Mrs. Schilling was insane Neighbors pass-
ing the house, which is miserable log cab
in. standing about quarter of mile from
the main road, say that they heard the moth
or and the children singing . hymn about
ten o'clock at night The husband and ia
Their, it seems. did not return from the we'd
ding party until daylight. and before that
time lady neighbor, having occasion to
draw water from the we'll, had discovered
the bodies Of MIRA Schilling and her four
children floating on the surface She i'm.
mediately gave the alarm, and several gen.
tlsmen came to the spot and raised the mo-
Their and her four children from the WE'LL
The family consists Of . boy named Valen-
tine, ten years Of age, Christians, . girl
twelve years Of age. Caroline, ave years. and
Augusta. three years Of age. Mrs, Schilling
wss about thirty-six years of age. and wss,
TO ell appearances, IN intelligent, healthy
and handsome woman. When onr reporter
visited the house, the dead bodies Of the Ave
unfortunate beings were laid upon two beds
IN the only sleeping apartment In the cabin,
and more mslancholy spectacle it has new
or bsea our lot 70 behold. The children al
looked healthy. robust and beautiful, and
With the exception Of slight scar on the
forehead OF tho boy. no marks Of violence
were visible. A crowd ef people Of both
sexes we're in the room, al awe stricken BY
the horrible catastrophe. s-s~ ,...,.-s..,,,T'
No svidsnss elected BY the jary Of in
quest goes 70 show that any other person
than the mother could have committed the
desd. It h generally believed that shs was
laboring under . fit Of insanity, - Il vas
stated that she had, about year ago, e.
tempted to commit suicide during st Of
phrenzy to which. she wa subject. This
y the only probabable and humane view
that can be taken Of the MISTER; and it 10
msst that this mantle Of charity shopld Be
thrown over he dsed No rsletivea RI the
unfortunate family rssids 10. tAb Ussu1Sy,
bat those intimately acquainted With Ma
sshilliAa ~ tAA& She ~ a eoseaii3e 153
lapefsteess bslae, saaahI Is Hesneis11
)ald mat dhovas6 ~ ~ r. 111S
bses ~ Dist ahs hAd 60 u WI