The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-10
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.
An Insane Woman Kills Her Mother-in.
Law with an Axe.

A torrfbie tragedy, which caused great excite-
ment, occurred last night, about half-past eight
O'Clock, In the house OF Mr.. George b Dean, No. a42
West Thirteenth street. Mrs. Rosanna Dean as
saulted and almost instantly killed her husbands
mother, MIS- Susan Lameraux, while iaboring under
an attack OF insanity. Shortly after eight O'Clock
Mrs. Dean, who had been acting and talking
rather strangely during the day. went up
stairs as II going to the bathroom, and
did not return for some time. When she
came down again to where the family were sitting
In the basement she spoke to gentleman named
Davis and told him to go up stairs and see what she
had done. Mr.. Davis Immediately got up from his
seat but before he could ascend the stairs two OF Mr.
Deans children ran before him up to their grand
mothers MIS- Lameraux's) room, on the third door.
They found her lying on q lounge at the side
OF the room, apparently insensble. Running down
stairs again. they gave the ALARM when several per-
assembled the stairs and entered the room where
Mrs. Lameraux was lying. They found, to their I'M
speakable horror, that the old lady was in dying
condition, her pulse beating very slowly phys
clan sent for the instant, but by the time he
arrived life was almost extinct. At the first glance
1t seemed that she had suffered violence, no blood
or wounds being visible. A closer examination
however, revealed the fact that she had sustained
several severe blows with a blunt instrument
blow heavier than the Others left
large dark marx over her collar bone Before any,
thing could be done for her relief any theory OF
the cause of her perous condition could be formed
In the minds Of the spectators she expired without
utterng q word.
Captain Washoourne who Immediately sent officers
to take charge of the premises and arrest all whom
tragedy. The officers found the Old lady on the
lounge, as described, and making INQUIRIES arrived
been committed by Mrs Dean, and accordingly ar
rested her and brought her to the station She was
accompanied by her son. eldest daughter aud hus
band. On entering the captains private ROOM
where Justice Dodge representatives sof the
press and other gentlemen interested were
already assembled, she did not betray any
alarm or seem to realize in any manner what she
had done. She was dressed very plainly. and her
face wore an o. M ev "t
utterance 10 no expressions Of surprise at being
suddenly confronted by such number Of strangers.
| She seemed to be about fOrty-1ve years Of age.
From the hurried statement OF Mr.. Dean his son,
had been ia6Orng under insanity the past SIX Or
seven years; that during that period she had, at
| Intervals exceedingly bad spells, during which
ing the conduct Of Mr.. Dean toward his
| children, whom she seemed to think he In
at a late period. about four months ago she threat
ened TO destroy herself with rusty razor she had
kept concealed IN drawer ~ ner room aen inner nss
| months since, the physician who was called In TO
attend to her case warned the family that ever she
y
sent to the Insane Asylum. For the last three or
four days condition was the cause OF considerable
anxiety, but no apprehension was felt that she
| would commit any violent act She went out in the
morning, 1t is said, to visit station housewith
what object could not be northumberland when on
being asked on her return her business abroad re-
Piled eyasiyely, ana seemed much annoyed at being
questioned From the time she returned from her
walk until the discovery Of the terrible deed
she had spent the most OF her time below stairs No
one can tell what sudden impulse impelled her to
90 up stairs and sacrifice the aged lady IN the man
ner described
After being brought the station house diiligent
search was made for the axe with which the
murderOus deed was supposed to have been accom-
| plishet, and 1t was discovered ultimately In the
| lower part Of the house. 1t bore no marks the
blade head. The body OF the murdered lady, whO
should have been stated was seventy years of age
and very decrepd, was laid on q bed In the mean
time and an Oficer was assigned to watch 1t until
| the inquest. which will be held this morning. takes
place.
Mr.. George B. Dean, the son Of the murdered lady
was formerly captain OF the watch IN the Custom
| House, and for some years past has been engaged
| In the business OF carter for several government
| warehouses. His family is quite respectable and
much sympathy is expressed by their many friends
among whom this terrible event has caused intense
| excite .uelt.