The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-05-06
A MOTHERS DESPERATION.
She Binds her Child to Herself with
Cords and Finds yEatery Grave.
From the Hannible (Mo.) Clipper.


This morning about 9 o'clock the city
was startled by the news that the bodies
of a woman and child had been found in
Bear Greek, at the foot of Fifth street,
opposite the Badger State lumber yard.
The Clipper reporter fastened to the
spot and found that the terrible news
too true, for there, floating on the water
with the back of the baby and portion
of the clothing visible, was the body of
woman. At the edge OF the water was
stake driven in the ground, to which
cord was attached, and it was evident
that the other end was attached to the
| corpse or corpses. A few persons by this
time had collected at the spot, and
short distance back was little boy
weeping violently, In company with
Elder Challener, of the Christian Church,
who was endeavoring to console him.
This little boy, about II years of age,
was named William Irwin, and it was
his mother and only sister, Lottie,
about years of age, who were sleeping
their last sleep in the cold and muddy
waters of Bear Greek. Willie said that
his mother, Mrs. q. l.. Irwin, in com
pany with his little sister Lottie, left
home about o'clock last night, and he
asked his mother where she was going.
The only answer she made was that she
would be back soon, requesting him to
stay at home until she returned. The
body of the child had not yet been seen,
but there seemed to be a settled con-
viction with all present that it had shar-
ed the fate of its mother. Mrs Irwin
or the little girl did not return home
during the night, and, that fact being
reported to the neighbors, suspicious
were aroused, and this morning, a few
minutes before o'clock, Messrs. 7. S.
Hager and James Munson discovered
woman's tracks going to the water at
this point. They saw the rope attached
to the stake, which at first appeared to
the rope, the body of the woman at
once fioated to the surface.
Several hundred persons had now
gathered at the edge of the water, wait
ing eagerly for further developments.
Coroner Dick appeared with jury the
rope was drawn in, and then the horri-
BILE fact was revealed that the mother
had become the excutioner of her child,
for there in her arms, the two bodies
bound securely together by the rope,
the cheek of the little girl resting
against that of her mother, were the
two bodies, purple, swollen, and cold In
death. The water here was but little
over 4 feet Deep The binding of the
bodies together, and attaching the rope
to the stake showed will and deliberate
ness of purpose by the mother In this
desperate deed truly remarkable.
Mrs. Irwin lived on the corner of
Eighth and Church steets, where she
had previously kept boarding house.
She was about 40 years of age. Fifteen
years ago she was married to Byron
Irwin, and for time they lived in this
city, and afterward went to Moberly,
Mo-, where, three years ago, her hus-
band died. She came in possession OF
sum of money for which her husbands
life was insured, and came back to this
city. Some time last summer she en-
gagged herself to marry Henry Towson,
who now lives in Cedar City, Galloway
County, and for that purpose, in Nov
ember last, went to Arkansas, where
Towson then was, and we are told she
found him sick and In such circun1-
stances as to render marriage impractical
BILE. In about ten days she returned to |
the CITY. and since that time has been
very respondent, gloomy at times, and |
her mind seemed unbalanced In certain
measure. The fact that she had expend- |
ed considerable money IS going to Ar |
kansas. and had more or less involved |
her property here, seemed to continual
" prey upon her mind, and to thus cause |
is undoubtedly attributable the taking |
of her life and that of her child. Ihe |
little girl. Lottie, was about 5 years OF |
age. and is said to have been a bright, |
intelligent child.
Willie, the broken-hearted little boy,
who has been so suddenly, and In such |
terrible manner, deprived of mother
and sister, and left alone in the world, Is
kindly taken care of by Elder Challener. |