Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-01-14
AN ATRoc.ous MURDER.
sister Murdered by her Brother. W ho
Glories I'm His Crime. and Gives a
Reason for ie-Ftve Children left
Mofhersess.

GtorfeS In MS tftuae. anu etse> u
Reason for is-Ftse Children left
Mofher,ess-
From the Detroit Tribune. 5th-l
Yesterday, shortly after noon, three men
residing ut Connor's Greek, about FIVE miles
out ON the Grafiot road, came to this city,
having in their custody one John Hanly,
alias Cooper, who had, at about twelve
o'clock on that day, murdered his own sister
in cold blood, having almost literally chop
ped her to pieces with an axe.
Cooper, on Wednesday evening, went to
Connor's Creek from this city, and put up
that night at John Corby's hotel Yester-
day afternoon he proceeded to the house of
his brother-in-law, VIM. Lynch, a well-to-do
farmer in the vicinity, and found his sister,
Mrs. Lynch, engaged in washing. Feeling
tired, he sat down in chair and fell asleep.
He remained asleep until about II o'clock,
and when he awoke he conversed wish his
sister. He then drew revolver, which he
had provided himself with, and deliberately
fred at her, but missed his mark.
He then seized an axe and dealt the un-
fortunate woman a fearful blow in the head.
The sharp edge of the instrument struck her
upon the bridge Of the nose-having been
swung around sidewise-and almost severed
the skull. The lifeless body feel at the feet
Of the murderer, and he, as if seized with an
additional fif of desperation, Immediately
thereafter commenced cutting her body with
the same weapon. This was cut entirely
across the breast in diagonal manner, so
thar when found the heart was perfectly
bare. 1t is thought the murderer must have
struck several blows in the latter region, as
one blow of the axe could not have made so
terrible wound.
While this was going on, one of Mrs.
Lynch's children Ia boy), Mr.. l.. being
absent from the house-ran out and informed
several workmen, who were building a
school-house in the vicinity, that his mother
was being murdered. The men rushed to
the scene of danger, and found that the in
formation was too true The front door of
the house was locked, but they went to the
back door and there beheld the murderer
emerging from the place with the instrlI-
ment which had completed his bloody work,
in his hand. The weapon and himself were
literally covered with the yet warm blood Of
the unfortunate victim.
TIE men secured the murderer and started
to investigate what had been done. The
sight that met their gaze, as they entered
the room where the terrible crime had been
committed, was appalling in the extreme.
There, upon the bare floor, covered with the
horrid wounds described above, and sur
rounded by pool of blood, lay the lifeless
remains, Of what short time previously
was a happy mother. The children, struck
dumb with the awful scene, were erouched
or kneeling by the side of the body piteous-
" bewailing the fate of their protector and
dearest friend. The whole scene was one
never to be forgotten, and we trust never
again may be witnessed.
The murderer, covered with gore, stood,
with apparen. stoical indifference, gazing
upon the result Of his work, but only for a
very short time His captors soon marched
him off to Justice Corry's residence where
q complaint was made out; and, having
pleaded guilty TO the charge, he was COM
mitted to the county Jail. The parties hay-
ing the prisoner in charge procured strong
rope and securely bound him hand and foot.
They then placed him in wagon and
brought him to this city.
Our reporter during the afternoon called
at the iail, and elected from the prisoner the
following history of his life and facts con-
nected with the bloody deed, the most ma
other parties although, if we mistake not,
there is one fact that he did not refer to,
and that is, he has already served one term
in the State prison. The following is, in
substance, his story, which he told us i'm
mediately after having washed the blood
from his hands and face, and with an in
difference that would naturally exist in the
most heartless villain ON record
l.. I..l.~
err although he is known by the name of
Hanly. He is an Irishman by birth, and
came to this country about twenty years
ago. He worked in this city as iaborer |
for several years, and subsequently removed |
to Ohio, where he became estranged from |
his wife. for what reason he refused to tell. |
He left his children, four in number, to be |
cared for by some friends, and wandered |
about from one State to another. He re-
turned to this city some time ago, and OBJ
tained employment at repairing and laying |
tract on the Central Railroad. lie says that /
his sister--his murdered victim-murdered /
his father and mother in Ireland, some
years ago, and he determined to avenge |
heir tragic death. He waited patiently |
until the day fixed upon--which was yes
terday--to carry his design into execution,
and armed himself with revolver TO COM
mi { the murder He went to the house Of |
his sister as before stated, and attacked her
here in the presence Of her children. He |
,ays he only intended to strike her once,
after he gained possession of the axe, but
ifter having struck one blow he became
mad, and did net care what he did.
He said, further, that he considered well
what he was going to do, and accomplished
what he originally intended, and was id
glad of it. He considers that he is amenable
@ the law, and his mind is fully made up for
he consequences. In short, he speaks of
he awful deed as commonplace event, and
'eems to fear neither God nor man. He is 80
rears of age, not very stoutly built, but of
muscular frame, and his countenance bears
evidence of great determination.
His murdered sister was about forty-tWO
rears of age, and besides large circle Of
riends, leaves a kind husband and five chill
iren to mourn her untimely death. Her
husband is well known in the community
where he resides, and has the sympathy
# everybody in this his hour bereavement
Upon the whole, this is the foulest tragedy
hat has occurred in this neighborhood for a
ong time, if ever, and we hope to see the
uthor of so much misery have a speedy
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