Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-04-01

A FATHER MURDERS MS WIFE AND cMiLpRES
AND THIN COMMITS Suicide
One of the most horrible tragedies that has
ever taken place in Philadelphia, was brought to
light yesterday afternoon.
A mother and her two children were discovered
TO have been murdered by the husband and father
JAMES l.. Blackstone, of the firm If Funston Il
Blackstone, picture frame makers at No. 9l2 Mar
kct street The family resided al No. Slj Judson
street. The horrible tragedy, which evidently
took place early on Sunday morning.. was re-
vealcd through the following telegraph despatch
by Mr.. Funston:
Have received letter from James that wife
and children are killed. Telegraph Immediately.
(Sighed IELAn LEA"
March 3Oth 1869
Mr.. Funston, immediately on receipt of the
above,went to his partners residence, and, being
unable TO obtain admission 10 the house, visited
the police station and requested assistance. The
police, ON whiting the premises, found the kitch-
Gu window shutter bowed and unfistrned The
window was opened and the officer entered, and
on stepping to the floor, discovered the bodies oi
Mrs. Blackstone aud her children lying upon the
floor, their heads and parts Of their clothing COW
cred with blood. The floor was also covered,
and the How Of blood was stopped from running
into the yard by roll of muslin which had been
placed in front Of the door, as IL pnrposely in
tended to keep all evidences OF the crime within
the ROOM The kitchen is very small one, aud
from appearances, Mrs. Blackstone was about
kindlins Il fire In the range when she was deprived
of life, her hands being stained with coal dust.
The coal had been freshly put on. She lay at
full length on her back, In the middle of tile
floor. Resting against her knee lay her son, vi it'll
his face to the iloer while the daughter lay with
her head upon his shoulder, both H. their night
clothes, aud all having evidently been killed
number of hours. An examination of the body
of Mrs. Blackstone disclosed that the wounds
xp- mad ixrf at,arta RI A
was cash through the middle Of the chin, ex-
tending to the right and downwards four inches,
and "a inches deep, scvcring the root of the
tongue, jaw bone, &c. immediately below this,
on the throat, was another cash, Inflicted by the
same instrument, four inches in length, dividing
the windplpc aud outlet, and reaching the spinal
column. There were other horrible wounds.
The bodies of the two children were likewise
feariully mansled about the head
All the circumstances Indicate thai the wife
and one of the children were murdered In the
kitchcn,and the other child as tlay on the lounge
In the sitting or dining-roOin. pillow on the
lounge was covered with blood, aud the Garnet
was saturated with blood underneath. II was
believed that the girl had been there killed. as
she partly lay upon the boy. That AN axe had
been used III niicling the deep gasheq ON the
wiic's face and neck and upon tile neck of the
hoy, was manifest, as it lay close to them and
was very bloody. The wounds indicated u state
Of frenzy on the part Of the murderer, As the
ue'uo MtlC h'al1 ScNtlcu nun tilt DDUltS. anu
yet nothing clse On the premises betokcned a dis
cascd mind. Everything was in order so far as
could he expected in hOuse in which the family
had arisen but n short time before.
The murdered womans maiden name was Isa-
bella Elizabeth Lee. The boys name was Lee
Blackstone and the girls Cltharine Lee Black
stone. Mr.. and Mrs. Blackstone were married
on August 10Th 1857. He was at the time Of their
death " and his wife 81 years old. Lee wa. y
and CatharlHe . yeats old.
The oldest was in quite delicate health, and
was under the care al physician; the
youngest was we'll aud a very pretty, interesting
girl.
So far MS could be ascei,ained, Mr. Blackstone
was temperate man, and seemed to live happily
with Ills wife. What led him to murder his wife
and childron Il not known, but il is supposed that
he was hot OF sound mind. The wife Ind only a
airw weeks previously told friend that insanity
Was hereditary in her husbands family. After
committing the MURDERS Blackstone wrote let
ter 10 his father in-law in Connecticut, informing
him oil what he had done, then came down To the
city, visited the Office oi n real estate broker.
made an assignment of some property and then
walked 10 the Delaware. intent on putting an end
10 himself. When at Third and Market, he was
seen by one Of the officers of the Sixth Ward he.
having In a singular manner and surprising him
TO lie insane he arrested him, but he broke away
and continued towards The river UpGn reaching
Chestnut street wharf he pulled of Ills coat and
hat, threw them overheard and jumped after
them. Police Olenhemcr snt the articles ont.
and IN examining the pockets Of the coat found
| a handkarchiei,On which the name OF Blackstone
| was written.