Connecticut western news., 1874-06-19
A MANIAC MOTHERS CRIME.
Her Three Children Murdered an, her Husband Dying at her Hands.

Her Three Children Murdered and
 her Husband Dying at her Hands.
 In the second story of the brick tene, ment at 35 North Eighth street, Will liamsbirgh, Mary Ann Dwyer, blue eyed young Irish woman, murdered her three children and fatally injured her husband. Michael Dwyer was one of the striking coopers from the oil works. He married his wife in Bristol, R. l., eight years ago, and being thrown out of employment soon afterward, found employment in Brooklyn. With the large body of coopers who threw down their tools six weeks ago, in opposition to the demands of their employers, Dwyer quit work.
 Two weeks ago his provisions were low, and his wife begged him to go to work again, and he did so. His society men ordered him away from the works, and he obeyed them. He had been at tending the coopers' meetings regular ly. He returned home at night after a society meeting, partially under the in- huence of liquor. His wife talked with kim about how poorly they were living on the small su pport the Union gave to him, and told him to go to work on the next day. He said he thought the strike was over, and he would see by the papers whether the coopers were going to give in.
 His wife then told him that she couldn't stand his his being out of work any longer. She asked him whether he didn't lie when he said that the strike was over. He said no, and add ed that the papers would have the truth about it in the morning. They prepared to retire, yet talking about Dwyers go- ing to work. Mrs. Dwyer had pat her three children to bed in the back room Maggie, the oldest, seven years old, with her head at the foot of the bed, and Jimmie, aged four, and Timothy, aged two, at the head on two pillows. Mrs. Dwyer lay down by her husband on the folding lounge in the front room. She did not clear off the table when they had taken supper, but raked out the fire in the cook stove and laid out her fiat irons ready to iron their clothing.
 At half past five the next morning she was dressed and moving about her room. She looked into the hall the first thing to see whether the newsman had brought the paper. It was too early, and she went into the street to buy one. The newsboys had not reached that part of the city, and she returned and told her-husband. He dressed and went into the street and found one. He met Owen Murphy, a cooper, who worked with him. Murphy said that he was tired of waiting for the Union to com promise or conquer, and that he was going to work. Dwyer said that he wouldn't hold out much longer.
 Mrs. Dwyer awaited his return and asked him what the paper said about it. He said he had not read it yet, but he had just met Owen Murphy, who said that he was going to work on the next day. elf Owen Murphy, who owns 8 house and lot, can afford to go to work, you can," said Mrs. Dwyer. The hus- band said he thought he would in day or two. His wife replied that they were getting out of food and she did not want him to lay about in the saloons with the idle men who were on the strike. Dwyer sat down by the front the strike was not over and he was talk ing about what he had read when sud- denly he was struck to the floor by a hammer in her hands.
 At o'clock the teDants below heard d uSdNJ 4dl1 GO 1u0 uOOI, duu, IuuulES into the hall, saw Michael Dwyer dart into Mrs. Slaven's room, just in the rear of his own, having his head bent down. Blood was dripping over his coat. He called to Mrs. Slaven to do something for him, saying that he was hurt. She put wet cloth to his wounds, and told him to hurry for g. doctor. Mrs. Dwyer then entered the room with a cooper's hoop hammer in her hand, and darted toward her hus- band. MT. Slaven wrenched the ham, mer from her, thrust her out of the door, and stood against it until he heard her shut the door behind her m her own room. Then Dwyer ran into the street, and meeting Sergt. Fielding, told him that Mrs. Dwyer had struck him with hammer, and that if some- body did not go to the house she might hurt the children. The Sergeant hur- ried and met Mrs. Dwyer at the door. He arrested her and started for the police station with her, telling her that she had almost killed her husband. "The children are dead, too," she said calmly, looking into his face.
 He took her to her rooms, and she led the way to the door. One of the tenants met the officer, saying, "Mrs. Dwyer says she has killed her little children" The Sergeant looked into the room and saw that tho woman's words were true. The three dead bodies, bloody and repulsive, lay in a mangled heap on the bed. He quickly returned with his prisoner to the police station. She went willingly, and calmly gave her name. She said that she was twenty-five years old, and, without a quiver in her face, added:
 "I I wanted my little children to be in heaven, and I thought at first I would go there alone, but then I thought l would send them there before me-"
 She was quiet and lady-like, but there was restlessness in her eyes. Nothing else in her manner justified the suspi- cion of insanity. In the cell she quietly took her seat and remained almost inn movable.
 Captain Woglom and several officers hurried to the house. In the dark bed. room hack of the front room were the three dead and bruised bodies of the children. The heads of all were red with blood. Maggie's head was mashed in, the skull open, the brains protrud- ing. Her little brothers were in the same position as when they slept. James's face was to the wall, and his skull burst open. His night shirt was dyed deep red. The infant nestled in it's own imprint in the soft mattress. The nude form was dotted with blood. His face was as calm as though he had not awakened from his .slumber. The white walls were stained with blood, and crimson spots dotted the ceiling. The forms of the children were not yet cold.
 "Why did you kill your children, , asked a reporter, "didn't you love them?"
 ''I wanted my little ones to go tc heaven, said she, calmly. 1T wanted to kill myself, but I knew if I went there first they would never follow me