New-York tribune., 1874-06-03
4 BROOKLYN FAMILY BUTCHERED.

A WOMAN MURDERS HER THREE CHILDREN AND
NEARLY KILLS HER HUsBAND-THE C00PERs'
STRIKE THE IMMEDIATE CAUsE-POssIBLY IN
SANITY.
A few moments past o'clock yesterday
morning the people In the neighborhood OF No 80 NoIth
Eighths were startled by the report that Mary Anne
Derwire had killed hor three chIldren-Magge, James,
and Tmothy-and had fatally Injured her husband,
Lilchael Derwirc, q cooper by trade A large clowd
soon collected about the house. and there were as many
theories expressed regard to the murder as there
we're people, But tho following appear to DO the facts
Of the case:
Mrs. Derwire had talk with her husband carly IN
the morning and tried to persuade him to abandon the
coopers strike and begin work Angry words followed
his refusal and Mrs Derwire suddenly seized coopers
dr yer and gave her husband two heavy D0Ws ono on
the forehead inch long, and the other on the Dlck OF
the head about two inches fong Derwire In order to
escape third blow, rushed out OF the room into MIS-
slayIn's apartments, in the rear. and called
out, "Oh, do something for me" While Mrs
slayin was binding his head. Derwires wife
seized two Ave-pound smoothing-irons in her
own room. and going .nto bedroom where her three
children lay asleep deliberately smashed their brains
out She then hurried into Mrs slavins roem and was
on the point OF giving her husband another blow when
Mr. slayu, taking the hammer from her hand, thrust
her out OF the room and boted the door. In few
moments Derwire who bleeding profusey, insisted
on going the DOCTOR with only his shirt and draw
era on no started up North Eighth-st, where he met
Sergeant Fielding the Fifth Precinct who told him II
he could not physician to immediately TO the
station house.
The Sergeant proceeded to Dewres house. and at the
door met Mrs. DerwIre, with her bonnet on. When
asked whore her children werc she said that they were
asleep She did care she said il she had hurt her
husband for he would work. and they were going to
be turned out Of house for nOnpayment OF the
rent Leaving her in charge OF Ohcers Hyrcs ana NC
Cue Sergeant went stairs to II the children
we're injured To his astonishment he found them lying
on the bed, dead, and covered with blood
Maggie. the eldest, tage 6. was at the foot
Of the bed. There was o deep cut In tho
back OF her head and cash two inches long on her
forehead. largo pool Of blood covered the floor be-
meath head James aged 3, had cut % inches hong
on his temple and the side OF his head there was
hole three inches square, Timothy the youngest, was
also horribly battered James and Timothy were lying
close to each other the head Of the bed The walls
and ceiling the bedroom which is about 10 by feet
were spattered with blood and the Dedciothlng was
completely saturated. TINS room leads into another
hnpt iG Nv 10 feeu which Il used as Kitchen sitting
room, and bedroom for the husband and wIe In thls
room was a table with the breakfast it, There
also "A SEWN q machine, which dress which Mrs
Derwire had been making for his sister E;sy Cah the
evening before. third room contained ola trunks ana
clothing. wniie sargeant Fielding was examining mn the
in the street who holding Mrs Derwlre. Though
at first apparently COOL she soon became quite excited
standing 80 long the sidewalk she was lodged IN
the Filth Precinct Satonh0use, where she VIII remain
for several DAYS. number Of officials visited her In
tho morning, but at p. m Can't. MOglum received a
telegram from superintendent Folk to allo" no one TO
Another account of the tragedy is given by Sergeant
Haett Of the Fifth Precinct About 9 a. m, he says,
Michael Derwre setting in his room reading news
paper, when his wife Mary Anne came behind HIM and
struck HIM the head with cooper's hammer, frac-
turing his skull. He ran out OF the house and went to
the staion-house where he WAS attended by Dr. Brady
Sergeant Fielding, Officers HyDes and McCue hurried
the house, but before they arrived she had killed her
three children with smootbingiroD. When she was
brought station-hOuse she said she going
Heaven, and wanted her children there before her.
Dcwre Is cooper, and has been on n strike q long
time. This assigns the cause OF this trouble.
Mrs. Derwre is rather tall with light complexion
dark blue and brown hair She Is described hav
ing been particularly kind TO ber chidren but very re-
served retiring toward her neighbOrs In going
draw water on the lower oor she would olten take her
two children with her, carrying the youngest IN her
arms. She has q terrible temper as she told friend
last Summer. The more charitable and natural sup
position that she laboriDg under temporary in
sanity Her neighbOrS insist That she has become very
suen ugly late account OF the refusal Of her
husband to work. and that 1t was only III mt or rage
that she had committed the terrible act She In
Fatbush Hospital four years ago. but never IN an asy-
lum reported.
Michael Derwire removed from the staton-house
to the Eastern District Hospital Though the probabl
ties are that Will die he was rational all day. In the
morning he told Roundsman Travis that the cOopers
hammer was in u waterpa In Mrs. Slavin's room, and
the officer found there. At O'Clock in the afternoon
geson Of the brain. Tue bodies of the children
removed to the dead house at North First
ST.. and UniOn-ave Coroner Whitehill has summoned
jury, which will meet there this evening Their names
are follows:
Frederick Cochen, David Haight, David Furguson,
John A. Armour, Henry Beales, Peter Shute Charles
St0rrs, Albert Miller DR.. Mosey, Benz. Baker.