The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-05-03
MELANCHOLY TRAGEDY.

A Mother and Daughter Take Leave
of the World Together-A Singular
Affair.
A most incomprehensible double sui
eide, or murder and suicide, occurred in
Cincinnati, the following report of which
we CLEAN from the papers of that city
Late one afternoon woman apparently
about 30 years of age, accompanied by a
girl Of 16, applied at the Farmers Hotel,
a little hostelry where marketmen are &C
customed to stop, for room for the
night. They had no baggage except a
little carpet-sack, and the proprietor de-
manded pay in advance. The elder of
the women paid the money, and regis
tered as Sarah Dill and May Dill, Indian
apols. They went out in the evening,
but returned at o'clock, saying they
were very much fatigued with travel, and
did not want to be called early. They
retired about half-past o'clock. What
transpired then will never be known. No
one overheard any conversation or out
cry indicating Violence. At late hour
the next morning, when their door was
found to be still locked, the chamber
maid looked through the key-hole and
saw both women lying on the bed. They
had not even taken off their shoes. The
room was opened, and the younger was
found to be quite dead. The elder was
unconscious, but alive, and was taken to
the hospital, where she died at 2 o'clock.
From two letters in their possession it
was found that they had not come from
T,,1I Oh 10774 1on
dence of family in Cincinnati, where
they had been employed. They were
mother and daughter, and had been mem
bers of a Shaker settlement near the
city since the death of Mr.. Dill, who
was killed during the war. Recently
the daughter, who was Is, and who has
had her mind poisoned by reading
trashy novels, became dissatisfied with
the quiet life of the village and deter
mined to come to the city. Her mother,
finding it impossible to restrain the
girl, and fearing to trust her alone, came
with her. Some weeks ago, through
the employment bureau of the Woman's
Christian Association, they obtained en-
plOyment together in private family.
May, the daughter, read novels and dis
liked her work, and in ten days they left
their place to seek another where May
would have less to do. Mrs. Dill found
place for herself and obtained permits
sion for May to stay with her until she
could get work. But it was the Same
story. The girl was hayward and fret
full, and the mother was so anxious to re-
turn to the quiet village that they finally
agreed upon some course of action that
cannot be known. Whether the mother
determined to end the existence of both,
or whether they united in that purpose,
cannot be known. The girl showed no
signs Of melancholy, while the mother
seemed depressed. She left her place
suddenly, and, on the day Of the tragedy,
the lady Of the house received letter
from her, bidding her good-by, and tell
ing her to give her effects to the Shakers,
who would call for them, and saying
that she would soon hear Of their where
abouts. The theory that the mother
poisoned the girl, and then took poison
herself, is sustained by the fact that the
girl died several hours before her
mother. A bottle labeled morphine was
found in their room.