The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-25
DESTROYED BY RUM.

Oflccr Davis, Of tho Nineteenth precinct was
called into the tenement house No 800 East Forty
sixth street between twelve and O'Clock ycster-
day morning by persons living the floor with q
family nam Cd Murphy, consisting OF Maurice his wife
Mary and three children. All day "Wednesday tho
children had been crying, while nothing had boon
seen Of either Of the parents. The officer went to
the apartments of the Murphys, which consist
of two rooms, kitchen and dark bedroom on the
second hoor and had to burst In the door gain I'D.
mittance. Once inside sad spectacle met hts gaze
In tho dark bedroom, stretched what was once a
straw mattress. lay Mrs. Murphy, her head hanging
the Stats of the bed while across her lay
husband Maurice, stupidity drunk. The oicor turned
the womaus toward him, lhted her head, and to
his horror discovered that she corpse. Her
and neck were almost black as though She mad been
sunocaled. How she came TO her death was ystcry
while no information could be gathered from her
band, whose senses were completely parayzcd ny n
toxicaIing drink
In the next room wero throe little children hud-
died together in corner, near tho stove, IN which
there fire, and tho slight garments with which
they clad barely suiced to keep them from
freezing. They wore Joseph aged seven years; Mel
lie, aged three years, and an infant, nine months old
Murphy was taken TO the station house, tho Coroner
notified ana also The Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty 10 Children. Before judge Otterbourg in the
Fily-seventh street Police Court, yesterday, Murphy
held III 1000 bail 10 answer a charge OF cru.
city to children Tho cause OF his wile's death will
be Investigated by the Coroner.
The reporter called at the house In East Forty sixth
street yesterday and found the rooms formerly occu
pied by the Murphys not only very scantly furnished
but ned with most Accountable stencil. IL was evi.
dent from the general appearance OF things that the
family had at one time been toleraoly comfortable,
but that everything that could be pawned had been
pledged TO obtain money TO procure liquor. The peo-
pie IN the house say that they were very quiet
couple, though the husband occasionally drank
deeply. Mrs. Murphy had been addicted 10 drink,
but mad been temperate Tor some time until
last week. Tho last that was Of her
alive was on Tuesday night, whom she en-
tered her apartments very much intoxicated. Miss
Ellen Fay, who lives In the house. heard The children
crying early Wednesday morning, went in, and seeing
Mrs. Murphy lying on the bed as she thought, in a
drunken sleep, made a hre ana procured some bread
and coffee Tor tho little ones At THIS timo Maurice
Murphy was sitting at tho table stupioy drunk. Tho
eldest child bright boy, said his father had pawned
all his clothes, as we'll as bis httlo slsier's,
for thirty cents and bought bottle OF
brandy for the money thus obtained. Maurice
Murphy, according TO his own sIatemcnt has been
working in the Manhattan Gas Works, at Twenty first
and East RIVER during tho past three his,
ana earned from 81 TO 81 20 day, all of which he
had spent Tor Yesterday he was just recovering
IRON late dcbauch could hardly be brought 10
realize thai his wife was dead. HIS brother holds u
high position In oiths pubic SCHOOLS Of the Nine
tcenth ward.