The New York herald., 1874-07-09

| Mother declared Insane by
Medical Experts-Interestfne Testi-
mOny.
The inquest before Coroner whitehl toscs,., g
the Dwyer tragedy at the foot OF North E,ghca
street. Brooklyn. +. D., resumed yesterday af-
ternoon. The case in question was the one in
which demented mother assaulted her husband,
Michael Dwyer, with hammer, striking him on
tue mead, and beat in the skulls OF her three chill
dren, aged respectively seven, five and two years.
Among those at the inquest were Drs. Hammond,
Corey and Mcdonald, who were present Tor the
purpose OF giving testimony as to the mental con-
dition OF the prisoner.
Essie Cahill. the sister OF Mrs. Dwyer, was the
first witness examined. She testified that she re-
sided at No. 1885 Ross street. Bro oklvn. and Is
gear and nine months older than Mrs. Dwyer; she
| has been in the country only two months, while
her sister has been living in Brooklyn for the past
nine years; her mother was insane about ten years
| ago; the mother became insane suddenly, and was
so for three months time she seemed to be harm
| less in aer insanity; she was removed to the
lunatic asylum, ana remained there for two
months; her mind ran upon religious matters;
witness thought her sister saod natured, although
she would hit her n she did not do what she
wanted; in disposition she was rather quiet, and
| iorgave the next moment.
Dr. Corey-The mother OF these women was
| iHsaue; the cause was change OF life.
| witness continuing, sad:-I had been only
month In the country when she killed the three
children; my sister aud her husband quarrelled
very much because he was out of employment;
| thought she was Wild looking when first saw her
after coming to this country; knew she had been
wild after the birth OF her second child she wrote
/ me to tnat efiect.
Michael Dwyer, husband of the prisoner, testi-
fed as follows:-I am the husband of Mrs. DIVER
was married October 10, 1866; lived in Williams
burg about six years; had three children; alter
the cOOpers' STRIFE which threw me out OF EN-
pl0yment, noticed that there some thing
wrong with her; she had constant headache; l
always thought her very hasty and had to coax
her; she was out OF her mind when her last child
was born, and was in the hospital after the birth
manned one month in the hospital suffering from
| the worst sort or fever; one day she said 10
ne sootnea s%an her doWn % s ss m0ine mnos assa ss
could and told her to wait, that her mother wasn't
dead she got 1t into her head that she saw the
black shadows OF man on the wall she preg.
nant wnen she imagined that her mother was
dead. The witness then told the story of the
cOoper's strike. whick occurred on March 2s and
gave great mental trouble to Mrs. Dwyer. He said,
My wife was continually telling me to go to work;
make me DO so. as the rent had to be paia and the
children supported; she didn't understand about
the strikes; on the night OF June l said to her,
"Mary Ann, VIII go to work tomorrow - sne did
not seem to believe me at all; mad told her the
same story before to pacliy her; went TO the
break when got home; told her "the coepers
had won," and she answered, 'weil, that's good;'
gave her 81 when got home and lay down on
the lounge; about nafpast five O'CLOCK she awoke
me and said, Get up apd go to work right away"
are you crazy cannot you wait until we
see what viii happens wait until Tomorrow
Witch I was quite white e she ' said to me, me- asoa
must 20 to wOrk;' answered, ~ wouldn't go;'
Se ot Sss 1t
ton OIL Works; she then said, mike. don't stay
longer out OF work" and | screamed, in loud
voice. 81 wOnt" she COaXed me to go to work at
MIR. PrattTs; i refused, and she seized hammer,
such as cosDers use, and running up to me, struck
with IL on the left side OF the mead was read
ing a paper and seated on lounge at the time she
struck me; ran out OF the room; she was good
and kept within herself any trouble tnat she might
have on her mind.
TO a iuror-Never heard my wife say she would
| do anything violent unless went to work gave
| her $50 out my 81 earnings; in the length OF
no use to our families Inever told any person that
! the union men got 50 per week during the strike;
| my vile was careful woman and the best OF a
mother to ner children; she Kept them clean and
nice.
! mother being insane from hearsay.
Dr. Charles Corey, formerly connected with the
! BloOmlngdale and the Backwell's Island AsyluEs,
| testified that he had had nineteen vears eXpe-
rience in treating diseases of the mind; had seen
| the prisoner Mrs Dwyer, twice since the killing
! OF the children; l have formed decided opinion
/ upon ner case, based upon her own statement and
the testimony OF others sne narrated to me the
! tendant upon the troubles OF her con-
ditlon and ys priyyations She she had intended intended,
but was deferred from so doing, as sne remcm-
i bered that the suicide never could go to heaven,
and she was willing to be tried and hung for the
/ murder: she was and is suffering from puerperal
melancholia. superlnduced by prolonged nursing
+ and mental anxiety, and 1t also seems to have
| been hereditary; she assures me to-day that
since her Incarceration in Jail she has been
4 subject to close watching through the IN
\ nuence OF Mrs. Merrigan, who has the control OF
the matron OF the jail she said she intended to
commit suicide last night to AVOID any further
sidered, should say she Is decidedly insane, and
very dangerous person; she Is decidedly sui
Siday ncaed fea tsa, manner OF Killing her ch
BY a juror-The strike was one OF the causes Of
her insanity; had her husband continued In en-
plOyment the home wants would have been sup
Piled, and much OF the mental excitement Oh that
score would nave been obviated.
Dr. Carlos Mcdonald testified that he had had
four years. experience in asylums; Mrs. Dwyer
had told him Of her suicidal intentions; she has
to-day deusions OF sight and hearing: while kill
ing the children she understood what she was
dong. but did not realize the enOrmity OF the act
SS aSi Ser to XIII the% Was ONE Of ove
ticed wnen first spoke to her her inability to
9ey sad in he h Of ne es
Sae 0a To 'es es @ bwysr Houa to Ge ss e S 10
her own BEHALF as she is not in a
mental condition TO give any information. They
sisted in the examination and questioned the ex-
perts upon the scientific points OF their testimony.
The jury rendered the following verdict:-"We,
the jury. find that the said Margaret, james and
| Timothy Dwyer came to their deaths by blows In
ncted with an instrument known as q cooper's
driver, in the hands OF their mother. Mary Ann
Dwyer, June 2, 1874 at No. SO North Eighth street,
Brooklyn and In addition, from the evidence ad-
duced by competent medical experts, we are or
the opinion that she was insane at the time OF the
commission OF the act"
The prisoner looked about her with rather
vacant stare and did not appear to take any in
terest IN the proceedings She was committed to
tatl.
ON Monday next she will be taken before the
County Judges, who will refer the question TO a
commission composed OF Drs Corey and
Mcdonald and upon their final report as TO her
insanity she Will be sent to the State Lunat.c AS
ylum for life.
SUICIDE BY DROWNING.
On the evening Of the Attn inst. John Mccarthy,