New-York tribune., 1874-03-16
AN INSANE FREAK AT MIDNIGHT.

A BROOKLYN wATCHMtN MURDERS HIS WIFE AND
KILLS HIMSELF IL TIE PRESENCE OF HIS FIVE
CHILDREN.
About p o'clock yesterday morning, as
Officers CLARK aud Doran patroling IcRsst, they
heard cries and shreks coming from the thrceory ana
basement tenementhouse In the Of No 3S1 Hicks
St. Brookyn. Fastening to the spot, they discovered
the first floor the dead body Of Dennis Delaney. His
throat cut, and he weltering In his blood, while
the nsensibe form Of his wife was stretched upon the
bed and covered with blood which pouring from
several frghtful wounds in her head. Five small chill
drcn. whose range from four months to 81 years
and who had given the alarm were sobbing IN their
night clothes, which spattered with their parents
blood After they bad been quiced they told the story
OF the tragedy.
Their father Dennis Delaney, member of ST. Patrcks
Alliance who about IS years Of age and had the
reputation of being sober aud steady man, went home
Saturday night about 81 O'Clock and as was his wont
handed over his weeks wages TO his wife He then
washed himself and took supper. During the evening
played and ioked with his children, and went TO bed
about O'Clock with the rest OF the family. The chill
dfcn slept the floor in the same room with their
parents. and the baby occupied crib. About O'Clock
il the morning the oldest child, who is bright aud IN
tcgcnt lad. heard his father talking in loud tones To
III. mother The him and looking in the dIrec
ton Of his parents bed he his father standing over
her and franucay beating her IN the head with an az
Too horror striker TO cry out. the boy listened Tor
scream or a moan from his mother but sound eS-
capped her lips forshc probably iusensble after the
first blow His father, with demonac fury kept on bat
tering the he head of his wife, until convinced that she
was dead, lie stalked 10 the mante-piece, and
seizing razor drew IT three four times
with all his might his throat. almost sew
eriug his head from his body. He spasmodicaily
lifted foot from the floor and then fell dead the
blood from his wound >aurating the carpet and stain
ing the chldrcns bed As lie fell the only spectator OF
Hv med nd Eg
whose united cries attracted the attention OF Officers
Clark and DOran They gave an alarm which soon
brought their aid Officers Ryan aud Giigan and an
ambulance sent for. Upon its arrival the police
surgeon discovered that the still breathing
aud after dressing her wounds lie had her
conveyed TO the Long Island Hospital. Dr.
Atkinson, the house physician, examined the
body aud discovered nine ten wounds
i'm her head and face One Of them extends from the
bridge Of the to the upper jaw-bone which badly
crushed IN. Another deep cut on the left temple IL
about three inches long and extends TO the bone which
is fractured. Another Incson the opposite temple
is irregular and Jagged. extending TO the bone.
her other wounds and bruises also discovered
the top Of the head, and several bruises her hands
Indicated that she mad endeavored TO ward OF the deadly
blows she still alive last evening. but had not re
gained consciousness. Her recovery j. mighty luprOU
able. Toy
without doubt Delaney was insane when he committed
the double crime. From the statements made by his
children and neghbOrs appears that he acted strangely
bed at midnight and going 10 closet near ~ hand ANA
taking loaded pistol began TO handle IL so careless
as TO excite the fears of his WIFE, who pre-
vailed upon hun TO return IL to its place ana
20 back 10 bed. Many times since then, accord
ING 10 the statement Of his landlord. Patrick
II Dunn hc has acted strangely. He had tue reputa-
non OF belng a dnet peaceablc man, and no disagree
mcns were ever known to have occurred Oe ween him
and his wife lie has been IN the employ OF MOodlun,
RoIinson a Co. as "A day watchman FOR some time past
Ic uas occupied for years his present quarers-twO
small rooms the first foor. and has lived happily
though humbly with his vile and children.
A visit was paid yesterday by TRIBUNE reporter 10
the house II was indeed, a scene OF blood. On the
floor Law the boOd-,tained body Of the man. Ile bed
clothes were saturated with the wOrnans blood while
the wall for several feet either side or the bed was
sprinkled and the bed-clOthcs over the chndreh'-
hrd and the coverlet OF the infants cro
were also marked. The carpet on the loor war also
soaked with his blood. On the table, winch in the
middle OF the floor, there large piece OF meat
which had probably been purchased Tor their sunday
dinner A Stove was in the ROOM and the walls were
covered with cheap religious prints. crucItN and
sacred ornaments upon the mantctpccc. The
smaller room was used q pantry. Coroner Jones
visited the house during the afternoon and impanelcd
Jury An inquest viii be held on FRIDAY lac children
were provided for by the neighbors.