The New York herald., 1869-04-12
THE LATEST SOCIAL HORROR
a Wife and FOnr Children Slaughtered BY
Mininc Husba nd-A Ghastiy Sceue-Arrcst
md SInfain ,nt o. tho Murderer.

|
Mininc Husband-A Ghasfiy Sceue-Arrcsi
and Statement o. the Murderer.
The st. Paul (ilnn.l P.Onssr OF April gives the
following particulars OF the latest social horroran
insane husband killing his wife and four children
the fact having already been stated by telegraph IN
| the HERALD oil Friday aud Saturday last
| terrible. Notwithstanding a,edy. which shocks
the community ANA freezes the blood with h0rr9r,
| toJx place yesterday morning IN OaKdale TOWNSHIP,
| Wash ns.0n cOlny, a)Dus ten nlloS IRON 81 faul
and nall u mile soltlels. ol tne tlf-wA mouse, on
GRAY, well known to may IN his CITY 10 iit OF IN
SANITY killed his wife aai Oar children, the particu-
| lars OF the horrible tragedy being us l0lows:-
THE MURDERER AND HIS FAMILY.
The perpetrat0r OF this horrible deed. James u.
Gray. is man about forty years OF age an American
built feet in height nne form long black halr and
blue eyes. His WIFE, Alice, was thiry-thse years OF
I age. They were married ut Hastn-s ABOUT eleven
years ago. Her maiden name was Alice FARLEY, and
her relations, we believe. live near Hastings sall
the four children Were two boys and TWO grls, as
fllows:v Margaret aged nearly ten; James b., Ir,
eight years. David five years; and Nellie Jane three
years. The parents OF the ili-iatei man 1--we within
short distance OF the scene OF tne murder and ms
four bro hers and three sisters all reside In this
State. He Is the eldest and only one OF the boys
married. Two OF the sisters are married. Mrs.
Smith, residing IN the same township. and Mrs.
GrOut at saltwater. The family removed to Minne-
sofa some fourteen years ago.
THE MURDERS DISCOVERED.
ABOUT daylight yesterday morning. James Arm
strong near neghb0r. heard load yells coming from
aroused and he walked over towards Gray 8 place,
aud when near enough to hear, distinguished Gray's
me p continually repeated he walked little nearer
and saw Gray Sitting on the steps or the granary,
with rope IN his hand, alternately wnistilng and
screaming. Armstrong ran at once to the residence
Of Mr.. f G. Gray, the father OF the unhappy man,
and gave the alarm. The startled father took the
ssrOns aud Su'o one aV5PS' the Y followed
road to Gray's house. The aged father
sight met his eyes, His four little prattling grand.
children lay upon the nOor, side BY side. covered
and their faces gashed and cut in horrible manner.
Turning from the sickenng sight, fr0Ae with horror,
ne staggered back 10 meet the gaze OF his maniac
son, who was advancing towards him with rope
IN his hand. Closing with him at once the agOnzed
father would have added anoaer to the ghasty list
OF victims but for the timely arrival OF Armstrong
and the son Henry. After desperate struggle the
frenzied maniac was securely bound. In answer
KILLED them ali with the axe, and they gone
to heaven. Ohl hang met hang mev' He finally
tod them that his wife was in the granary. Repair
ing thitner their worst fears were realized. The
body OF Mrs. Gray was found on the floor also cov-
ered % with quilt Fastening the doors Of both the
brother and neighb0r left the scene OF tins awful
murder, taking tne raving lunatic with them. on
arriving at the jail, about twelve O'Clock yesterday,
The strength OF several men was needed to drag him
to CELL His eyes were rolling frenzy ana ne
struggled violently, even after being aid upon mat
In the cell.
THE SCENE OF THE TRAGEDY
Is about ten miles east OF this CITY, short distance
or the saltwater road, as you tuan to the
right from the road. When you have reached that
distance you ascend q slight elevation. which CON-
mands view OF q considerable extent Of country.
In summer the view must be exceedingly delightful,
but at this season of the year. when the trees and
the shrubs and the earth wear q s0mDIe brown hue,
the whole scene has quite dismal and gloomy ap-
pearance Upon this elevation are the buildings In
and near which the bloody scenes were enacted.
The building IN which the chlldrep were Killed Is q
Iog house about fifteen feet square in the clear.
p,aseTed ndnH on o the inside and comfortable with
large coarse door in front near the south corner.
Tue building in which the body OF the
about the same size as the dwelling house,
and located about twenty feet north of facing
Still further TO the north, ana extending eastward
down the gentle dechvity, Is appareltly some kina
OF low building, which forms i. shelter for the cat
tie. Upon anu around this building hay Is piled and
stacked upi considerable quantities. and the whole
Is SURROUNDED % % WITH fence partly o boards and
dated conaition In this enclosure are kept tine
cattle.
THE MURDERED CHILDREN.
Upon entering the dwelling most shocking scene
met the eye. In the back part of the room are tive
cupied by the father. mother, and little girl. The
one to the lert, directly IN front OF the
Of the as %ee Saer Ths wh SSSS
and the bed was SO tumbed to indicate
considerable struggle. The other bed was no more
dlsarranged than it would naturally be In the
morning. Upon the noor between the beds
and the door, lay the murdered children placed a
the largest nearest the foot OF the beds and the
smallest sweet mild-faced, light-nared little girl
between two and three years or age nearest the
door. Each one OF them had their throats cut so
Thoroughly as to almost sever their heads from their
bodies. These wounds were Of the most horrible
description. They were at least three or four inches
In width and extended clear across, from ear
to Besides tue gashes In her throat there was
an ugly one on the lower left jaw Of Magge's
were given whiie the father was kneeng
upon the breasts OF his children, with the blade OF
their throats. This accounts Tor the cash in Magges
left jaw well as Tor the depth OF the wounds In
the throats o his victims. The blow Of the axe that
killed tue little girl went crashing through the bones
OF the breast and neck, so that one could look under
the breast bone. As the spectators were viewing
the horrid sight gentleman turned little Nelies
head over 10 the right and thus exposed the sicken
ing gashes. The appearance was dreadful that
he was begged to replace It, aud did So covering the
remains OF all them the father had covered them
in the early hours Of the morning. when in the cold
silence OF the grave he laid out In bloody death all
OF them, from the Oldest to the youngest.
ANOTHER SCENE or BLOOD.
In the granary lay the corpse OF the wife and
mother. 1his IL an old shell OF building, entirely
empty-a desolate and lonesome place. Mrs. Gray
lay with her feet TO the door and TO the noor
IN a pool Of blood, with her left arm extended
was coarse cotton night dress, short rough coat
belonging to her husband. which she had evidently
put on TO protect her from the cold morning air,
while she accompanied her husband TO the barn.
yard, and PAIR OF coarse shoes, which, In
with a pleasant countenance, and about thirty
years OF age. Her night dress was open In 'front.'
and upon her breast and other parts OF her body
were six or seven wounds her husband had given
her with the carving knife. Through one OF them
her intestlnes protruded Her throat also cut
from ear to ear and her face and the front part OF
her body was covered with blood, presenting In
describably sickening and revolving sight. The
manner Of her death IL fully explained by the state
ment OF the prisoner, which may be found below
VERDICT Ot THE CoRoNER's JURY.
AZ soon as the tragedy was known cOr0nef's
jury was summoned aud an inquest held. AT the
conclusion olVfhe examination OF tue Witnesses the
jury rendered'the following verdict
STATE oS MIssEsoTA, COUNTY OF wAsHrSGToS.
An inquison taken st Oakdaie ia the county Of WASH
ington, on the 9Th day Of April, A. d. 1852 before T. O.
Butts Deputy Coroner Of said county of wahingon, upon
view OF the bodies of Alice Gray, her daughters Margaret
Gray and Nellie cray and her David Gray and James
Gray lying there dead by the oath OF the
hereto subscribed, who being 20 inquire
behalf OF the state OF Minnesota when how
the said persons and each OF them their
DEATHS upon their oaths do that the said persons