The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-04-06
SHOCKING AFFAIR.
4 Whole FdmIy Poisoned.

A California paper says: At Grass Valley, on
the night of the 22d February, Michael Brennan,
formerly connected with the press in New ork
city, but who left two years ago for California,
where he was president of the Mount Hope MIN
ing Company, was found LOCKED III MS rooin, Win
his family, all dead.
The Coroner's jury returned a verdict that Bren-
nan came to his death by taking prussic acid, ad-
ministered by his own hands; that LorEda, his
wife, Ellen, Robert and Lorinda his children, came
to their deaths by prussic acid administered by
NIicheal Brennan, while laborlng under temporary
insanity, caused by financial embarassments;
Some time since Brennan became so deeply IN
volved that he despaired of ever being able to ex
tricate himself; this is supposed to have pressed
so heavily on his mind as TO cause him to destroy
himself and family. They were found lying about
the room in different places. Brennan and his wife
were devoted to each other, and both OF them pas
sionatelv fond of their children. Brennan was an
Irishman by birth
The Alta California publishes the following mar
rative of the affair, written by lady In the Vleln-
ity:
The nIrse Kitty went to church, and the cook
took the two eldest children out to walk. Mrs Is.
then took the Youngest child in her arms, and
walked I'D and down the verandah, until he came
! and took it from her, when she went and la1d out
the children's clothing ready for their bath when
thew came back from the walk. The last the cook
saw of Mrs B. was when she left the verandah and
went into the house. 1t is supposed that he dld
not tell his wife that he had lost heavily, and was
! deeply involved more than ten minutes before her
death. AS she was totally unacquainted with her
husbands financial condition, she knew nothing OF
his embarrassment and when he told her OF hls
situation and what he meant to do with himself
the shock caused her to feel faint, and she lald
down on the sofa At this time he handed her a
glass of claret, with the deadly poison in it, which
She drank, thinking it was only wine, and that II
would revive her. A loaded pistol was on the ta
ble for use in case she had not drank the VINE
After drinking, she clenched her hands and stru9
gled some, when he put the pillow over her face
and smothered her; then saturated piece OF suga1
! with the poison and fed it to the child.
/ When the cook returned, he took the eldes
child \ pirl. and administered the sugar to her
And thea called the boy, Bobby, into the room, bu
he ran cut, crying ooh mamma :! bat the lathe
followed him. calling him his little man, took MN
ND in his arms, carried him back, gave him some
snoar. and srnothered him. The girl, who was pre-
pairing lunch in another apartment, did not thini
any thing unusual of any actions. Alter killing
the entire family the father secured all the door
> and sat down to write, but hearing Martneau come
he stepped out, and holding the door in his hand
told him the girls were at church, and that h
would not bother about lunch, but have dinner at
o'clock. He said Mrs Brennan was not we'll, an
had laid down In the letter he wrote, he said b
wanted Martineau, the Secretary OF the Company
to be sure they were all dead.
at appears that Mr. Brennan was engaged
:, quartz mining at Grass Valley, and had been III
I fortunate, lost heavily, and was owing workme
and storekeepers, and felt that he could not g
} out of bis embarrassment The citizens OF tn
e place. knowing the family WELL and esteemlng theI
highly were very deeply effected with this dreadi1
tragedy, and could find no paliaticn for this Who'll
sale murder of his family.