The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-11
IHE BAyERHILL (ris$.) TREGEDY.
Was the Decd Committed by the Mother
While In SOu,ua nsbuiistics ConditiOnf

Was the Decd Committed by the Mother
While In n S0ulua psbWlistics ConditiOnf
Boston. Oct TO- 1870.
The terrible tragedy at Haverhill On saturday, by
which Mrs. Bickord and her child were slaughtered,
Is Sill shrouded In mystery. The first session OF
the coroner's inquest closed Saturday evening, and
will be resumed next Thursday evening. The
evidence submitted failed to throw any light on the
terrible tragedy and at this moment the mystery
TO tho causes which led 10 the melancholy event,
has not been In the least penetrated. The opinion OF
Drs. Howe and Lovej0y, who performed the
post mortem, Is that Is, case Of muir
stated on the morning when the discovery Of the
tragical deed took place, that the woman was left
handed. she was right-handed, and her throat was
cut transyersey from lett to right and shows signs
Of three strokes OF the razor This favors the idea
that 1t was done by herself for had II been done by
a person at the bedside II would have been from
right to left. In her right hand, between the first
JOINT Of the forennger and the ball OF the thumb.
are six bleeding cuts, slight in depth, apparently
made by the heel OF the razor. Ii is thought the
child was killed some time before the mother died.
the limbs were rigid when found while those OF
the mother did not become so for some time. Only
the external artery Of her throat was severed,
and it is believed she lived time after the In
fiction Ut the wound, and probably adjusted her
limbs ~ well as placed the razor in the bed be-
tween the two bodies directly under her
right elbow. Among the theories snggested Ia
that OF the deed having been done in soTnnambu-
listic state TIE mother was Spir1ualisc In theory,
| but her mind was never thought 10 be over
| wrought by her religious views.
The testimony NJ the inquest Harmonious to
the point that Mrs. BickfOrd had ever maintained
cheerful and hopeful frame OF mind even wi hen in
| circumstances or extreme poverty and suffering,
which was the case during the protracted illness OF
her husband. year ago last July she success
ful IN securing pension to which she was entitled,
! and since that time the weight Of anxiety
Tor the wants OF herself ana child had been sensiby
removed. and AZ she time Of her death sne was In
! more prosperous condition than she had ever been
| before, even when her husband was living. She had
$3.50 IN the bank and her child was 10 receive several
hundred or ito and N her
| who resided In Compton, N. H.. and her contem.
plated visit to Lowell was in reference to the ar
| rangement VI chat matter with Mr. Coward an heir
to the estate and prominent citizen OF that city.
she had lately expressed herself quite happy and
satls0sd with her situation and an o1er OF marriage
had been rejected for the that she considered
her pecunary situation such to be- more surely
permanently favorable than BY change In her stu
ation She saw many OF the Deighbors she Is accus-
! toned to associate with on Friday afternoon and
| appeared unusually happy and cheerful coDversing
freely OF her contemplated visit to Lowell aud the
business which was to call her there