Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-07-30
FTOlH tIle MIslaWaha IlIIeIprIse, JuIJ I0tu'
Horrible Double Murder! !
their Bodies Dragged into their
Cabin, and the Cabin burned.
FULL PARTICULARS.

FULL PARTICULARS
One of the most horrible, sickening
and dastardly murders of which history
furnishes any record, was perpetrated in
the north western corner of this county,
on "Wednesday night, the 10Th inst, the
particulars OF which we give below:
The fearful deed was committed upon
the flrm of Peter Swank, abou; 81 miles
north of New Carlisle. The victims
were Thomas and Marie Cihanski, two
honest, quiet, hard working Polanders,
who occupied a lonely little log cabin in
an isolated swamp.
The bodies were discovered by Peter
Swank, partially consumed, and were
drawn out for examination. Invesliga
ton scented 10 show that the man had
been murdered in his bed, Ivy blows on
the head with Il hammer, axe or some
other instrument. The wife had evil
IDENTIFY attempted to escape but was fol-
lowed out and Overtaken near the potato
patch, where she was struck with a
hammer and felled TO the ground, - hcr
head making ar identation in the earth
She was then struck several more terrible
blows on the head, scattering the blood
and bruins all around the patch, after
which the body was taken by the feet
and dragged into the cabin, placed in the
center of the floor with the body of the
husband. and the cabin set on fire, with
the evident intention. upon the part OF
the murderers, tc hide ihcir crime.
As is most always the case in such af-
fairs, there were still plenty Of clues left
To show that the parties did not come to
Fthsif death by accidental fiFe. Tie lower
part of the bodies were badly burned. but
the bodies and heads were so left that the
marks of the blows were plainly disting
uishablc and in addition to this the cap
worn by Mrs. C. WAS found in the potato
CpNCitu Will Dld lS Hilb tlDl-
ted blood, showing the blows of the ham
mer. The hammer with which the deed
was Gone, Was found in the ruins, the
handle burned ont. but the iron still show
ing the traces of blood, and the face OF
which just fitted the wounds in the skulls
and the marks on the night cap.
1t was proven IN the testimony that the
parties did not own hammer of their
own. consequently it must have been
brought by the murderers. An AK he
longing on the premises was missing and
could not be found. 1t is thought by
some that the man was murdered in his
sleep with this axe. When the deed was
first discovered, the bloody cap was found
on the spot where the murdered woman
! lay, but upon the arrival of the coroner il
WAS found way out in the patch where il
seems rs if it had been thrown after day
light, but by whom, was not known. A
number of witnesses were examined, al
testifying TO the goodness and honesty o
the two victims, but no light could b,
thrown upon the perpetrators, although
there are strong suspicious. There is q
terrible excitement about the matter
throughout the county and we hope tha
strong efforts will be made to detect tn,
murderers. Hanging will be too gooC
for them if aiscnvered
Mr. and Mrs. Cihanski We're steady
honest, hard working Polanders, living
alone, as stated above their only chile
being drowned two weeks since. Mr.. c
was known to have about 5000 which hi
foolishly carried about his person, AM
which was. of course, the incentive o
this most dastardly crime.
/ The verdict of the jury was that Thorn
as and Marie Cihanski came to their dealt
by violence from the hands of some per
son or persons to the jury unknown.
Lynde Greene, Foreman; w. W
Moore. Frank Howard, VIM. Boke, Johr
Hay, Richard Demont, Jurors; A. q
Long, Coroner.