New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-09-04
THE DEDHAM TRAGEDY.
Details of the Double Murder and Sui
eide-strange Conduct Of the Mother
Previous TO the Deed-Nnrraiive by an
Iumate of the House.

We find in The Boston Herald the following
particulars Of the tragedy at South Dedham, Mass,
already announced by telegraph;
The tragedy occurred about o'clock on Friday
morning and by it an entire family has passed out Of
existence The victims were DR.. Carlos Marston and
Cora Marston his daughter, and the murderess was
Mrs Susannah MarstOn. his wife. The circumstances,
as one Of our reporters cleaned them by visit to the
,pot we give in detail, related by Miss May who
was present in the house as an invalid and who from
her connection with the family for several weeks past
was apparently cognizant Of the facts than any
uther person in the vicinity. We commence, then. with
the that for several years past Mrs MastOn
had been in feeble health and that some five weeks
since she recovered from an attack OF the measles
which apparently left her in more prostrate CONDITION
mentally than before; and we were informed that she
has acted very strangely at times since showing a
wild expression about the eyes, and giving other tokens
of mental alteration among which was her act IN get
ting up from bed late at night going on and wander,
ing in the darkness which she did on Tuesday night
last returning after absence Of about half hour
saying she had been over 10 East Wapoe TO get some
cool water. 1890 go
room on this night, and is supposed she then
attempted 10 administer chlOroform 10 her; but upon
being questioned in relation to the matter the next day
she asserted that she bathing the girls head in bay
rum. On Wednesday she was much Frustrated and
absent minded did not appear TO know where she was
and INDUCED IN strange lncoherent ntteranees' IN
aud haggard look. About three days previously she
had manifested desire TO possess and manipulate her
husbands revolver and il feared she might destroy
his trunk, having first drawn the charges and locked
st. putting and keeping the key in his pocket
1t appeared from the result that DR.. MarstOn enter
tanned serious apprehensions Of violence 10 himself
but that he told Miss May who seemed to be the most
fearful Of any of the household that she might lock her
room If she afraid. On Thursday night she AYERS
that Mrs MarstOn came TO her room late about dis
furbance which cat below stairs was creating and
that she (Mrs NJ said something about killing bim
before morning" This remark so alarmed Miss May
that when the Doctor visited her leave medicine
instructions still later at night she toldh of bis wlfes
remark. and he replied that he was going to bed aud
would lock his door Whether he did this not is not
known, as no one now living saw him alive subse
quently.
Mss May now dropped asleep About O'Clock. she
says she awakened by noise which seemed to her
Ike scutfng and fall overheard. She presently mead
:e report of pistol and comprehendng the condition
of affairs at once she Immediately arose and crossing
one or two apartments passed 10 the foot of the stairs in
the front entry Here being afraid 10 90 up stairs she
called loudly two or three times to the Doctor hut from
him she received no response for at that time he was
probably still in death. Mrs. MarstoD, however, ap'
peared the head Of the stairs without light and IN
firm calm tone which seemed 10 indicate method IN
her madness ordered Miss May TO go TO her room and
remain quiet under penalty OF having her brains blown
put The frightened girl could but obey, and after has
lilly throwing on her clothing sue went out IN quest OF
help She first met Mrs. Hartshorn. who resided In
the other part Of the house and who had also heard the
uOe and they together went after some OF the neigh
bois Before they left the house two additional shots
were heard and they returned two others, accom-
Danied With grOans. Having procured the assistance
tf Two or three men, llcN TtturNcu 10 tDc mousse.
The entire party having procured light, went up
stairs and first visited Dr. Marstons chamber which
was a ffont room up one flight. Here a CHASTITY spec
tacle presented itself On the bed lay the Doctor
upon his back and resting upon one arm, which was
partially around her neck. while her head recned upon
bis shoulder lay the body Of Mrs. Marston Both were
quiet moionless, Dead and the revolver was found in
the bed.
The room Of Cora, the little daughter, was next
visited This apartment was quite a distance from the
last mentioned ROOM in the back part OF the house and
was approached through long corridor or entry way
Here another heart-rendiug sight presented itself to
the gaze OF the observers Cora lay upon the moor near
her bed her face turned downward. her clothing sat
urated with blood and her face discoored with 1t.
very strong OdOr Of chOrOfOrm peryaded the house. ana
clear that the muderess lad used ii TO stupefy her vic
films before finally taking their lives
AN EXAMINATION OF THE BODIES
was made at this time physician, DR.. David y fogg,
Of Dedham, having meantime arrived. Dr.. Marston
was found 10 have received shot in the breast which
lust grazed the breast bone, and penetrated
The rght lung In the opinion OF the attending pnysi
Elan this wound sufficient alone 10 have caused
instant death which must have taken place; and TINS
Is one theory which leads TO the belief that chlorooTm
bad been administered 10 him.
Mrs MarsOn was found 10 have received Two SHOTS,
which were about two inches apart, both IN the left
breast They found 20 have passed nearly through
he body and came far the skin on the back. un
ierneath which they are perceptibie Their position
Indicated that their must have been through the
ieart and doubtless instant death followed toeH pas
s9e. .
Cora the little girl received one shot through the
mall Of the back IL is supposed that she was not dis
bled by III and that she arose from bed Tor the pur
ose OF resh nee or flight when the lhhuhah huraer
~ shot her again the ball this time entering the right
ar and lodging In the base OF the BRAIN. Her iaD
rObably Occasioned the noise which awoke Miss May
8 sbe was directly underneath.