The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-06-15
Z An AWFUL MURDER.


Thres Little Uhildfen ISiiIsd by incl,
Mother --- Their Father Fatally
Weunded---rerrlhle Work OF Ma.
Mae. T y s'7.'-i p ltli1 81 f4ii'H
Michael Dryer, o cooper, living al
No. SO North Eighth street, Brooklyn,
=, D., with his wife and three children,
arose about o'clock, and after dress.
ing took up o morning paper to read
while his wife prepared the breakfast.
While engaged in reading his wifecame
up behind him and struck him yio-
lent blow on the head with cooper's
hammer. The blow knocked him from
the chair and fractured tho skull, but
did not deprive him OF his senses, Be-
fore abe could repeat the blow he ran
ont Of the house and hastened to the
Fifth precinct station house, where he
related tho circumstance, saying that
he thought his wife must have gone
mad. Si so
Upon inquiry, II has bean ascertained
that Mrs. Dryer was an inmate Of the
Kings County Lunatic Asylum about a
year ago, but was then supposed tohaye
been cured. Her husband was prompt
ed at the period indicated 10 have her
placed in the asylum for fear that she
might do bodily harm 10 either herself
or children. Mrs. Dryer, however,
who is only twenty.six years Of age,
has not To the casual observer the least
appearance Indicative OF lunacy. She
Is rather slight in form, and not unpre.
possessing. There is nothing in her
countenance 10 indicate q vicious or
cruel nature. In all her household ar.
engagements she has always been scru-
.pulouSly neat, taking especial pains to
keep her children tidy. She was not
addicted 10 the use Of Intoxicating
liquor. i.i
DIV, or belongs tothe Coopers' Union,
the members OF which have been on o
strike for the last five weeks. This
strike, which has entailed many depri-
yations upon tile family, led to frequent
contentious between the man and wife |;
Mrs. Dryer constantly urging her hus.
band 10 return to work. He would
doubtless have done SO had he not
feared the Union. The morning OF the
murder they arose, and Michael, sitting
down partly dressed, took up q paper
which he began to read. Adiscussion
was held ia regard TO his going to WORK,
and he said he thought the trouble
would all be settled and they would re.
sumo labor the next day.
When no supposed the matter had
been dropped, his wife came suddenly
upon him from behind and delt him two
powerful blows with his cooper's ham
MGR, iracturiug his skull front and rear,
That he was not rendered insensible
Immediately is rather remarkable, from
the nature Of the wounds. He totter.
ed out OF the house, and meeting Ser
geant Fielding, Of the First precinct,
told him what had happened. The ser
geant assisted him TO the station house,
and two officers were dispatched to the
house TO arrest Mrs. Dryer. Arriving
there the policemen were Mortified TO
find tile three children fearfully mutt
lated and weltering in blood. The bed
room, leading from the main room, was
occupied exclusively for the children,
Mr.. and Mrs. Dryer sleeping in tho
front room. The children we're sleep
ing when the maniac mother began
the murderous work, for they were
found lying in bed in their little night
dresses. The weapons used, which
were fiat irons, must have been held IN
the right and left hands, as both irons
very covered with blood and brains,
which would show that she wanted TO
make quick work.
Surgeon Brady visited the house and
examined the bodies. The head of
Maggie, tile oldest child, had been SO
pounded that there did not appear to
be a piece Of skull the size Of dollar
left rlnbroken, while the faces OF the
other two children were scarcely roc
ognizable. The blood from the heavy
blows which had been showered upon
them was spattered upon tho walls 10
the height Of the ceiling. When the
officers entered, Mrs. Dwyerwas staring
vacantly upon the work she had done,
her face and clothes covered with blood.
She was taken to the ptation.house,
where, in conversation with Captain
Woglom, she said she believed they
were better of out Of tho world, o.
they would experience no want, such o.
they had undergone OF late through
her husband idleness.