The New York herald., 1875-08-30
A SONS WICKED CRIME.
Supposed Murder of a Mother by
a Drunken Son.
FOUND DEAD IN A POOL OF BLOOD

The curse of rum added another victim yesterday to
its long list OF violent deaths and perhaps another
offering to the gallows.
poor miserable woman, living In squalid poverty
in ono OF tho wretched houses in South Fifth
avenue, the mixed abode OF whites and blacks, was
found yesterday afternoon lying dead the floor in
pool of blood IN her small and scantly furnished roo
her face bloated and backened and bearing together
with the sckenng evidence Of excessive drink marks
and bruises of violent character. How long the
ptiabe woman had been cold in death before she was
discovered be ascertaned only by conjecture
but hours have elapsed since death had set
in, as the body when found cold as ice.
The discovery made by Mrs. Walker, coored
woman, living No 1873 South Fifth avenue, who fire.
queny visited the deceased and appeared to be terms
of intimacy with her although the latter was white
woman. Shortly before O'Clock p. NJ. Mrs. Walker
called at No. 1s9 South Fifth avenue to see Mrs. Cal
aghan Ascending the dingy stairs to the top floor,
where the latter in resided Mrs Walker
raped at the door, but received response Going
inside the room the first object that met her view was
the dead body OF Mrs Caaghan lying in the middle of
the oor her arms thrown over her head and pool Of
blood ut her side. The furniture of the room which
was very meagre in quantity scattered
around in confusion Hurrying from the house,
the horr1ed called a policeman of the
Eighth precinct, to whom she impaired what
she had SEEN In few minutes Captain
Mcdonnell was on the spot Looking at the face he
unmistakabe signs of blows One side very
much discolored and swollen and the forehead were
several bruises. Tho lips Also very much swollen
The occupants of the rooms below quickly col
lected together and the Captain began investigation
with desire to ascertain what violence, If any, had
been used the deceased From them he learned that
she was much addicted to liquor and that she had fire.
quent quarres with her son, man about thirty years
OF age, named Thomas Calaghan. Some of the tenants
had heard loud words between the pair the evening
previous Kttie Callaghan daughter of the deceased
aged fourteen years. also stated that her brother had
the night before beaten her mother and herself while
he was under the influence OF drink Captain McDon-
NELL being satisfied from what he had heard
that the unnatural son had either caused
or hastesed the death of his mother, OBJ
tained full description of him and Immediately
detailed large number Of officers in citizens dress to
search for him in every direction. After lapse OF
three hours he was found by OBcer Hendricks much
intoxicated and taken to the Eighth precinct station
house where he was locked up. Coroner Croker was
then notified OF the and arrived at the place
within few hours, where he viewed the body, examn-
ing the marks and bruises, and coming to the cOncu-
sion that If not the immediate cause Of DEATH they at
least accelerated the same.
Kittie Callaghan, the daughter before mentioned,
was taken to the station house where she was held as
witness. On being nterrogated by reporter she
made the following statement
81 am fourteen years old and work in a factory We
have been living in present place some seven
months. Mother takes In washing and my brother has
not been working of late He was formerly IN the
army. He left the army last November, since which
time he has been away at intervals. My mother has
been addicted to drink AS also has been my brother.
On Saturday night, at about eight O'clock Tom
into the room where my mother and myself We're.
He very much intoxicated and they began quarrel
ling He struck her with his fist and threw her on the
floor, where she lay He has frequently abused me-
and after he had beaten mother he caught me by the
neck and tried to choke me got away and ran out
of the house came back after a while
mother was still on the floor. AT eleven O'Clock
think it was mother was up went out on the stoop
being afraid stay in the house. where remained until
six O'Clock this morning when went into Mrs Huggs
room, the second floor. Once during the night
think was about one o'clock, went up stairs and found
mother lying on the floor Her face was swollen
When came she asked me to get her some beer but
told her had no money and could not get any What
took place after that time | do not know The next
time saw her she was dead"
During the the girl wept very bitterly
The prisoner Tom CAaghan was next visited in his
CELL He is well built young man, aoove the medium
height with clean shaved face, and reddish hair When
spoken TO he had entirely recovered om the effects OF
the liquor he had been taking and appeared very dspr
tied at the death of his mother. Said he:-
81 twentyeght years old, and for eight years
and until last November soldier the Fifteenth New
York infantry, when was discharged, my term of
service ice having expired 6ednv SERVED year
York Volunteers. came into the house Saturday
night having been drinking pretty hard Ny mother
began abusing me- calling me loafer and other
and threw pitcher at my head, hitting Inc in the tenn
pie. then suppose, struck her but not violently
She intoxicated. Later in the night heard her
fall and suppose she fell down stairs her lying
on the floor early this morning, and thought she
sleeping. | cannot say what time she died"
Some hours after the occurrence Captain Mcdonnell
learned from OF the neighbors that about seven
o'clock yesterday morning Caayhan carrying
out OF the house a large Bible He after while came
back and carried away dresses, mattress and
clock. Following up this cew the Captain ascertained
that the prisoner had taken the above articles to
neighboring pawnbrokers shop, where he had pawned
them for the of three dollars. While he
gagged in removing the goods his mother was lying in
the right before his eyes dead, but 1t Is thought
that being stupid with drink he believed her asleep
visit the Of the tragedy yesterday evening
revealed a sckening sight The body lay in the posi-
tion in which it was found, guarded by policeman
Whiting for the arrival of the dead wagon from the
Morgue while crowds of whites and darkes, attracted
by curiosity lined the entries and barrcaded the door
ways. The marks of violence the dead wonans face
very prominent Whether death was caused by the
brutal assault the result OF excessive drink will
be for the Coroner to determine in the post mortem
animation, which takes place to-day
The deceased Is about nfty years old and has three
children living. Her husband has been dead eleven