The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1870-08-22
DOUBLE MURDER AND SUICIDE.
THE DAVENPORT TRAGEDY.

A NOSE unnatural tragedy was enacted
late last Saturday evening, in the vicinity Of
Second and Warren streets, Davenport
! The victims were mother and two children,
a .on sued two wears. and daughter aged
four wears; the mother first drowning her
children BY thrusting their heads into
b,cket of water, and afterwards taking her
own life by jumping into well in
| the vicinity ana drowning
! The family are Germans, having come
from Scheswig about three months ago. anu
consists of the father, ". l.. r h1hie' Tue
deceased mother and.her two chilureh'
KpniU is thirty-four or thirty-hve years OF
.,s and was a school teacher by occupation
when in the old country; but knowing
nothing of the English language, was unable
to get employment, and, having exhausted
their means, the mother was seized with the
idea that the only alternative was in putting
herself and family out of the reach of want.
As soon as the affair had come to the
knowledge of the neig h bors, Deputy Sheriff
Cl0 Nno hotihcut aNd tho boNy VI 'hS
mother was removed from the well, and
koenig placed under arrest. The husband
says that on Saturday evening he had been
up town, and returning about ten O'Clock,
found the lights out and supposed the
family had retired Having lighted can
die the first thing that met his view was his
two children lying dead upon the floor.
After placing them upon the bed
he had passed into the yard, and saw his
wife sitting by the WELL She confessed 10
him that she had drowned the children, as
above stated, and expressed determination
to take her own life saying that she was
disheartened and wanted 10 die. He then
led her into the house, where she again
repeated her intentions, and proposed TO
him that they both drown themseives-thst
they would be better dead than living thus.
He acknowledges that he consented 10 the
proposition, and they at once went
to the we'll and Jumped in. The depth OF
the water however, was not sufficient to
drown both, and the husband made his way
TO the grounds surface By aid of rope,
and immediately gave the alarm, though
still persssing in the desire to die, and
imploring for gun with which 10 end his
misery. He was soon after taken into Gus.
tody by Deputy Sheriff Field, who, after
changing hpnig's wet clothing. condu
him to Jail.
ANOTHER REPORT
SAYS that about seven o'clock on Sunday
evening a man WAS seen to wade out into
the river at the foot of Warren street, and q
woman went in after snd pulled him out, after
which they both left and proceeded toward
Second street.
Mrs. Krnig is said to have been in very
feeble health, and this, together with
poverty staring them 10 the face. are the
supposed reasons for the committsl OF the
double murder and suicide, though no sp-
pesrsnces of immediate want were manifest.
as a sack of -four and other provisions were
in the house at the time. The family
was well provided with clothing, aud no
apparent want was felt from this source.
Fear of want in the future seems to have
been the propelling motive of the unfortunate
parents: yet other causes may come to
light in the course of the examination.
The bodies of the mother and her two chill
dren were buried yesterday afternoon in the
city cemetery.