The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-04-01
The Last Philadelphia Murder.


The ink recording the late tragedy at
Sixth street and Girard avenue Is scarcely
dry, when we are called upon TO recount the
occurrence Of further horror, more fend-
lsh than that accomplished by Probst, but
In which the murderer and his victims alike
perish. The former terminated his existence
by suicide, after he had destroyed, with an
axe, almost In tho exact manner In which
Probst took the life Of the Deerings, the
lives Of his wife and two little children.
Two years ago there came to this city
from the town Of East Haven, Connecticut,
man named James J.. Blackstone, with
his wife, sturdy little fodder OF boy, and
female infant In Its mothers arms. He
was flne-looking man, and he came here
with sufficient means 10 sustain himself for
period without business. He purchased
small, two-story brick house, No. Sl5 Judson
street, a neat little avenue near Twenty
third and Parish streets, and there resided.
Some months ago he entered into partner
ship In the business of lacquering and cal
somlning with Abraham G. + unstone, residing
at No. ,sl4 sepylya street, and doing busi-
ness at No. 0l4 Market street. He seemed
satisfied with the business for several months,
but after that showed sudden evidences OF
mental disease. He wanted for trihe to
dispose Of his interest In what really netted
a comfortable living for both himself and
associate.
There appeared In the daily newspapers of
yesterday an announcement that a we'll
dressed man Ind jumped from the deck Of
q steamboat moored at Chestnut street pier
into the Delaware. A handkerchief, dropped
from his pocket, and bearing the name Of
Blackstone" gave the only clue to his
Identity. The body was not found until yes
terday afternoon.
Meanwhile citizen of the town of Madi-
son, Conn, received a telcgraphlc dispatch
from Philadelphia, dated an hour previous
to this act of suicide, reading thus:
"Selah Lee-I have killed Isabella and
the children, and am now going to kill my
self. JAMES l.. BLACKSTONE"
Mr.. Lee telegraphed to Mr.. Funstone that
he had received the above dispatch, and
asked for Information concerning 1t. This
was the first intimation gived to Mr.. Fun.
stone that his partner had slaughtered his
family, and very brief conference with
Deputy Coroner Fletcher showed to him that
the wretched man had drowned himself.
The body was taken by the coroner to the
establishment Of Cyrus Horne, undertaken,
and Mr.. Fletcher, with Chief Mulholland,
hastened up the quiet dwelling in Judson
street, where II was believed that the man who
drowned himself In the Delaware, had first
butchered his wife and children. The car
riagc drew up at the door and the occupant;
alighted. The door was soon forced. TIT
premises were neat and tasteful, and gave
evidence that refined taste had directed
them. Upon the walls Of the parlor, in al
out Of the way and unobtrusive place, hung
neat little frame, inclosing q certificate tina
Isabella Lee had graduated with distinction
In the highest class of the New Haven Col
legiate Institute, known as Llndsay's.
Entering the kitchen Mr.. Fletcher ant
Chief Mulholland met fearful spectacle
The lady lay dead upon the hearth before Q
stove, In which she was evidently engaged
in kindling a fire when the crashing blow o
an axe hurried her into eternity. Besid
her, with their heads just resting on he
side, lay her two children, a boy of abou
five years and q girl Of apparently two and {
half. An axe CORY with blood lay besid
them.
1t is evident that the husband had gone t
the cellar for klndling wood carly In tn
morning, and that Mrs. Blackstone was II
the act of making fire when her husband
coming from the cellar with an axe in hi
hand, Glove her skull asunder. He subse
quently killed his little ones In the sam
manner, fed from his home, stopped at tn
Continental, telegraphed to the father of hi
murdered wife, rushed to the river IN,
drowned himself.
The case Is fhe saddest that we have eve
known by actual observation. The partie
thus murdered ny HUSBAND VINO coulu nc
have been other than maniac were refined
gentle, cultivated. The mother was blonde
with golden tresses, and teeth that, eve
amid the hideous surroundings Of an under
takers charnel-house, were like two rows {
pearls. The hands were smaller than thos
we have seen upon girls Of ten years old, an
wedding ring upon the fourth finger Of tn
left hand was the only ornament worn
her. The children were literally beautiful
Many thousands of childless parents woul
divide their fortunes with any one who coul
confer upon them the boon of paternity 4
precious. No one could look upon the prett
faces of the butchered babes, upon the del
cate features of that murdered mother, will
out q desire to exclaim, "From sudden deaf
good Lord deliver us Philadelphia NOR
American, 2lst