The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-07
AN ILLINOIS TRAGEDY.
Ram, Jealousy, Murder and Suicide-H0rri-
bio Finale TO Drunken C:lreusai-A
Jealous Husband Cuts the Threats of His
Wife and Five Children, and Ends the
Tragedy by Taking His Own Life.

Wife and Five Children, and Ends the
Tragedy by Taking His Own Life.
From the CarbOndale, (Ill.) New Era, April 6.l
correspondent IRON Stone Fort. .:ane county
writes that the morning Of March rs That COM
munity was thrown into an intense cemmotion by
the intelligence that an entire family, by the name
OF Dakins, had been murdered last night. AT point
some three miles southeast OF this place. Ihe writer
says:-As soon as ! heard the news l mounted my
horse and visited the scene Of the tragedy u small
log hut Of Oh the land OF Mr.. Jerry Foley.
u stands In the midst Of a small clearing OF,
rounded on all sides by almost unbroken forest.
1t lies about three hundred yards from the county
On reaching the nut found about dozen men OF
the nelghoorhoOd, all terribly excited and looking
the horror each one felt. Di5mountlng ana hitch
ing my horse, entered the hut, and nope that 1t
may never DO my fortune to look upon similar
spectacle On and diagonay across some old
quilts and blankets stretched upon rude frame
work In the corner to the right hand as you enter
the door was the body Of woman OF apparently
thirty -four thirtyive, with her throat cut and
hacked In fearful manner, tho jugular veins,
windpipe, arteries, everything being severed. ana
There was o deep inclsion across the palm OF the
right hand, as though sharp knife had been sud-
denly drawn through the clencned fist several deep
and long cuts were her shoulders and breasts,
but nowhere could be discovered any staus show
ing that the murder was not committed with q
her head partially In Old skillet lay lair haired
little girl OF some ten or twelve years OF age with
thest rom Ine door ana on the same side OF tue
room where the woman was lying, on a pallet evil
IDENTIFY where The children slept of nights, lay The
bodies OF two little boys one across the other aged
respectively about seven and five, both with their
throats cut ON tile floor near, aud partially under
the bed where the woman lay, was the body OF an
other girl apparently not more than three years ed
her hoad nearly severed from her body. Such was
The horrible spectacle that greeted my sight on
terng the nut. The moor, The walls, the lew artl-
cles OF furniture, everything In and about the mser
able apartment were deluged with blood. From in
dcatiUns the woman's struggle for life must
nave been protracted and furious until she sue
cumbed from loss OF blood or disabling stroke OF
the instrument OF slaughter. Bloody tracks on the
doorslll aud q trail OF blood leading IN a north
eastery direction from the house, pointed out the
course OF the murderer's fight. Pursuing parties
started the TRAIL but did not proceed moro than
hundred yards before they upon the sequel
and end oil this terrible tragedy OF the nlgnt. The
body OF an infant OF not more than year old lay
partially casped Dy the lett arm OF man, 1t having
shared the fate OF It's NEITHER brothers and sisters.
The man, VINO was other than DaKns, was also
dead, with gaping wouad across hts throat. His
blood-stalned SHIRT pants. and razor lying near
the body, where 1t must have fallen from his hand
the moment after nhcting the fatal wound uDon his
throat, proclaimed him TO be the author OF tne
wholesale outchery OF his family, despatchng his
guilty soul TO the other world swiftly after the
shades OF his victims.
AS the man died and left no sign, the causes that
led to the commission Of the murders can only be
coniectured. The Dakins had been living here only
about SIX months, having come, understand, from
Jefferson county, and little or nothing is known by
any one here OF their former history. Dakns was
about fortgtwo three and IN the habit vi drink
ing TO excess. When under The influence OF liquor
he was In the habit OF speaking oil MS wife in very
gross and uncomplimentary terms. More tton
once am informed, he has asserted that he left his
former home to break OF q criminal intimacy be-
tween his wife and leighbor, ana on several occa.
sions he has been heard to express doubts OF the
paternity OF the children The supposition IL that
the poor wretch, from long nursing OF his Jealous
fancIes ami brooding over his real or Imaginary
wrongs, and moved doubtless by whissey las ne
was In town during the afternoon drinking pretty
freely, In moment OF Insane Jury committed the
ra acts which obliieraIed his entire family and led
him To suicide.