The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-24

| evidently unconscious OF the place where she
her her: a plain wooiisn shawl was thrown thrown
over her shoulders, and the rest OF her
She never once looked In the direction Of the tub,
but kept her eyes vacanty fixed upon the ground.
Her husband accompanied her to the station Ion
captain he returned to his desolated home to see
after his little girl
the inner room OF the station house. It is Of ordi-
nary size and the body OF the older child had been
evlGenty bent before 1t was crushed in The chill.
uIeh ay with their arms entwined around each
1 n' their heads at the bottom Of the tub and
p nag Of Ieet tho p16i aag upwards The lower
had not been disngured but the shoulders and
faces were terribly burned. There were stabs In
the necks OF both OF them, which had been infcted
| with knife and the necks had also been twisted
by stranguiation. The doctors were puzzled to
know whether they had been strangled or stabbed
| first, but incline to the opinion that they were
strangled as their cries would have doubtless
alarmed the inmates OF the house had they
| BEEN STABBED AT THE OUTSET,
The ambulance arrived little after twelve
O'Clock, and the surgeon In charge OF 1t at once
| was high and feverish and the pupils OF
her eyes were greatly dilated The doctor asked
but she made no reply, and gave an unmean nu;
look at her interrogation. He then asked her where
she lived, and she answered, ''se Third street"
Doctor, and she family replied, "Between First
and Second" A glass OF W alter was handed to her,
and she took 1t in her hand, holding 1t Tor mo-
tasted.
BY request OF the Captain the ambulance sur
geon consented to take the bodies away with him,
and two officers lifted the tub and carried 1t to the
conveyance. When the tub had been taken away
Mrs. Hennessy looked around and said In low
tone, ut is very warm.n She then got up.
and went and sat down by the window where the
moments, and then orders were given for her re-
moval When the doctor took her by the hand she
panied 1m Her step was SO weak and feeble that
she had to be supported as she walked, and was
LIFTED INTO THE AMBULANCE
by the police officers. The tub was already In the
ambulance and when the poor woman had been
comfortably fixed the ambulance drove of with
its ghasty load. crowd was beginning to gather
around the station house ar the time but most OF
those composing it were unaware OF the excite
| ment and imagined that IL was some sick woman
who was being taken to the hospital.
DIT. Mckay, the police surgeon who was in the
station house, accompanied by his father, stated
to the reporter that the Tor the time being
was completely insane, and had no more idea than
an infant OF what she was doing when the children
were killed. He says It is no unusual thing for
women alter confinement to be
AFFLICTED WITH HALLUCINATTON;
but cases OF puerperal mania OF so strongly pro-
nounced and dangerous nature as this are fortu.
nately rare. The religious depression under which
the woman has been suffering Tor some time con-
tributed largely to the act as she may have thought
that the killing OF the children was the
best thing she could do for their future good
The doctor says that the insanity in all proba-
bllity, win become fixed, though 1t is possible that
the unfortunate woman may regain her reason
did not as the memory OF the fearful death OF her
children would be torture more than human nature
The Coroner has been notified, and an inquest
Will be held as soon as practicable.
WHAT THE HUSBAND SAYS.
Quitting the narrowing scene in the station
house the HERALD reporter, with aching heart,
wended his way to the scene Of the dreadful saugh-
ter. The house In which the family reside is i've
story brick double tenement, and is literally
TANNED WITH HUMAN BEINGS,
no FEWER than four families occupying each floor,
and yet, strange and inexpllcable as It may seem,
not soul In this building heard any unusual
noise In the apartment OF Hennesy at any time
the reporter found himself in long, narrow
and dark hallway, through which he CROPPED until
he reached the staircase. This gained, he rapidly
assembled, picking his way by holding to and fol-
lowing the course Of the banister railing Rap
ping gently at the door at the head OF the last land
the reporter was soon met by an old lady, who
kindly requested him to enter The apartment
tanned an ordinary sized range, 4 table on which
were number OF dishes, many OF them broken IN
small pieces few dilapdated chairs and rag"
carpet. The range sits In the end OF the room, to
| the left as you enter, and near this sat the
| HEARTBROKEN HUSBAND AND FATHER
man twenty-eight years OF age, below the
medium height and OF slight build. His face was
red and swollen from incessant weeping, but he
struggled manfully to compose himself on seeing
the entrance OF stranger. Two other men stood
near him, one his br0ther-in-law, the other an old
friend This wife. The old lady who opened the
I door is kind sOued woman, occupying apart
| ments In the house, and who had come In to do
what she could to comfort and console the
on being asked to relate what he knew of the
shocking affair the husband told his story fol.
years ago next september. My wife's health was
always delicate, but until the birth of
% vs se age 20
been very weak and always exceedingly melan-
choy. often she would act strange, as though
never in the least violent towards any one, more
especially the little ones, whom she actually wor-
shipped. have always tried to be kind and afrec-
L
! done for her whatever could. Some three weeks
| ago she got up suddenly at night and
DECLARED SHE WAS DYING.
| | hurried for doctor, who, on arriving, pro-
nounced it an attack OF heart disease, and said 1t
days she has been more melancholy than ever,
and only last night she sat up all night long,
come to but se would not About two
O'Clock the lamp went ont ana she called me TO fix
it. got up and lighted 1t and found the baby was
all uncovered and very cold. asked her TO cover
| 1t up, and she commenced crying and said 1t
| WAS DYING
Iquietcd her fears ana then went back TO bed and
sat- still holding the babe. She was
went able to nv ae work yw.noTs I na
fixing up the rooms and doing what cculd for
her comfort When came home this evening /
to open it for at least half an hour. Finally, she
| turned the key and drew back the bolt, and then,
God What ,hs sight met my ss eyes comnetsv
way, and for several minutes he buried his face In
his hands and wept as though his heart would
burst. Presently, however, he became sufficiently
composed to speak again, and he went on with HIS
| story.
aisaw the children lying in the tub, just as you
| saw them at the station house, but did not know
they were completely dead. rushed towards
them but my wife caught hold Of me and begged
| me not to touch them. ! asked her what she had
| done, and she replied shat they-pointing TO
| gone now she said, 'and I will soon follow and
then VIII be happy too. tried to get by her to
| where the tub sat on the chair, but she chung TO
! me and pleaded with me not to disturb them.
| Finally got her quiet and then It was l found
THE LITTLE ONES WE'RE DEAD.
! They were icy cold. | rushed towards the door,
| Intending to 90 for doctor, but Annie caught
| hold OF me and would not let me leave
| the roem She threw herself on her knees,
| and cried as though her heart would
break, begging me the while not TO leave her.