The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-03-18
Domestic Tragedy.

A shocking tragedy was yesterday
afternoon brouga:: tn Light in the Bridg-
port quarter of our city 1t was the dis
covery of the death, by poison, of nearly
an entire family, husband, wife and two
children, the husband only still retaining
some parts of vitality When found the
lifeiess bodies of the other three were
stretched on a bed in the sleeping room
Of the house, No. l24 Farrell street
Norris Finn, the survivor, was EN-
ployed as a laborer at Stevens & Co lime
quarry. and, has always been considered
as an industrious and steady man, and
Ms wife as good house witely woman
Between II and yesterday afternoon
Jane, Culliman a fellow labo, er of Finn 5
called at his house to inquire INTO his
absence from work, "a he had been away
since the Saturday previous.
Knocking at the door no answer came,
and so he walked around and clint ed mp
to a side window. through which he, with
horror, saw the bodies Of the entire FAINT
" stretched Oh the bed. apparently dead
He ca led help and the house was broken
into, the doors being locked, and it was
found that FINN still lived but his wife
and children were dead and cold. 4
priest vas first sent for, who, in turn. sent
for physician. The Coroner next came,
and Il careful examination of the bodies
was made. The mother lay at the front
Of the bed, her face distorted as if she
had died in great agony. Her dress and
general appearance showed decent cir
cumstanceS. The children lay partly
across the bed, near her. The elder was
but two years, and the younger about six
months Id. Finn lay on his flee with
the Others the younger child lying part
ly doubled mp under him. He was re-
moved 10 a ueighboring house, and prop
erly attended to.
A post mnrtem examination showed
the lungs, liver and heart Of the elder
child were in proper condition, but The
stomach at the upper part was consider
ably corgeSted The abdomen, stomach
and intestincs of the mother were also
filled with an excess OF the blood, but
the heart, lungs and liver were as usual
The tongue was irritated and bitten, and
the face congested, perhaps from her
lying on it. She had evidently died in
paroxy-ms. The younger child evident J
died without pain.
Finn was suffering from inflammation Of
both lungs. and vomited so severely "a
to leave him weak and powellesS. He
knew his friends. however, and cor
talk to them He stated that on Sunday
| morning ne started to get up but finiiug
m~ef too weak he called his wife, bl t
receiving no an,wer he rose and fou. d
her nearly dead: he then staggered o
the children cot and founl them qui c
dead
Finn S neighbor give no credit to Thu
lt, 4
| the cause of death than he chooses. Some
friends who called at his house on Sun
day were met by Finn in dsordered dress
seemed agitated greatly. AS the children
were heard in evident distress, they be-
lieved him and left
The excitement in the vicinity is great,
and crowds stood about the house all
night long, with difficulty kept back by
by the police. Finn is in the County
Hospital i'll a critical state, though with
a prospect Of recovery The inquest i,
postponed till after IA chemical analysis
of the stomach is made. After long
search. IA small cup, with a mi:liquid
| white substance III it. wa, found under
the bed. The larder was we'll stock Ell
with necessaries, SO that starvation cou d
| NOT have prompted the act 4 little dog
of Finn seemed to suspect something
wrong, had gathered his masters cloth
ing and, could hardly be made to leave
ii.
The inquest on the unfortunate woman
and children will not be held until Sun
day, the stomach of the deceased having
been given to "a chemist for analysis. Mr..
Finn is improving and will recover.