American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-11-05
Particulars Of tho Terrible Tragedy
in New York.

One of the most horrible tragedies
that We have been called upon to re-
cord in q long time, was enacted last
night ut the house of Mr.. Francis
Gouldy, retired merchant, at OF
West 3Oth street. Francis "A. Gouldy,
a lad 10 years of age, had Owing to
his dissipated course, and his stopping
out late at night in company i'll adapt
ed to his moral culture long been
subject of grief and annoyance to his
parents and brothers and sisters. Last
night, about half past ten o'clock, he
came home in u wild and excited state
of mind; all the family except Mr..
Gouldy, his father, had retired, and
the latter let him in. Francis went
Immediately to his bedroom in the third
story and took of his coat and boots.
Then seizing Ratchet which he kept
in his room, he crept down stairs. The
father had just got in bed, when his
dcmoniac son entered softly and unno.
ticed, and with powerful blow on the
head with the Ratchet, split open his
skull, instantly rendering the victim
helpless and insensible. .....
The deadly weapon next fell upon
the head of Mrs. Gouldy, who lay a.
sleep, fracturng her skull and cutting
and bruising her face in a most fright
full manner. .. ...,..... -.
1t does not seem that either of the
parents uttered u scream, sufficiently
loud, on receiving the blow, to alarm
the other members of the family
They arc supposed to have been in
stantly rendered inscnsiblc.
The parricide next visited the room
of his two younger brothers, who lay
asleep, and with,the weapon still strea-
ming with his parents blood, brought
it to bear upon them with equal vio-
lencc. The brothers were knocked
insensible at the first blow, their skulls
fractured and their faces severely cut.
Both are likely to die from the I'M uries
received.
The murderer then ran to q room
occupied by two servant girls, and in
tlicted similar injuries upon them. One
of them managed to scream, which was
heard without by the police and cit-
zens, but the alarm was such as scarce
ly to justify inquiry. ...
The fiend next ran to room occu-
pied by his two sisters, one aged Is
years, and the other a child Of 81
months, but their room was fortunate
ly locked and he did not attempt to
break it open, consequently they esca-
ped uninjurcd.
The next movement Of the murderer
was to his own room, and there, with
areyolver placed to his head just above
the car, he blow out his brains, and
dropped dead upon the floor.
The report Of pistol and an alarm
just then raised, attracted the attention
of policemen Hill and Morehouse Of
the goth Ward, who Immediately tried
to gain entrance in the usual way, but
met with no response, except the stiiled
groans Of the wounded. Concluding
that bloody work had been going on
within, they broke open the basement
door, and on ascending the stairs to
the second story, met the horrible sight
which naturally ensucd from such a
butchery. In the different rooms lay
the bleeding and inscnsiblc victims.
The officers ascertained who pcrpc-
trated the deed, and going to tho muir
derer's room found him dead on tho
floor, in a pool of blood, with the pistol
with which he had shot himself still in
his hand. Other officers were soon in
formed Of the dreadful affair, and the
house was guarded by police.
Physicians were called to attend to
the victims, and everything possible
was done to alleviate their sufferines.
The doctors, on examination, found
that Mr.. Gouldy had received a com.
pound fracture Of the skull. The eld
est boy, aged II, was injured in the
same manner, and neither of these
could, in their opinion, recover. Pieces
OF the skull were taken from each head
Mrs. Gouldy's injuries were less dan
geTous, but her recovery seemed very
doubtful. There was thought to be a
probability Of tho recovery of the
youngest boy, although his condition
was also considered critical.
The servant girls were apparently
less injured than any Of the other suf
Icrcrs, and were received at the Belle
yuc Hospital for treatment.
The tragedy created immense cx