The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-04-09
Murder of an Entire Family-Wife,
Son, and Daughter-by the Husband
and Father-The Criminal then Com
suicide by Drowning.

oou, anu OduSHter-Dy Tue HUSBAND
and Father-The Criminal then Com
mits Suicide by Drowning. asr
Etom the Philadelphia Press, March 81.
A deed Of blood as sickening in its details
and as horrible as that of Anton Probst,
vas brought to light yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. Funston, of the firm OF Funston 4
B Blackstone, 9l2 Market street, re-
ceiveJ telegram yesterday afternoon as
follows: I..t .......... .,-......
Madison, Conn, March 80, 1869
Funston & Blackstone, 9l2 Market street
Have letter from James that wife and
children are killed. Telegraph immed>
lately. .. M 4 Zelah. Lee.
Mr.. Funston Immediately proceeded to
the residence of j. L. Blackstone, Sl2
Judson street, and endevored to effect ar
entrance, but was unable to do So He
then went to the station house at Twenty
third and Brown streets, tor police aid, and
Policeman Eli f. Newman accompanied
him to the house In consequence of
what was seen by him, word was communi-
Gated by telegraph to the Central station.
Chief of Police Mulhollaud and Chief
Detective Eneu, with Detectives Levy and
Gordon, Immediately proceeded to the
place.
Upon our arrival at the scene we found
highly excited mass Of people gathered
together In the street. Passing through
into the kitchen we beheld . mos. touch
Ing and gastIy sight. ...s...H ....
Thi. room is very small it is not carpet
ed has window on the south side,
door on the east side, alongside Of which
are hot and cold water pipes, and dresser
adjoining. A bench and table wsre against
the north wall, aud on the west side of the
room, just to the right hand as you passed
from the back parlor into the kitchen, is
small ovenrange. One lid of the range
was lying upon the floor smeered with
blood, as was also piece Of wood about
three feet in length and about four inches
wide. ,....
The body of Mrs. Blackstone was lying
about two feet from the range, Der head
the body being straight, one leg drawn up,
as were her dress aud skirts She was at
tired III a red figured delaine, trimed about
the brest with black velvet was fully and
warmly clad and her dress was complete in
every particular, both shoes being carefully
iaved. Har right hand was across the left
Just over the hnger containing her mar
rage ring.
Lying just below her left hip was the
body OF her fair haired boy. He was upon
his stomach, the left side of his little face
being on his mothers dress his left arm
was under him, and the right extended
The head was to the east and the feet to
the west, and very near to tn door leading
to the back parlor. Lying upon his arm,
her lead also resting against and above the
mothers hip, was the little girl, her face
inclined to TIE south. The boy had on q
white nlght-dress, and the girl figured
nish ht wrapper Their little feet were close
together ant as white as the driven snow
Sturdy policemen warned you with the
feelings OF a father, to be careful of their
little feet, and not tread upon them The
poor mothers head was almost severed
from her body, and the wounds in the
chllderus heads were frightful.
A pool, nay, a lake of blood, ran from
the mother neck toward the door on the
east. The perpetrator of this TRIBE deed
of murder meant that this horrible tell tale
fluid should not escape under the door and
run into the yard. A tablecloth, care
fully folded, was packed against the lower
portion of the door, so that not drop es-
capped from that room. The floor seemed
to refuse to soak it up, but to let it stand
forth to foam a full surface. A slight
coag llation had cnsued, but their was the
blood from the arteries and healt of fond
wife and devoted mother. On the north
side OF the furnace, resting against it and
the jamb of the door on the west was an axe
smeared with ood. but the handle very
little stained, and not sprink led even.
Deputy Coroner Fletcher having assum.
ed charge of the bodies, and given orders
that they should not be touched until Dr.
Shapleigh arrived We passed to the
back parlor. The mantlepiece is on the
east side of the room aud close to the door
leading to the kitchen. The first thing
that strikes the attention here are child |,
rem s toys, and plaster of paris house
capable OF being illuminated. Immediate
ly beneath the mantel piece is lounge
against the east wall with the head toward
the north. nearly touching the kitching
door. A pillow, filled with blood, is upon
this and the crimson hui6 has run through
1t, permeating the fabric of the lounge and
dropping on to the floor. where the
carpet has partially soaked it up, and the
pool is there.
Tho little boys clothing is upon this
lounge, near the foot, and piece of calico
Is spread over 1t, as though to protect it
from wear or dirt. Against the south wal!
is sewing machine and library, and the
first book that strikes the attention
is the Life ct Christ. The selection of
books has been very good, as besides the
moral ones there are some of Dick ems and
| other standard authors Adjoining this is
closet used as pantry; every thing is
neat in it, and yet there are no meats,
bread, or eatables of any kind. On the
north eide OF the wall there is D int
ing representing various fruits.
ln the Press of Tuesday We printed an
account Of a man having walked into the
Delaware at Chestnut street wharf. A
handkerchief found in his coat, which he
! threw overheard before jumping into
the water, contained the name OF Black
| stone.
Chief Mulholland informs US that this
man was apprehcnded by the Sixth ward
police on Monday, because of his insane
actions, and breaking from them with
great violence effccting hi: escape Yestcr
day the rvier was dragged, and the boo,
brought up, when his lends identified it u,
that of Mr.. Blackstone
WHO BLACKSTONE WAS
Mr.. n. 2. Miner furnishes US the follow
| ing account of Mr. Blackstone
| He saws Mr.. Blackstone formerly lived