The daily gazette., 1878-04-06

THEN KILLS HER-THE
DAUGHTERS STORY
FULL DETAILS OF
THE HoRRID
EVENT.
Last evening,b between 0 and 10 o. clock
one of the most horrible murders ever
perpetrated in this county was commit
ted in the little village of Browntown,
Christlana Hundred, just beyond the
tue city limits. The particulars of the
dreadful affair as glened by tue GAZETTE
reporters are as follows
William Thomas, blacksmith, en-
ployed i'll the Harlan IL Hollingsworlb
Cos ship yard, resided with his wife
and three daughters in two-story brick
house on Cedar street, below MARYLAND
Avenue in Browntown. For several
years past both Thomas and his wife
have been addicted TO heavy drinking,
and as a consequence their domestic re-
lations have been attended with frequent
alterations, in many of which the wife
being the smaller and weaker of the two
received severe beatings. These f9mlly
disturbances were known by the neigh
bors, but as their interference only re-
suited in bringing Thomas abuse upon
their heads, they soon dessted, and
learned 10 hear of them without surprise
or comment.
Last night however, these family dis
turbances resulted in
DELIBERATE MURDER,
the details of which are shocking and
bloody. The first intimation received
by the neighbors of the affair was about
$3.50 O'Clock when Thomas eldest
daughter, girl of II years, ran across
the street, to the residence of Mr.. John
Hawk, and told the inmates that her
mother had been murdered by her father
Mr.. Hawk Immediately went out aud
alarmed the neighbors and notified
Officer Brickle, who proceeded to the
house and entered. On going up stairs
10 the front room,
A HORRIBLE SCENE,
was presented TO their view. The body
OF Mrs. Thomas was lying upon the
fioor near the door, with her throat hor-
flDly gashed and cut from ear to car and
the blood streaming over the carpet,
while her husband stood up near the
stove, with a cash across his throat, and
a bloody razor in his hand, and horri-
BILE expression of malignant rage upon
his countenance. Another razor also COW
cred with blood, was lying on the floor,
beside the corpse of Mrs. Thomas, and
bloody finger marks upon the walls
showed where the murdered woman had
wildly grasped for support in her mad
struggles for life.
THOMAS ARRESTED.
Thomas, from his injuries and his
halt Intoxicated, half insane, state, was
III 10 condition TO either make any state
lnent OF the affair, or to offer any resist
ance to arrest. Procuring horse and
wagon from John Damn, who keeps
grocery store ON the corner, officer Brick
le conveyed Thomas TO the City Hall
cells. where his injuries were attended to
by Drs. Ogle and Blocksom. His threat was |
cut from ear to ear,the wind pipe being
partially severed, but the wound was not |
to be Of a fatal nature. After |
receiving the necessary attention he was |
placed in chair of the upper corridor,
and his hands securely manacled.
Meanwhile Coroner proceeded to the |
scene of the murder, and had the body |
sixth and Shipley streets, after which he |
locked up the house, the children having |
taken shelter for the night at the resi-
lence OF Mr.. John Hawk, across the |
street.
THE DAUGHTERS STATEMENT.
A GAZETTE reporter, this morning, in
terviewed Nellie Thomas, the eldest
laughter, who Is the only one who can
give straight and succinct account of
.he horrid affair. She is prematurely
Did girl, or pleasant demeanor, and with
well balanced Intelligent mind, which
her peculiar position as the main stay of
/ troubled household has developed TO an
unusual extent. The other children are
Rosie, nearly six years old, and Sallie,
not quite four.
Nellie's statement was In the main as
'ollows:
During the past week, her father had
been unwell, and a portion of the time
lad been receiving the attention of Dr.
w est. Yesterday afternoon he went to
work, but came home about five o'clock |
and ate supper. He then seemed to be
n very excited condition, and was
partially under the influence of liquor
shortly afterwards, Mrs. Thomas, who
lad been away since Saturday last, came
n the house, and an alteration between
ler ana her husband at once ensued,
which continued at intervals during the
evening. Mrs. Thomas was considerably
at the time.
About o'clock they all retired to bed
Nellie, who remained up to
attend to some ironing. Shortly after 8
o'clock Nellie was also preparing to re-
iro, when she heard her parents quarrel
ng in their room, which was the second
tory front. Thomas accused his wife of
having been out with another man, which
charge she recklessly admitted, where
lpsh he slapped her in the face. He
hen dragged her into the back room and
threw her down upon the foer, at the
same time threatening to
"sMAsH HER BRAINS OUT"
with water pitcher. Nellie begged
him to desist, where-upon he took his
wife up in his arms and carried her
down stairs into the dining-room. Here
he laid her down upon the lounge, with
her head at the foot, where it struck
against the sewing machine He than