The New York herald., 1870-04-23
TEE BALTIMORE HORROR.
Particulars Of the Frightful Butchery Of -Four
Children - Scene and Manner Of tho
Tragedy-The Victims a. Found
Testimony and Verdict
From the baltimore Sun, April al

Mrs. Catharine Marsh residing with
her father, Michael Dwyer at No. 90 Central avenue,
near Jefferson street, killed her four young children,
by cutting their hroats and cut her mother also In
such manner that but slight hopes are entertained
for her recovery
SCENE AND MANNER OF THE TRAGEDY.
II appears that about four o'clock In the after-
noon Mrs. Marsh proceeded to Primary School No.
10, on Jefferson street, near Caroline, where her
eldest child, named James bright boy OF eighs
years OF age, was at school. Sne took him from the
school room, It Is said, against his WISH and, con-
sne had previously borrowed from nclGhbofing
SSSsr' ssasns ssSns SP s Se Otss eaas BODY
had slain It, Mrs. Marsh then proceeded 70
booo I Of her nrst born concealed uuder her apron,
where she found her mother Mrs. Nellie Dwyer,
aged atythree years sitting at the front wl1dGw sm
knife cut her throat In such terrible manner
as 10 render doubtful in the opinion OF the pnyst.
OF her three remaining children lillian, aged SIX
years; Mary Jane, aged four years ana George aeea
two years. The heads OF the children were nearly
severed from the bodies.
THE BODIES As FOUND.
which e werS o n
to have been murdered while engaged In swinging
IN IN The yard as he was found with bus feet HANGING
canght caught glimpse Of the horrible sight OF little
se1asaa, %a% hangns thus and raising an alarm
shocked to nnd Mrs Dwyer Win her throat
dren with their throats cut, and, going into the
yard, he found Mrs. Marsh there brandisnlng the
child killed IN the swing lie at once arrested her
and took her the Eastern station house where she
held an inquest, when Captain Kenny and chief de:
lective Crone placed her in hack and conveyed
her to a she passing to the carriage very quietly
station house gentleman had an interview with
the unfortunate woman. she was seated In
corner OF the lookup. with her hands covered
with blood, clasped across her knees. On being
asked II she wanted anything she desired drink OF
water, which was gwen her. She seemed calm and
collected IN her manner, and IN answer 10 queries
said she was bora In the county OF Kerry Ireland,
and twenty seven years OF age. TO question
II she had any recollection o. what she had done
she answered, II have now: they were going TO take
my children away IRON me-they were pecking at
their necks." On expression OF pity for her un-
fortunate condition she burst into tears and ex-
claimed, "Oh my cnlIdrenI" !"
THE TESTIMONY AND VERDICT.
Coroner Carr summoned jury OF inquest, before
whom the following testimony was elicted:-
Mary A. tdgertOn testiied-Resides In the mousse
where the murders were committed; Thought that
Mrs. Marsh drank q little: had never seen her In
comnalned of The tronoe her children caused her;
her husband went away about elshteen months ago
ana she had not heard OF him since; did not think
she was out oil her mnd never talked as II sne was
she did not seem to care much for her children;
never treated them cruelty but seemed Indifferent
to them: she had lett the house very angry at one
me during The day and SAID that her mother had
the devil IN her; dd not know anything or the
murders until alter Mrs. Marsh had been arrested
and the eldest Doy brought home dead from the
school.
street at the the alarm given; ran into the
honse; saw the old laoy In the passage with her
dead. ana ran into the yard, and there saw ihe
woman with larae knife In ner hand. and the boy
william hanging by the rlght loot IRON as swing,
her to Eastern station house; when lie got IN the
street with her she asked him to 20 to the school
house, and she would snow him another OF the chu-
drcn on the way TO The station house she said they
were all better Off, and that 1t was their father's
fault and said sne was sorry for what she had
MISS Repecca Dwyer, sister Of the accused testified
that she out OF the house At the time OF the mLr
der did not think her sister was insane; she always
F! talked nationally; she was very nigh tempered.
Omcer Turner testined-Went into the house soon
1t: she said they were In Heaven now, but 1t was all
their athers fault; one OF the children was lying IN
the basement passage. another In the middle room,
and the other was hanging IN the SWING by the right
foot, with Its throat cut from ear to ear.
me Jury then retired to another room, and In .
few moments returned with q verdict 'That the
children came 10 their deaths from a knife IN the
mitted Mrs. Marsh to al for the action OF the Grand
THE GRANDMoTHER's STATEMENT.
Mrs. Nellie Dwyer, the mother OF Mrs. Marsh,
made statement subsequent TO the coroner's
inquest, before Justice Staylor. which is some.
what different from the above. She said that
everything was agreeable about the house; her
daughter came to her and asked for ten cents; she
| Piled, .Never mind, have IT." she then went up
stairs, put on her bonnet went out and after short
absence back; on her return she went into the
yard where William was playing ON swing. and.
seizng him, cut his throat she next attacked Mary
Jane and cut her throat; the old lady seeing what
her arms when the daughter took the Child and cut
! its throat and then seizing her, cut her throat.
AFTER TIE TRAGEDY.
The scene at the house after the tragedy was OF
! most melancholy description The bodies OF the
, murdered children, all remarkably good looking
lay side by side; tney had the same clothing IN
which they were killed. which was neat and clean.
| The scene OF the tragedy was visited by several
thousand persons during the afternoon and evening,
! and OF those who succeeded In getting into the
house but Few ieil WIN cry eyes. CAPTAIN ken,neJ
force OF policemen ana preserved order. although
until late hour the crowd fingered about the pre-
misses.
The body OF William, killed ln the yard OF public
was dismissed when there was great CONSERVATION
among the children. Mlss $. =. Day, the principal,
/ necessary TO call the aid OF q physician. The
body was carried home by the police aad placed be-
'''N ''' lit HUSBAND AND GRANDFATHER.
The husband OF Mrs. Marsh formerly kept a bar
Der snop adjoining the WIliam Tell House, on Pratt
street, but has been absent from the city over q
| year, supposed III New York.
Ar. Michael Dwycr, the father OF the unfortunate
woman, is respectable blacksmith, carrying on the
business. lie appeared perfectly overwhelmed with
grief ut the rash oil MS daughter and the loss VI
| his grandchildren, OF whom he Is said to have been
very fonu.
STATEMENT or DETECTIVE CRONE.
Mr. VIM. q. CroDe Chief OF Police, states that Tor
some time past Mrs. Marsh had Oeen importuning
MIN In regard to the whereabouts OF her hus.
band. Her last interview with Mr. Crone was
| about ten days ago, when she spoke OF attempts
being made to take her children from her ana
place them IN one OF the institutions for desti-
tute children. She remarked that the very
| thought Of separating from her children made
her distracted and she must hear from her husband.
Mr. Crone endeavored to soothe her BY telling her
lnat Mr.. Marsh had possibly gone to some fereign
country and she might possibly soon hear from him.
This was the last time he saw her until after the IRA
Redy. MIR. Cr0ne was one OF the parties who con-
| veycd Mrs. Marsh to prison, and on her way over
sne importuned hm by name not to place her with
| lewd women. she asked many questions az TO the
condition Of her children, particularly Of her eldest
| son, and on being told that be was DEAD became
| almost frantic WIN grief. On being placed IN the
cell she fell on her knees and commenced praying
| for her children and mother. When Mr. Crone was
| about TO leave she rose Tor o moment and begged
him 10 call ana see her this morning and again ie
| Oh her knees ana resumed her prayers.
| LATEST PARTICULARS.
Up TO midnight last night Mrs. Dwyer was alive ai
| the residence No. 80 Central avenue, and the at
tendanIs entertained some slight hope that she