The New York herald., 1871-12-15
HORRIBLE TRAGEDY IN MA sA
CHUSEIT5.

Drunken Husband shoots HIS vile aud
Then Attempts 10 Take His Own Life In
the Same Mauner--PrObuble Death OF Both
the Victims.
BosToN, Dec. 1S. 1871.
Murders and suicides are not or very common
occurrence In the quiet villages Of New England,
and whom one such does occur 1t Is generally accom-.
panied by circumstances OF suOh q singular nature
as to render 1t OF more than common interest.
Lttct0n, Mass, twenty miles north Of this CITY,
on the TItchDurg Railroad, the scene yesterday
afternoon OF fearful slaughter. combining murder
with suicide, and attended by such accessories and
such nendish brutality in Its conception and execu
tlon as TO curdle the blood with horror. News OF
the dreadful occurrence brought to this city by
passengers over the Fitchburg road this morning.
and from their statements the following description
OF the fearful tragedy and Its circumstances are
obtained:-
Patrick Kcating has for some years resided in the
southern portion Of Litteton, long enough TO oe the
parent Of four children and to have earned very
tair reputation for good behavior among his friends
and associates. Patrick was q day laborer IN me
town, working steadily al Ills business and provld
ing as we'll as his limited means would allow, for
the comfort OF his family.
man OF steady haoits. seldom, If ever, induleng 10
the use OF intoxicating liquors aud generally behav-
as as ae
more and more addicted to strong drink und was
and his wife, There wcrc
HARD WORDS ON BOTH SIDES,
reQuent examinations and rccrlmiDati0na until the
social condition OF the family had become degraded
toa very low cub. Every day Increased the sum or
Their unhappiness until the mother, VINO was 1. Ina
for her to longer remain In the nouse She broached
the subject OF separation to her husband week
ago, but was met In such q c0ntrte manner that
she did not press the matter TO an issue. Patrick
pledged himself Immediately to commence tho
work OF reform alton in hts nabits and spoke pa
thctically of the sad condition OF the children,
who would thus be lett to grow up without
his enircaiies, and promised 10 remain For day
or two Patrick was true to his pledge to reform;
put the Of nm, d,sson,e Is a course 81
ful resistance, and ne soon returned 10 his old
habits. The poor wife was finally forced, IN spite OF
herself to obey the Instincts OF selfprescrvati0n and
declare her intention repair to her fathers house.
This occurred yesterday morning. Mrs. Keatlng,
after frankly stating the nature or the to her
husband, said that she could live with him no Ion
THEY MUST SEPARATE
OF reproaches and abuse. Patrick denied her right
to leave hlm without the warrant OF Court, aud
asserted that he would use force II 1t were neces.
sary, 70 prevent her departure. They lndugcd In q
vordy quarrel 1or few moments, until, very much
he repaired to the honse OF friend in the
village, where he procured some liquor and
drank deeply, with the vain Intention OF quiet
ing his passions But as is usual In such cases,
the liquor which he poured down his throat only
the more Grm in his determination thas MS wife
should not live away from his home. Here 1t Is
thought that he determined on the commission Of
the crime for which he Is now In custody. In the
excited Of his feelings with the recollection of
his past misconduct crOwding upon his mind, and
the dismal Iorebodngs OF the future which he must
have inevitably experienced, murder and suic, de
lost all their terrors 10 his mud, and were looked
| troubles. He was literally haf-crazcd with rum
| and grew more and more desperate as he thought
the calamitics which ne mad brought upon hini-
sell BY q continued course OF vicious conucf. AT
noon ne returned TO his house, only 10 mud nat his
wife mad packed up s0mo OF her clothes and was
only waiting to bid him farewell before gong away
THE MURDER.
He asked her II she was still determined to leave
him and the children to ;ake care OF themselves.
She replied that she had no other alternative,
and, with the exclamation, "God forgive me ~ he
discharged II ut her breast The murdered woman
fell unconscious TO the moor, while cop0is stream
OF blood rushed from the wound. Patrick gszed a
muzzle OF the pistol towards his own rody, dis.
charged It again. An hour afterwards neighbor
entered the house and found both upon The noor,
weerng IN gore. The door was covered with pud-
dies OF BLOOD and the dying ones, although still
breathing heavily, were In an unconscious state.
About the bodies stood the afflicted children or
the family, struck almost DUMB by the
calamity. ana scarcely realizing the extent OF their
bed In an adjoining room. and her husband was
placed under arrest aud removed to the Poor House
IN the town for safe Keeping. 1t IS scarcely possl-
BILE Inat either OF them Will recover.
There Is great deal OF excitement In the village
concerning the tragedy 1t being an event altogether
without precedent In that locality, and tue COM
connected herewith belonged TO the lower classes
OF society, still there Is general ieeiing OF sym.
pathy with the children thus left without natural
protector, which will probably assume substantial
FORM The tragedy forms the sole SUBJECT ol conyef.
satlon in Lttleton.