Daily national Republican., 1863-07-30
Horrible Tragedy In California-Parents
Destroy their HID and Commit jul

A horrible tragedy occurred In San Francisco
on the I'd inst, resulting In the death Of Dr..
George W. Beers with his wife and child, q
little girl ten years OF age. Beers and his
family occupied rooms on the corner of Stock
ton and Geary streets, and the place having
been unusually quiet during the day, the land
lady called about seven O'Clock II the evening,
when she was shocked at finding the parents
lying dead In the front. and the little girl in
the adjoining room.
On making an examination, 1t would appear
that the parents, having resolved the suicide,
had administered strychnine TO their child, and
the mother, at the same time or subsequently,,
took similar dose of the poison. From inves-
igation, 1t was also apparent that the father,
to end the suiieriDgs OF his child, or stite her
cries, had taken an iron weight, usually attach
I'd to window-pullies, and fractured her skull;
it was also apparent that the same instrument
had been used In putting an end to the wife's
butferipgs, there being similar marks about
her head and the pillow being saturated with
blood.
The husband and father then dlsposiDg him
self upon the bed with his wife, having previous
ly arranged bucket ut the bedside, with an
instrument from his pocket surgical case, sew
cred the artery at the wrist of his right arm,
and holding 1t over the vessel placed at the bed
side, literally bled to death, the ordinary sized
bucket being nearly filled.
Upon examination by the coroner, DR.. shel.
don, among other things, were found the fol-
lowing letters written by the deceased just be-
fore the commission OF the terrible act. The
first, which 10 addressed to the parties who keep
the house, is as follows:
"MR AND MRS. BARRY: Please take charge OF
all our effects, and sell them for your own ben
elt, except which do not let out Of your hands
until you may have an opportunity to send
them to Mrs. julia p. Douglas, Brooklyn, l..
l., N. Y. State. l am feeling that my wife is
really soon to pass away from me, and diilicul-
ties are apeumulating around me that cannot
Withstand. GEO. W. BEERs.
"Also keep the writing desk, and burn the
letters. See that the letter under this reaches
It's destination" &.
The following is the letter referred to:
"DR. Y. TUTHILL; Dr., will you please send
the inclosed 10 Its destination as a last act O'
kindness. GEO. W. BEERS"
The leller enclosed was addressed TO Mrs.
Julia G. Douglas, Brooklyn, n. Y, and Is aa
follows;
"MY DEAR WIFE's MOTHER! take your
daughter with me, rather than to scc her diu
| by iuches, as her father did, before my eyes.
Pardon the act, for we have suffered much for
! each others sake. GEO. w. BEERs."
Tho last heard from these parties by the OtheI
occupants of the house, was about IL O'Clock
on Wednesday night. As they lived rather Sc
cluded, maintaining but little Intercourse with
others, and their room never being open to re-
eVlsltors before late hour in the afternOOn,
but liltia was Thought Of its quiet condition,
until the discovery was made in the manner
mentioned.
Ii 10 said that modification at Ills i'll success
In three lectures which he advertised, combined
with evident want and destitutioD, was the OK.
citing cause of this horrible act,