The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-16
A BROOKLYN BUTCHERY.
An Insane Man Chops His Wife's Face with q
Hatchet and Ten Cuts His Own Throat
The Woman Fatally Injured CHASTITY
Particulars of the Horror.

The Sixth ward South Brooklyn. was the scene
OF terrible tragedy at an early hour yesterday
morning, and. strange though IL may appear in
this instance rum played no part in the demoniac
work. The horror consisted In murder (as the
victim will probably die) and suicide. The parties
were man and wife, Dennis and Elizabeth Delany,
people in very humble circumstances, who resided
IN two rooms on the first floor OF tenement house
NO. 3S2 HICKS street, near Congress. The couple
have resided in the domcile in question for nearly
fourteen years, ana have borne an excellent repu-
tation among their neighbors for industry and So
briefly. About half-past two O'Clock yesterday
morning the inmates of the house were startled
by the
CRIES OF POLICE HELP
ana proceeding TO the apartments occupied by the
Delanys, leading from the rear part of the hallway
found the eldest child OF Delany, a boy about ten
years old, crying bitterly and trembling with ter
ror. On looking into the room an awful scene
presented itself. On the bed just inside the door,
lay Mrs. Delany, weltering in pool of blood, her
features being broken in and unrecognizable
Distant about six feet from the bed lay the body of
the husband, Dennis Delany on his face which
was buried in pile OF quilts at the foot OF a
''shake down." or bed, on which lay three scream
Ing little children. In his right hand was bloody
razor, and his throat was found to have been
CUT FROM EAR TO EAR,
the head being almost severed from the trunk. A
hatchet, with blade about three and q half inches
III width lay by the side OF the bed, and clearly In
dlcated the weapon used by the maniac in the as
sault upon his unhappy wife. The woman was
still breathing, though but semi-cOnsciOus PATROL
precinct, were summoned, and, the ambulance
being procured the woman was conveyed to Long
~ NATURE OF THE WOUNDS.
yesterday AFTERNOON representative OF the
HERALD visited that institution, and conversed
with Dr., Atkinson, the house surgeon, upon
the tragedy. The Doctor states that the chances
OF the recovery OF Mrs. Delany are very slight.
She has nine wounds on her lace and head, which
have the appearance Of having been dealt with a
Ratchet. There Is one on the face, smashing In the
bridge OF the nose, from the left to the right sde
cutting into the bone OF the upper jaw. The bones
are badly crushed. There are also two long cuts
on the lett temple one OF which cuts into the bone.
irregular and ragged cur-whch penetrates to the
bone. There are several small cuts on the head
that she had raised her hands to defend herself
from the murderous blows they fell upod her.
She reached the hospital shortly after three O'clock
and has not been sufficiently conscious since then
to give an account OF the tragedy. Should the in
fammatlon extend to the brain DR.. Atkinson
thinks she Will die. As the writer about to re.
pair 10
THE SCENE OF THE MURDER
ne met Coroner Jones, who was journeying to
the same place. policeman and the landlord OF
the premises stood IN front of the house, and upon
recognizing the Coroner led the way to the room In
within almost beggars description In the centre
OF the floor, which was carpeted, lay the body,
with head almost severed from the trunk, and the
cotted gore beginning the agoniZed features OF
which were devoid Of clothes, save red fannei
undershirt. On the bed where the wife had been
assaulted at least pau OF blood appeared to
have been lost, so thoroughly were the pillows and
childrens bed, in the opposite corner a cradle, in
which an infant seven months old had lain asleep; ;
table, five or six chairs, bureau, covered with
nrnn a NJ e. lima YpyvNn ~
ligious pictures comprised the furniture of the
room.
My name is Patrick Ii. Dunn / am the landlord
of these premises. and have known deceased tor
fourteen years, ever since he mas been tenant of
our family He was employed q Waterman at
Woodruff h Robinson's stores, and was peace
able and sober as any man need be. The couple
had lived very happily together, never quarrelling
He was very fond OF his children and instead Of
going out IN the evenings was wont to remain at
w Mas or hs he ssoMs OF
marks of insanity so that his wife remarked
the change that had come upon him
dead Of night and saw her husband taking pistol
out OF drawer. She asked him what he was
and replaced it in the drawer. He kept his chill
dren at school, and always paid his rent. Mrs.
Deany appeared quite proud Of her husband,
and .ney lived upon terms OF affection.
The Coroner closely examined the body and
found that the deceased had cut three gashes in
his throat. The wall at the head of the bed was
despatched with blood. The eldest child, bright
boy OF ten years, comfortably clad, was ushered
into the ''chamber OF horrors" at this juncture,
and at the request OF Coroner Jones, gave his
statement OF the affair.
NARRATIVE OF THE SON.
was lying abed in over there pointing to the
shakedOwn), when was awoke by a noise like the
crack OF an axe. looked over toward the bed ana
saw my father standing with Ratchet in his hand
by the side OF mother. she was covered with
blood, and was asleep when laJher hit her. She
did not cry out say anything. When saw what
was going on jumped out OF bed and ran to the
door to call Tor help and police. He saw me- and
went over to the man tepece, from which he took
a razor. He did this with the razor land the little
fellow, who was standing by the side OF the corpse
at the moment, made motion with his fingers
across his Jhroat), and when looked back again
he was lying upon his face on the floor. went to
bed about eight O'Clock, and did not wake until the
noise OF
THE CRACK OF THE RATCHET
caused me to start up and cry. They had few
words about the water and about one OF the chill
dren sleeping In their bed but did not quarrel
Neither father nor mother drank. He came nome
IRON work about half past six O'Clock saturday
evening ana washed himself as usual and went 10
bed.
A policeman who was present during the writer's
visit stated that he had known Delany Tor thirteen
years. He was sober and industrious and had been
miner in England before coming TO this country.
He understood that Elizabeth Delany was his Sec
ond vile.
The Coroner empanelled jury and set down
the inquest for Friday evening the Goth INST The
remains Will be in terred by the Society of the
Mutual Alliance Of ST. Peters parish, of which de-
ceased was a member in good standing. The chill
dren have been taken care OF by the relatives OF
Mrs. Deany, and the greatest sympathy Is evinced
tor the five little orphans.