Morning journal and courier., 1881-10-31
A Terrible Tragedy.

Michael Early, of WalIingford, Found Dead in Pool of BIood--His Daug hter Makes the DiscOvery--The NefShbors Aroused--A Jury of Inquest Summoned Frank Carroll Supposed to be the Murderer.
 On last Saturday afternoon horrible mur- der was committed in Wa llingford, which has caused widespread commotion among that generally peaceable community. Mi chael Early, who was day laborer and wid- over, lived alone with his daughter Maggie
 she working in the button shop, and together
 they gained comfortable livelihood. Mag gie returned from her days labors on Satur-
 day evening, as usual, reaching her home about half-past o'clock. On entering the house she was mortified to find the dead body of her father lying on the floor in a pool of blood while all about were evidences of a fearful struggle between the dead father and the murderer. The half crazed daughter ran to the nearest neighbors and gave the alarm and the neighborhood was quickly in an up
 roar. A nasty investigation revealed the fact that the deceased and one Frank Carroll had been seen together during the day, and that they had been engaged in Q drunken brawl. It was thought that Carroll went home with Early and that they thus engaged in fight ! which resulted in the latter's death When the body of Early was examined it was found that one of his thumbs was bitten, there were three stabs in the throat, one of which sev- cred the jugular vein; there was stab in side of each leg, and his head was badly bruised.
 T17cfi ToKi md ho caused a jury of inquest to be summoned as follows James Redman, (foreman,) Josiah Lane, Charles Norton, E. M. Judd, Miles Callahan, Dr. McGaughy, Thomas Cavanagh, c. N. Barber. Charles E. Smith, J. J. White, B. Curran and Thomas Pagman. The jury viewed the body and then adjourned until Sunday afternoon at o'clock to hear testi mony. Attorney l.. M. Hubbard was select ed to question the witnesses.
 The first witness was Maggie Early, the daughter of the deceased. She testified that
 she came home about half-p past o'clock on Saturday, and on entering her home she struck match and lighted lamp. The first object that met her view was her father lying upon the floor in a pool of blood, and in her fright she ran out of the house and aroused the neighbors. Mrs. Sullivan and Mrs. Mitchell responded to her call, and found the dead body of her fa- ther lying upon the kitchen floor. He lay
 upon his side his face toward the north, and
 he was cold and stiff. In the kitchen were pools of blood, also in the hall, the stairs
 were bespattered with blood, and blood spots
 were on an axe that stood on the stairs
 Bunches of human hair were found on the
 stairs. and in the kitchen on the edge of
 1-fk ko1a 1xryoo o1c .
 hair. There were also bloody finger marks
 on the wall Witness also testified that
 there was butcher knife used in the family
 for cutting bread that is missing. Her father
 was in the habit of keeping money
 in the house, seldom exceeding $40,
 She stated also that Mrs. Michael Purcell had
 told her that she saw Frank Carroll coming
 home with her father in the afternoon. Also
 that about 3:45 she saw short. thick set
 man who had on black hat peering into the
 window of Early's house. She also said that
 James Geddy said that he saw her father go.
 ing home, and he told Geddy he was up at
 Early about o'clock. She said that Car
 rolf owed her father $3 for cabbages and $1
 for the use of team tha he broke the
 harness and her father was very mad about it.
 The next witness called was Frank Carroll
 who is the suspected murderer. When he
 was called to the stand he was very stubborn
 and reluctant to testify. In reply to ques-
 tions he said he thought he was
 about fifty years of age His
 hair is slightly gray, his weight
 is about 145 to 150 pounds. He said he lived
 about half milo from Early. He hired 8
 horse of him and paid for it, but had not paid
 for the cabbage he bought of him. He met
 Early on Saturday morning at the circus
 grounds and after leaving them they went
 into James Kennedy's place and drank glass
 of beer together. Then they went to William
 w. Luby's restaurant, but did not drink any
 thing. Then he went with Early to his Gar
 Iy's) house, which was about :45 in the fore noon Looked at some corn stalks that he proposed to buy of Early and then went into the house and had dinner with him, which was made up of bread and butter and cold water About2:1O he leftEarly, bidding him good bye, and they parted friends.
 In explanation of two bruises which Ea rly had over the left eye and discoloration of