The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1860-03-23
The Syracuse Tragedy.

From the Syracuse IN. ~ Courier March 81
Our citizens were thrown into great ex>
element yesterday morning, by the intelli.
gence OF the unexpected death of Mr.. Tin
ker, who took poison as mentioned Thurs
day morning. We visited his room in the
Park hotel at o'clock on Wednesday
evening, in company with DR.. James Fuller,
and found him quite comfortable and COM
municative. He did not seem to be suffer.
ing much from the effects of the laudanum
be had taken, was easily aroused, and con.
versed freely. Our establishment at hearing
Of his death yesterday morning was intense.
" heightened by the pain. fulintelligence that
his two children, both girls, one aged six
and the other eight years, were found dead
in room in the building known as the
medical college, located at the north end of
Lock street bridge.
The terrible ruin inflicted upon once
happy family, has been brought about by
libertinous rascal who, under the shield of
M. D., has practiced his Iasciviousness on
more parties than the one who is the subject
of this notice. The family herein alluded to
resided at No. sc East Water street. and
their neighbors bear evidence of the happy
life led by them, until DR.. Searles entered
their abode, and, under cover of his profess
sional cloak, seduced wife and mother from
the path of rectitude and her once happy
home. In the month of June, DR.. Searles
visited Mrs. Tinker in his professional Ca
pacity, when, we are informed, he produced
an abortion for her. Her husband was very
solicitous for her recovery, and spared moth
ing that, under the advice of the attending
physician, DR.. Searles, could be supposed to
bring about the desired result. The husband
was engaged during the greater part of the
summer in peddling milk, and was necessa-
rily absent from o'clock \. NJ. to in the
evening, daily. After Mrs. Tinker had so
convalesced that there was no need of the
services of medical man, DR.. Searles was
remarked by the neighbors to keep up his
calls at the house during the day, when it
was known the husband was absent. This
conduct being persevered in, the attention
of the neighbors became awakened to the
doctors iniquity, and hewas closely watched.
This resulted in his being surprised at one
time, when he was discovered on lounge in
the room, in such close proximity with Mrs.
Tinker as would warrant the belief that he
was not in the discharge of his legitimate
calling as professional gentleman of the
medical school.
Mrs. Tinker's conversation with her
neighbors was of that character to indicate
that she was fascinated by-to use her own
expression" the doctors pretty eyes," On
several occasions she feigned indisposition,
so that the doctors fascinating eyes"
would be called to administer to her.
Again, she would be observed to leave the
house, and seek the doctors " fascinating
eyes" in his Office, in Collins block. Tinker
finally became persuaded of his wife's infdel-
ity, and about six weeks since she informed
him of her determination to abandon him
and the children. The deceived husband
was in an agony of despair, and the neigh
bors found it necessary to 60 to bis assist
ance. His lamentations over his blighted
hopes and the fate OF his two children were
heartrending, to all of which the erring
mother turned deaf ear, and laughed at
his calamity. The result was that she
abandoned house and home, and was next
heard of in the family of DR.. Searles. The
injured husband hired room in the medi-
cal college, to which he removed his furni>
ture and lodged there with his two children
1t is said that he went into her presence on
one or two occasions since she took up her
abode with Searles, for the purpose of
touching her maternal affection, but the
cold-hearted mother utterly repudiated her
offspring.
On Wednesday evening, Tinker took his
two little girls to saloon and gave them
an oyster supper. Nothing was heard or
seen of them from that time till yesterday
morning, when they were found dead, laying
side by side, upon the ground floor of the
medical college. 1t is to be presumed that
after giving them an oyster supper, and
making them feel comfortable, he took them
to his room, administered poison, and atten-
ded them until they were dead, as they were
found laid out in order, with their little
hands folded upon their breasts.
Upon the consummation of this sad
tragedy, Tinker proceeded to Zed Wright's
boarding stable, and administered poison to
DR.. Searles' horse, killing the animal almost
instantly. He had in his possession double
barreled pistol, heavily loaded, and as the
doctor usually went to the stable at the hour
in which Tinker was seen there, it is sur
missed that he intended to shoot Searles, if
be had made his appearance.
Having revenged his wrongs in the man.
ner stated, Tinker next took heavy dose
of laudanum, and was soon after discovered
suffering from its effects. DR.. Fuller ad
ministered emetics, and it was thought on
Wednesday night that he would survive.
His person was thoroughly searched, but no
poison could be found upon him. He must
have taken a second dose after we saw him
at 8 O'Clock, Wednesday night, as at that
time the indications were most favorable for
his recovery. In regard to his children, he
utterly refused to tell their whereabouts, but
stated that they were safe, and would be
found asleep in the room already alluded to.
They were found therein, sleeping the sleep
of death, with white froth exuding from
the mouth and nostrils.
We observe that she makes statement
through the columns of the Standard that
she was obliged to seek refuge ia DIR. Searles
family through pecuniary suffering and
the inability Of her husband to provide the
necessaries of life; but this plea is contra
dicted by the evidence of her former neigh
bo,, "A NJ Tcooc Roid xvho furnished : bo