The New York herald., 1873-07-09
A DOUBLE TRAGEDY.
Horrible Murder Of a Wife and Suicide Of
the Assassin Husband.
What Jealousy. Infamed by Drink Will
Effsct-Affectng Statements of tho Two
Chiliren of the Murdered Woman.


put bullet through his own body, and the two
ceased breathing at about the same moment
Events OF this kind have been regarded as sor: OF
an epidemic aud when 1t Is remembered how
many OF them have occurred at stated periods or
Intervals, they afford an opportunity for reflection
The case now being recorded is one of murder
and suicide. The murderer aud suicide is
Michael Desmond. His wife, whom lie
murdered, was Ev sla Smith Lane Desmond. Both
were In the prime and enjoyment OF married lie.
The story Is much the same as others and can be
told In q few wOrds-a drunken husband, a faithful
wife and two handsome children. The husband,
IN paroxysm OF Jealousy, had revolver and dis
charged part OF the contents through the head and
breast OF his vile, and when he found she was
dead he empted the contents of the other cham
bers into his own body, ana both were dead when
the Coroner and officers arrived.
The rumors to the effect that for about
month Desmond had been out of employment. lie
was o laborer and has, since being out OF work,
been drunk a good deal OF tho time and abusive to
his family. His wife, to whom he was married
three years ago, at the time she was married had
two children, boy and q girl, about ten and
eleven years old. On Saturday night he turned
them from his house, No. ~ Tufts street. and they
went to 11s Second street, where John Smith, q
relative of the murdered wife, lived. There
they remained till this morning In che meantime
Mrs. Desmond had obtained warrant for his
arrest, and this morning he was brought up before
the Municipal Court, but was let Off and returned
home to l2 TUFTS street. His wife went with
him. He got into bed, but soon turned his wife
and the boy Joseph out Of the house. they going
again 20 Second street. The little girl remained
with him and advised him to separate from her
mother. and thus came the accustomed fighting
&C., which rendered the house very unpleasant
He said to the little GIRL "Is not that nice way
now, for her to run or and leave the house ?"
Very soon he got up and left the house with the
little girl, saying that he was going to his
wife. He drank one glass of beer on the way Ar
irving at the residence of Smith, he went up stairs
with the girl to front room, where his wife was
sitting in q bay window. He said, "Is this where
you arer" and before she could get up or re-
ply he drew revolver, stopped down and
discharged 1t four times at her.
The little girl ran down stairs at once and she
and her brother called for the neighbors. On re-
turning they found him lying on the door, gaspng
IN agony, and in q few moments he was dead. But
two bals,have been found in Mrs. Desmond's body
one behind the left shoulder blade and ode on the
cheek under the left eye. Either shot would have
caused death. The house is dark two story
tenement 1t is situated on Second street,,
near q corner and in the midst OF the miasma Of
the Marshes Its occupants. besides Mr.. Smith,
brother Of the murdered woman. are two families.
who hardly seem to realize the extent OF the ca
lamity. Upstairs from the street Is q kitchen and
dining room, all on the second story, and in front
Is the room in which the tragedy occurred. This
swell front, with three windows, and is car
peted throughout In one corner Is bedstead
When ] entered the room this evening the
bodies Of the murdered woman and the suicide
H Sp on
another sheet thrown carelessly over her.
Evidently she was about thrty-fve years old,
with soft brown hair, aquiline nose and was pass
s,. TTn M1s LAY UPON THE FLOOR ,.
attlred in a black coat and vest and gray
trousers. His teeth were set firmly together,
ana ms hands were sn cencseG or TO .,p a., ap
fellow. He wore a full beard with mustaches, and
there were traces OF blood which had trickled down
his iace He was Catholic, and his brOther-in-
law did not care to medde with the re aims. They
lay there till they were claimed BY cousin OF the
street. The house was guarded by policemen and
full OF sympathlzing neighbors and curiosity
Making my way into the back room, found the
two children OF the deceased woman and step
children OF the man who Is dead.
THE CHILDREN's STATEMENTS.
One, very pretty and modest little girl Of
twelve years, said :-"My name is sarah Jane Lane
nane s
Desmond, my stepfather, who lies dead in the
other room, came to my mother, when she she was
lace. That was the way she got acquainted with
him, and they were married three years ago. Last
things all around the house. He turned mother
and me anu Joe my little brother, ont OF doors, and
wss a. smS bere she was to
body, and she was Of Irish descent, but Protes-
tanf. Mother got out warrant Tor father's arrest,
and he was locked up, but afterwards she secured
his release. He came home to Tufts street. The
next morning she went into the house andstold
told her to take her things and leave. Then
Snss Hsr and pa dishes in sss
mond sat at the door. He told Joe that he could
come over to his uncle's. in Second street, where
we are now, and stay two nights. Joe went out
and followed. Joe and Desmond followed me.
Desmond was not drunk, but he had been taking
house and locked tine door against her.
Finally she got out and came over here:
ne as used m nus Us verS ba
when he was sober he used to give his wages to
mother but when ne was drunk ne was very bad
man. and he was drunk very often. Last Winter
he used to come home sometimes at very late
hour and turn all outdoors In our night dresses
barefooted, and we were compelled to seek refuge
Joseph Lane. n stanch little fellow OF nine, told
his story In a straightforward manner, hardly
seeming TO realize his motherless condition. He
said d;-"Mother and were In the room Tor twenty
that be mad cleared her out and would have killed
her II u had not been tor Sarah Desmond. He
ss 70 anS sSa ase '1o %oher na he ases
20 remember what she said. hut he didn't do what
sue told him "a. Anyway mother and ] sat IN the
window, where We could see the street. Pretty
soon wine schmidt came running up stairs, and
said that Desmond was coming up the street.
Mother wss frGhs-ned. she said, He may XII me-
and then she buried Ssr head IN her hand. Des-
mond came into see room IN mo-
menL Here you are, are your ne said,
and before mother cuuld s2y q word. nred
q pistol AZ her. Mother dropped Into 'he corner Of
the room on the moor and cuddled herself ~ up.
Desmond nred again and mother was dead. Then
he turned round and fred At himself and he
dropped dead, too. Mother used 20 work for George
u. Cave, In tailor shop on MIN street. before she
knew Desmond, and earned her own living. lie
was very jealous OF her."
THR SCENE OVER THE noDrEs.
The tragedy was q sad one. The husband ana
vile, father and mother, both lay there dead In the
small bedroom, and their two little children, ner
ther one ully apprecating that they were orphans,
we'e running about and telling the story or the
murder with all its horrible and revolving details
outside there we're hundreds OF curious neighbors,