The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-03
A BLOODY DEED.
A Deranged Mother Kills Her Three Children
and Attempts TO Kill Her Husband.
Terrible Sequel to the Coopers' Long
Strike in Brooklyn.
The WOman's Narrative of
the Tragedy.


scene OF a bloody transaction, which caused the
most intense excitement among the people resi-
dent IN that section OF the city. The occurrence
was one Unparalleled atrocity, involving the sac
rnce OF the hives OF tree innocent infants and the
probable death IL their father. The murderess is
a Young woman, who has borne an excellent repu
talon among her neighbors for her ever apparent
maternal devotion 10 the children whose lives she
TOOK ia a moment OF frenzy or morbid Impulse
the crcums lance which led 10 the act is supposed
TO have been acute mental tribulation, superin-
duced by the refusal OF her husband to seek work
and supply the wants OF their offspring. On the
other nand, 1T would seem that, while
he entertained a due degree OF affection
for his wife and children, he was also
bound down by the claims OF his fellow
trades unionists, whom be had not the courage to
set at defiance and act independently in the inter-
est OF his family, preierrng rather that his family
should surer privatons for time than that ne
should break faith with the society. The parties
In the tragedy alluded 10 were Michael Dwyer
about forty years OF age, a cooper by trade; his
wife, Margaret Dwyer twenty-eigh years or age,
and their three children, Margaret, aged seven
years; James, aged four years. and Timothy, two
years old. Michael Dwyer, who is somewhat
prominent working member OF the coopers' union,
has been out on strike with his fellow coopers Tor
about six weeks. His wife has repeatedly urged
him, Tor the sake OF his little ones, to abandon the
society and go TO work for his old employers,
Messrs. Pratt &C., who were willing to
pay him So 50 per day. Dwyer held out
however, persistently refusing to 90 anything at
variance with the rules OF the UNION She pleaded
that the children were in want of many articles,
and, oesdes there was the rent due for the month
Of May. She was very sensitive about keeping up
her credit, being honest in every dealing, and her
inability to meet the bills which were due caused
her mep al WI chr
Alterations were frequent between the couple
consequent upon his determination not to go to
work until the society sanctioned such q proceed
ing. At an early nour yesterday morning, about
Two O'Clock Michael Dwyer returned to his apart
ments, which consisted Of part Of the second floor
OF neat three story brick teneTent house No. 35
North Eighth street, Eastern district. He had
been drinking some beer, but was not lntoxi.
Gated. He gave his vile, who had been
silently watching through the long night hours
for his coming, the pittance OF IS, which he re-
ceved from the trades union TO help TO keep BODY
and soul together. He told hts wife that the strike
had ended, and in the morning he would go to
work once more. He then laid down on tins lounge
IN the front room, and she went to bed with her
children, who slept IN dark bedroom adjoining
the apartment named. she did not sleep, so
anxious was the woman 10 obtain the earliest
copy OF morning journal TO inform herself as to
whether Michael had been telling her the truth
about the end Of the strike being at hand. She
street, purchased the desired paper. He had
told her lalsehood. The strike not
HIM of wlliully lying 10 her, ana warned
him that it would be better Tor all OF
them II he returned immediately TO work and left
the coopers union. He refused. and she con-
tinned her threats About nye minutes after SIX
owen Murray entered their apartment and begged
Michael to return to work. the wife added her
entreaties to owens friendly advice, but Dwyer
continued obstinate. When Murphy left the wife,
crazed with anger, procured cooper's hammer,
and creeping stealnily TO the head OF the lounge
where her husband lay, dealt MIN a terrible blow
on the forehead. The man sprung to his feet, but
before he could ofer resistance he received an
other crashing stroke near the base OF the skull.
He then ran shriesing out OF the apartment
and INTO the room occupied by Mrs Slavn and
she had closed the door leading into the hall. I
Mrs. Dryer resolved 10 murder her children. /
ing iron and, thus armed entered the bedroom
where the little ones were sleeping soundly Ten |
minutes later, when she lett that room Maggie,
Jenny AMI baby Tim were dead. The woman FOL
lowed Michael INTO Mrs Siavin's room, and again |
attempted to strike MIN on the head with the ham
mer and would, 1t IS believed. have Killed him out
right were 1t not for the intervention OF Mr..
Slavin, who seized the maniac woman and
wrenehed the murderous weapon from her hand. |
She then returned 20 her room, and was prepar-
ing to leave the house, intending, she says, to
give herself to the custody OF the police when
the officers MADE their appearance on the
SCENE OF THE BUTCHEgY.
her husband, Notwithstanding his skull frac- |
tured in two places, managed to totter down stairs
10 the sidewalk, where ne met Sergeant Fielding /
OF the Filth precinct police, who summoned Patrol
men McCue and Hynes and sent them into the !
house to arrest Mrs Dwver for assaultlno her nus
band, who, at the time, was not aware OF the XIII
ing OF their three children. The officers were hor-
rined on behoding the demonlac work which had I
been enacted but few minutes before their
arrival. The bare floor OF the room was bespat-
the side or the bed within were the nanged forms
OF the three children named.
In the midst OF her destructive work sat Mrs.
Dwyer. Her arms were crossed upon her breast /
and there was stoical expression upon her coun-
tenance. She stared at vacancy, and needed not
no IN ~ har RI I'll rim nla Av
her side were the instruments OF her bu,chery-
huge hammer and natiron-Dorh OF which were
eldest child, Maggie were found i've deep /
gashes, each bearing the imprint OF The
the SKULL A deep hole under the left ear
penetrated upward and through it oozed the
brains OF the innocent little victim. Her arms were
raised in an attitude suggestive OF an appeal for
mercy. and the lace. though battered and man.
ged beyond description, had not lost It's express
sion " Snii , beauty: Ihcky plated by the CO.
a2ulated Diood were the once handsome golden
locks, and little keepsake was stlll around her
pretty neck; ny her side lay the youngest the boy
Timothy. one fatal blow mad been administered
Tor the entlTe ieit side OF his head cut open
not cut, but crushed Inland MS brains were
scattered over me walls and ceiling. Next to him
lay tne other little victim aged Jour years. In his
case the mother seemed 10 have made up her
mind that her bloody WORK would be well done.
More than twenty crushing blows mad been dealt
him the majority OF which were, Ike the Others
innlcted upon the mead. The nose was horribly
rom us place by thin ueature, the eyes mashed
into cOnglomerate mass. and the whole express
SION ol tae lace, ana even the shape OF the head.
rendered undergraduates
Ponce surgeon Brady, who was at the station
mousse When the injured man was brought in, *
amlneo tne unfortunate man and found that he
mad sustained severe fracture OF the occipital
bone REV. Father Farley OF ST. Vincent dc
PauVs cnurch administered the last rites to
Dwyer, who was removed 10 the Eastern district
Hospital
STATEMENT OF MICHAEL pyyER
At the station house Dwyer In cnnverSation
with reporter, said f'she wanted M. IL get nm
and go 10 work, and | SAID, Wait a dav 6r twp
longer and there Will be work. The rent " ,ynat
troubled her, There was one months rent dne
We mad paid 10 up honestly the month before The +
landlord never bothered US at all, although no is 4
poor man himself The rent troubled her more
Lhan IL did me. She ALWAYS Manted Ia r,nu al nc