The New York herald., 1871-12-17
COwardly assassination Of a Wife
at Lynn, Mass.
Brutal Goodness Of the Husband
After the Deed.
lie Fled to the Woods, and in Fighting with
the Officers Who Surrounded Him
Was Shot Dead.

upon the commission OF the deed, and the murderer
lived but one hour after the death OF
his victim. The principals connected with the
affair were one william Wenncr about thirty
years OF age, and his wife woman OF forty. They
were not much known In Lynn. having come to the
city not long since from the State OF Maine in che
vicinity Of Augusta. Their short residence in Lynn
has, however, established the fact that they have
not lived happily together; the man was addicted
to nrtnking, aud when In liquor had most dam
gerous and ugly disposition. He had sister
whose name is Caswe. who lives In the
city and at her house the parties had made their
home for few days, up to last wednesday, having
come from Name short time ago.
THEATs TO TAKE HIS wIFE's LIFE
At this house of this sister unpleasant
quarrels between the couple were OF very
frequent occurrence, and fights were OF
almost daily occurrence. 1t was only q few
days ago that venner threatened the life Of his
wife. and the interference Of the police was re-
quired TO prevent trouble. On one occasion q
knife was taken from hts possession by an officer.
Some stories are to the eject that Venner was IN
sane, but suco does not appear to be
the fact. According to present developments
the house at which the bloody murder was enacted
Is in respectable locality, being Adams street.
100. 1t is owned by an old lady named Roundy.
who occupies the upper story, and leases the lower
foor to Mr.. Francis Cogway, who resides in it with
his family.
CHANGE OF RESIDENCE
Last wednesday night Mr.. and Mrs. venner left
the house Of venners sister, having been directed
to the house OF Mrs. Roundy, where they were to
md board They inquired q. q Mrs. Conway, also
Roundy before being. married to her present
husband lived there. They were told that she did,
and, being shown to that lady. secured board with
her. After this things seemed to go on quietly
enough. though the parties had little uInlcultles
PURCHAsED THE DIRK KNIFE
A day or two ago Venner told his wife that he had
left or drinking, and obtained from her about forty
dOlarsn money, with part Of which he bought large
dirk knife. though for what purpose was not stated.
Thls morning there seemed no new trouble between
harmonze perfectly so much so that 1t was notlced
by Mrs. Conway, who went up stairs about half
Ss saw
after TINS vsnner went down into the cellar, it Is
ten @l'e O'CLOCK I Mrs. venner also wv went It down DOWN
Il Hne was Sn this Is oorhat occnped By Mrs conway a
that she met her cruel death. 1t is supposed that
she had started to go down stairs and was met by
her husband, whO coming up from the cellar,
NUMBERING MRS vENNER WITH THE DIRK.
At ten O'Clock Mrs. Conway, who was eating
irom Ine entry way al the foot Of the stairs which
was separated from her only by one door, and
which also had door op ming on the street.
beheld a sight which nlled her with horror. Mrs.
venner was struggling IN the grasp OF her husband,
who held her by the hair with one hand while In
the otner he held the dirk KNIFE before referred to-
wirn winch be was dealing murderous stabs about
rushed into the street by a near door. crying
IN terror. An old man named Ayres who hap.
hearing sounds within, and attempted to push open
the door. He was met by the murderer, who was
then standing over his wife, from whom life had
not yet departed. venner waived his knife threat
ingv, and said:-"Damn you, don't you come IN
here.h The old man being frightened Immediately
HE cooLY WALKS OUT AFTERWARDS
A moment more the murderer nung open the
shouted There's the man, stop him,' but although
by this time half dozen persons were attracted TO
the spot all were norrlned 10 a, and % no one stirred;
was Immediately given and large detachment OF
the city police repaired. to the house, only
to the circumstances OF the case institute
search for the murderer.
SURROUNDED BY THE POLICE.
Their efforts soon proved successful, for an hour
after the commission OF the crime they had secured
and Gagged its DerpetratOr In the woods, In Rocks
Pasture, just IN the rear OF the house.
FIGHTING AND wOUNDING THE OFFICERS.
He showed fight when surrounded by the O1lcers
and attempted to escape HIS eyes Rlittered like
ner he bid his pursuers to stand or but they were
Soo not 10 sss, be baked In tins manner The
nothing lett him but to cut his way through their
ranks and this ne attempted at the risk or his
life. Starting madly from the tree, against which
he had been leaning dirk In hand he rushed through
the throng. Oncer Goodrich tried to cheek him
Thurson % stood IN his @ way; but venner % did "1 not
mind this elther-ne attacked the officer and with
the force OF his onset threw Mr.. Thnrston upon his
back, Venner stabblng him repeatedly with the dirk
IN the back and head. one OF the wounds laid the
left cheek Of Mr.. Thurston wide open and all OF
sisted as vigorously as possible under the circum-
stance. but being underneath he could do little In
THE MURDERER SHOT DEAD DY THE CITY MAR.
SHALL.
Officer Whittier came to the rescue and used his
club to good advantage but before the brute could
be compelled to relinqusn his hold City Marshal
Barrett appeared upon the scene and shot him Dead
mnlcting Iour wounds in the head. shoulder.
hisoody. The body Of Mrs. venner was
TO cy + s9
body, almost any or which would have been
s1 to "a aea sowp There ra' asa
cedented in this locality, and much macn comment
The subject has been the main topic OF converse.
tion, and the gossip connected Herewith has been
generally wide OF the marx.
THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE
The real truth OF the matter, sifted out from the
many contradictory rumors which prevail seems to
be tnat Venner and his wiIe were unequally
matched from the first. she was q widow, forty
years OF age, with family OF fve children, when
young fellow, with few hundreds laid up In the
bank After the marriage their tncompatibilty OF
temperament became more manifest. venner
tegan 70 stay away from home and indulge IN
strong drink, and Mrs. Venner, not TO be outdone
in independence of life. sought out and enter
tained acquaintances OF whom a vrtuous wO man
should have been ashamed. Their little property
gradually washed away until they we're well nlgn
pennies5, and 1t was then that venner driven TO
desperation by his evil courses and the conduct
Of his wire, committed the ior winch he after
ward gave up his ilfe
THE HOUSE WHERE THE ASSASSINATION TOOK PLACE
The following Is the statement OF Mrs. John.
Roundy, the woman who kept the house where the
scene OF the murder Is located She is short pufTy
sort OF an Old woman, OF the 'Sairey Gampian'
school, with glasses, neckerchle and all the
adornments which bent an ancient nurse.
Her habitation Is quaint story and q
half house In Adams street. distinguished only
from the neghborlng dwellings by It's yellow color
and by the general AIR OF neatness which surrounds
II. A large and unculttvated yard intervenes be.
twaon tha houoa anI no io,v ,.I.r~ ,.n,nr