The New York herald., 1878-12-16
TRAGEDY IN BOSTON.
FATAL QUARREL BETWEEN TWO DEoTHERs-IN-
LAw-oNE KILLED OUTRIGHT AND THE OTHER
FATALLY WOUNEED.


FATAL QUARREL BETWEEN TWO DEoTHERs-IN-
FATALLY woUNEEp.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
Boston. Mass Dec 15 1878.
At the West End early this morning horrible
double tragedy was enacted, the motive for which is
shrouded in deep mystery. The third floor of the
house occupied by Patrick Cain. his wife and
infant. With Cain lived his brother-n-law, Charles
Callahan On the lower hoor lived Michael McNulty.
with his wife and several children
DETAILS OF THE TRAGEDY.
The family of McNulty were awakened from their
peaceful sleep about two o'clock this morning by
scuffiing the floor above. Mr.. McNuity sprang
out Of bed just his little daughter who slept in the
attic into his chamber with a look of
horror on her face. She carried in her hand
q lighted kerosene lamp, and seeing
her father cried ont In q terred voice
that the house fire. She further
said, on becoming caliner that she awakened by
pistol shots and down into Gains kitchen, where
he CAIN and Callahan scutiing and seizing the
lamp. which stood lighted on the table, she down
stairs with it. Just as she had finished steps were
heard coming down the stairs
FLIGHT ARRESTED.
McNulty into the hall and met Cain.
who tried t.S,r,,n to run pas past hin him and ont Of
laid hold of him and pushed him into
his chamber to discover that it was Cain. who was
covered with blood. which streamed from wounds
apparently about his head and face. Laying Cain
upon the bed, McNulty at once ran for physician.
Meantime the people in the house had become
alarmed at the strange noises and proceeded TO the
tenement OF Cain to discover the Upon going
up stairs and opening the door Of Cain kitchen
they recognized Charles Callahan, lying the
floor near the centre of the room. Beside the body
while the blood flowed in perfect stream from
CHASTITY wound or cut in his throat. Then all was
confusion until the arrival OF Medical Examiner Har-
ris and Dr. Dunn, followed almost Immediately by
Sergeant Hines and two officers. The physicians
made cursory examination of Cain he lay on
immediate removal to tho Massachusotts Gen.
eral Hospital, where it was found that
he was suffering from the presence of four pistol
balls in his head and body. One shot had entered
the back side of his head. second his left cheek
third the side Of his neck, lodging in the spine; a
pic and probably penetrating the left lung. When
the officers and doctors went up stairs into Cain s
kitchen they found the body Of Callahan lying the
floor cold and stiff in death
STATEMENT OF CAIN.
Father Madden, who had been summoned, admin
istered the of extreme JUNCTION Cain be-
who had been called had some conversation with the
rapidly failing man. in which he said
I'VE have had trouble. He tCallahan) never liked
me. He opposed to our marriage and yet he has
lived with for the past two months and has also
received from me money which he has spent for
whiskcy."
SKETCH or THE COMBATANTs.
Callahan some twenty eight years Of age. slim
built and had dsspatcd appearance. For the past
fonr years he has been in bad health, his family
claiming that he consumptive. but his friends
were satisfied that his i'll health brought by
life of debauchcry His father Patrick Callahan. who
keeps grocery Brighton street. becoming
disgusted with him, it is said, turned him
out of doors some two months ago. He then went
to Chelsea where Cain and his wife were living.
and stopped with them. coming with them last
Wednesday when they moved to No. 81 Poplar street.
He is known to have liked Cain, being bitterly
opposed to his sisters marriage.
Cain is young man. some twenty-five years of age.
an iron moulder by trade and considered good
worker He has been IN the employ of the Magee
foundry at Chelsea In January Last he married q
sister Of Callahan and the fruit Of their marriage is
child He is now at the Massachusetts Hospital.
where the physicians have no hope Of his recovery
and report him Us sinking fast.