Louisiana capitolian., 1880-05-22
CHICAGO.
TIE DEVIL AND HE'LL TURNED LOOSE
IN THE CITY OF BLOODY Shirt
MORlLS-THE BULLDOOzERS
OUTDONE s


One Of tile most brutal murders on
the Chicago criminal calendar took
place last week iu the killing of Mollie
Tobin, an estimable yoang womanf
seventeen yesrs, by her father, James
Tobin. He formerly lived in Montreal, /,
Canada, where he married, and where
tho girl meeting death at his hands last
night was born. He deserted his wife
and was not heard Of for some years
He then returned and prevailed upon
Mrs. Tobin to live with him again, the
two coming to Chicago soon after.
This was in 1870. and during these
long ten years he has been steadily
sinking lower and lower in the slums
of dissipation and worthlessness, embit-
tering the life of bis wife, who has
never ceased her endeavor to reclaim
him, and making the home OF his chill
dren mockery of the name. Such was
Tobin's temper and love of liquor that
actual want would have long ago forced
q separation of the family but for the
assistance Of widow lady by the name
of Mrs. Ann Robinson, who took up
place as boarder in the house at No. 129
North Halstead street. She is the chief
witness in last nights terrible tragedy,
which is detailed by her as follows:
Tobin came in early in the evening,
and abused bis wife so that she went
and hid. He then sent his daughter to
a store to buy cheap grip-sack, saying
that he was going away. Mollie re-
turned with large valise, but In her
fright and haste had failed to bring a
key. Her father, with o curse, tore
open the lock, and at his order she began
filling the valise with his clothing.
Later he wanted her to take the yalise
back and get her money az he had
changed his mind. The poor girl was
at a loss what to do, as the valise was
broken. Mrs. Robinson helped her ont
of her difficulty by lending her 81 to re-
fund to Tobin. and they agreed to hide
the valise. During this time Mrs.
Tobin and her little ones were crouch'ng
under q rear stairway, or hiding in
water closet, both from the wrath OF
their father and from the drenching
rain that was falling at the time. Molile
went out to find them, and fearing to
disclose their whereabouts, stood at the
foot of the stairs. Her father soon came
out and called her in, and as she entered
the house threw her violently to the
floor. She fell on her side, and he,
kneeliug upon her with both knees, be-
gan beating her in the most cruel man
ner with his fists, threatening at the
same time to fix her and kill her before
she left the spot. She pleaded in the
most heart -rending manner, and cried
for Heaven to temper him with mercy,
"a she was not able to stand his blows.
In this way, Mrs. Robinson says, the
scene lasted for nearly twenty minutes,
the daughter pleading for her life, and
the father, with curses on his lips, beat
ing it out Of her. Finally, when the
brute let her go,throush fear Of the po-
lice, for whom Mrs. Robinson was Justify
calling, Mollie staggered out OF the
house, and, with Mrs. Robinson, entered
the water closet, which had just been
vacated by Mrs. Tobin, who had gone
off in search of ia policeman. The poor
girl became very i'll while here, and said
she had certainly received deadly inju'
ries. Attempts to pacify her, so the
father would not know where she was,
proved fruitless, and in short time
froth and blood began to stream from
her modth. A neighbor, who under
stood what the trouble was, saw the girl
in the yard, and had her conveyed to
his house next door, where she expired.
Tobin remained locked in the house
and refused entrance to the family.
When DR.. Reynolds, who was called in
to attend the girl, said she was dying;
a policeman was sent for, and while he
was in the house of neighbOr, Tobin
was induced to enter it and see his
daughter, whom he was told was dead
by Mrs Tobin. The fathers grief was
then almost boundless, and he wept
over the body of his child like maniac,
and because there was some little
warmth in her body he declared her not
dead. Regarding the crime, Tobin has
this to say: He finds employment as a
boss stevedore, and worked yesterday
unloading the propeller Canada. In the
evening he brought home with him two
friends, aud while they were in the par
lor he asked his wife to 90 and get some