The New York herald., 1878-05-31
A TERRIBLE TRAGEDY.

DETAILS OF THE MURDER AND SUICIDE AT
ARLINGTON, ILL.-A MAN BUTCHERS THE
WOMAN WHO sCoRNs HIM-FIENDIsH BRU-
TALLY.
Tue Chicago Tribune, May 2s, gives a revolving de-
scrp,on Of the horrible butchery recently committed
At Arlington, H., by samuel Kearncy. letter from
tho scene OF tho crime says:-
Samuel Kearney, the prime actor, born In Irc-
land and emigrated TO this country when yet boy.
Some twenty years ago ne left mere tor California and
returned six or seven years since. He was a man of
powerful muscular development, ABOUT iorty
years OF age, Ave feot ten inches height
weight $50 pounds, with q forbidding. sinister,
sandy complcx xon, peculiarly small brown eyes,
and Of an exceed,nrly ouarresou,e disposition H,s
victim, Mrs Elizabeth sheahan, nee Culienbine, was
born near Ottawa, Canada. and came 10 this place
with her parents when quite young. She Is said 10
have very progressing young girl, tuIl of
life. laughter anu mirth. She married, about seven
eight years ago, one Mr. Shcahan, from whom she
separated about u year after, finding that he
follow since which time she has resided
n,s ~ sb sSous ys since wncn
rpcned INTO inatuation on his part and seemed not
10 be altogether uniavorably recoved by her sll up
10 a short time ago. when u GOODNESS, growing into
Indifference her part, SO vsi6y offended him taat
he became Jealous OF her and exceedingly morose.
Last saturday evening they were seen In town to-
gether and, although he IN the habit OF boarding
with her family when OF employ ment, he was
forbidden by her to sleep In tho noase that night
This was II is supposed, In consequences
ing to get rid Of him. THIS treatment seems 10 have
con nrmcd his resolution 10 have revenge Ho re.
the house sunday, and, after dinner With
the family and converting as freely and friendly as
usual he busicd himself for portion OF tho after
with writing two letters in his pocket memoran.
DUN book, addressed TO his victim aud her fatner.
Attcr writing he went into the town Tor walk re-
turning about haipss five O'Clock and gong directly
up stas Ii appears he found hcr dressing 10 go out
for walk shortly alter scream was heard, fol-
her with butcher kn,ie, Inil,c,ing one or more
severe wounds, as much blood was found up
stars She, Deing ono OF the mos. muscular women 10
tho county, and, finding herself assacd, PROBABLY
grappled with him and threw him on the noor and
! then rushed do~n stairs crying "Murderl" Two
shots we're nrcd at ner wnile descending Her iather
hearing ana repor, rushed TO her assistance
and, on opening the stair door, Dcncid his daughter
balhed blood, while her assassin was hodine her
bac. by the nair proddiug and cutting her with
knife On seeing The Old mau he Immediately let 20
OF his victm ana nrcd at him, lnnc,ing wound IN
the hip which Will not prove dangerous Tho
daughter, taking Advantage oil the momcntary re-
lease rushed past her father crying out ION. iathe
am murdcredin Shc had. however, scarcely reacnea
the porch when the assassin, icaring as u ~src
his victim would ,pc him, seemed 10 rcdouble mis-
enraged ligcr drew Ter Iiic's blood oy scverng the
csrod artery Inc victim reecd and fe from the porch
TO me grass plat oentah Win hsr iace 70 ne
her hair, raised her head with one nani, while no
passed the butcner knife forward under tho neck anu
all but severed the head IRON tho body. the iather
| and mother we're witnesses oil this d,abolicai
butcbory, but, ing parayzed by fear aud po"cress
IRON age, were unable 20 stop the bloody work.
The old lady, however. tried TO push HIM on, but he
dkrcgardcd her unt he plIsned his work then,
sprngBg upon her drew his pistol and fred at her,
lie bullet er.z,ng signify tho back OF The
barner tncn coming he nrcd al him but missod That
gentleman did NOT wait tor second shot The CON
s,aole was next come up, but, bong uDarmcd and
seeing pistol pointed at HIM, rctrcaed Tor ms revolt
yer. Kcarncy then wont TO tue back Of the house,
where he tried to stab tmse out, the kniio COM ng
against the bone. did not succeed. He next ats
TEN pied cut throat with II, but iaied Ho then
came back 10 the percn, and, sitting down, drew
razor from his pocket succcoued quickly IN cutting
the left carotid vein ana wiDdpipe, lana PACK
on the porch and expired IN a lew moments,
WITHIN a lev yards OF his vicm. Much vi the
letter to her IS wholly unnt for publication IL
was marked by coarseness ana low vulgarty, winch
is said to nave been characteristic of the man. He
accused her OF squanderibR all his earnings Tor the
last ave ycart, return she bad gouc back on''
him. He said his love was so great no valued her
moro than worlds. He spoke Of killing her, her ss.
ter Mrs. Boucher, her daughter and DR.. nathorn "
they came in his way, and then Kill himself IN tho
letter TO the father he SAID bo was gong 10 XIII LID,
as he called her, aud then bimstI. Wnile ne banned
the actous OF the father somewhat he said ne woui
iDJuro HIN. lie also stated IN that letter that her
going back him tho cause oi his dctermna;ion
| 10 kil her. Mrs. Sheahaa Was well liked ana much
respected by her a,quanances ana the letters ieit
with he obJeci Of sisndering her have no weight.
The house OF mourning crowded WIN friends from
all parts country, while her murdcrcrs remains
lie Just be died. with eyes and gashod throat
common box IN the calaboosc. have Just heard
that the murdercr been spirited away. Tne resi-
| dents at large strongly demonstrated asaiuss y"
! burial In tho cemetery. -.