Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-06-25
The HOly0ke Tragedy.

The following are the details OF one Of the most
shocking tragedies we have read for long time
John Kemmler a German living In South IIol-
yoke, shot his three children--Anne, aged six
years, Ludmlla four years, and Amy, one year
Saturday afternoon because he was unable to
support them. lie has been out Of work since
February, when he went TO Colorado, but recently
returned. and had been warned out OF tenement
OF the Germana mills, where he lived, because
there was no longer work in the mill. About two
o'clock he sent his wife on an GRAND, called his
oldest child into the house. and tried TO poison
her with cyanide Of potassium, but she threw up
the dose. Kemmer then took the second child
into the front bedroom, and shot her through the
head, back Of the ear, with thrty-two-calibre
fve-shooter. lie then took Annie to a rear bed
room and shot her in a like manner, and left her
on the floor, covered with blood The youngest
girl laid on the bed and he shot her also behind
the ear, the flash burning the pillow.
The murderer is an intelligent, wel-informed
German, who has lived In Holyoke about seven
years. lie has always been sober and industrious,
and, though he has at times acted very queerly,
he was never considered otherwise than an " odd
genius" Till within few months, he has had
money in the savings banks, both at Northamp-
ton and Holyoke. He has at different times
drawn ont his money and talked of buying a
farm, and then would afterward deposit il again.
About the LIST Of March he drew out all the money
he had in both savings banks, and, after paying
what debts he owed, had about $40 left with
which he started for the Black Hills. About
three weeks ago he came back, and since that
time has done nothing lie has not, so far as
kuown triad IN adj hal aon
possessed with the idea that he could not work
any more, and was unable to support his family,
and he had had a constant impression that his
little girls would grow up and go to the bad, -
as he expressed 1t. Acting on this thought, he
resolved some time ago. before he returned from
the Black Hills, he says, to kill his three children
Us the only way to save their souls. Ills wife has
been afraid Of him, and has feared that he would
carry out some OF his threats he has made against
her and the children, but seems to have been
taken off her guard. lie says that he had fixed
upon Saturday az the day on which the children
must die, and two or three days ago bought some
| cyanide Of potassium to poison them lie appar-
emily watched his opportunity to have the chill.
| dren alone, and this afternoon sent his wife up
town to buy hat for the youngest After she
had gone he called the children in from the
street, where they were playing, telling them that
| they were to be washed and dressed, and then he
would take them up street and get them some
candy. After getting them in the house he at.
| tempted to administer the poison to them, but as
they would not take 1t he deliberately shot them
| lie then wrote letter in German to one Of hi.
neghbors, telling what he had done, and limiting
at suicide, and closed by saying that his wife
knew nothing about it. Carrying the bleeding
body of little Annie into the room where tn,
others were murdered he laid it on tine bed beside
the baby leaving the eldest on the floor in a poo
OF blood. He then went out, locking the door
and entered lager beer saloon near by, where
he told what he had done and asked for glass .
beer Here he was arrested, taken to the station
house and put under guard.
While in his cell he talked freely of what h,
had done and repeatedly asked the bystanders Il
they did not think he did right He said that he
| would not have come back from the Black Hill,
had he not determined to kill the children. Ill
wanted to free his wife so that she could supper
herself while he was away. He said that his wifi,
had been obliged to lock the children in the hous
and go out washing to support them. He said HI
loved his children very much, and could not thinl
of their growing up without schooling and with
out good clothes to wear. At one time he stopped
and, looking down to the floor, muttered, al
isn't right; it isn't right!' While he talkin,
an officer came in and told him one OF the chill
dren was alive. At this he jumped at the grate'
door like Gagged tiger and shouted, " Let me out
Let me go and kill herl don't want HERR paint
When the office told him thar the child woulC
soon die, he quoted down and said, ooh, it i
all right, them The agony Of the mother wa
heartrending, and it is believed that the shocl
will drive her insane. The children will be bureC
at the expense of the city.