Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1882-06-21
APPALLING CRIME.
A Mother Poisons Her Four Children an
Herself.

A Mother Poisons Her Four Children and
Herself.
Domestic diff ,ulies in a poor G rmVn fami-
lily OF Chicago eliminated in a blood curdlny
tragedy. Mary syeboldt, aged IS years, wife Of
Casper Seybolit, baker, and residing at 8!
Fnnell street. murdered her four children and
then committed suicide. Tho story OF the
crime is one Of the most remarkable In tho
police annals Of Chicago and ranks with any Of
the Borgia sensations At O'clock in tho
morning, Casper Seybold arrive home after
working all night at bakery, and was met at
the door By his wife. sac was dressed in
new chemise trimmed with lace and blue
ribbon purchased especially for the awful oc-
casion. she acted strangely, and ccul scarcely
stand.
"Come in, Casper, como in" she said, wav-
ing her hand, "and see our little children.
They are ell dead-all our four little children
are desd. gone to heaven, Casper. See how
pretty theysre. Every one got nice flowers for
the angels"
For moment the husband was stunned and
thought his wife crazy. He hurried TO the bed
room, and there strange sight met his horri-
fed eyes. Laid out, rs for burial, were the four
children-MatIlda, aged IL; Anton, aged z;
Annie, aged years and months. and the
were dressed in white, trimmed with blue rib
bons, hair nicely smootbed and tied with blue
ribbons and in then, hands bouquets OF fresh
flowers. All we're stone dead except Matilda,
snd she was just breathing Mrs. Syeboldt fol-
lowed her husband into the room SO full OF
death, and said: "Yes, / sent them all to
heaven, because God wanted them"
Casper Syeboldt was stupeied His lips
moved but no sound came. He at last recov-
cred sufficiently to realize the awful deed, and
then hastened across the street and summoned
Mr. Martin. grocer. That gentleman hastily
procured the services sf a physician but he
could do nothing for the dying girl, Matilda.
Attention WAS then turned TO Mrs. Syebodt,
who was in commissions. She managed to tell
the physician that she gave the poison to her
children first, laid them out, AMI then prepared
herself for death, taking the remnant of
large dose OF strychiine. She died IN great
agony shortly after O'Clock, and was laid out
beside her children.
The motives of the woman in this silent,
bloodless destruction OF her children and self
may be partly CLEANED from the following notes
and bits sf writing found among tue effects OF
the family. They are by the oldest daughter
Of l2, The resignation shown by the writer Ii
remarkable;
81 wish TO all my playmates better and
happier time than had, so good-by to you all.
for you all are welcome TO the place where l
have gone. Remember me-
Among the papers was one containing two
verses OF the hymn beginning:
"There is happy land" etc.
Another note is addressed to q playmate:
MARY Murphy: Please tell Lizzie Martin
| Iprobably the daughter Of the landlord OF the
house, 81 FinnelL Minnie Often and Lizzie
Reymould that have forgotten their dispute
and forgive them. guess they will feel sorry
for It, May they think o me az their irleni.
.'1ILLY SYEBoLDT."
Other notes read as follows:
"Eedr Papa Forgive M, we have to leave
YOU Mamma thought It Vas the bet We could
do. am now in the better land, where We all
live in freedom. Your daughter, MATILDA"
/" Dear PAPA Please bury us d cent Mt Wnn-
ders cemetery, that we may all be buried to-
eether. That's all request OF you. My knife
and money is for your present, and is in tue
collar-box Buy for Anton, ANNE and self
flowers from the money which have saved Ii
is mine. The knife is yours"
For May Murphy: will tell you the story
Of our trouble. My mother was always sick,
you know, and thought OF dying often, and
thought how II she Was dead how We would DO
treated AMI so thought best for all OF US to tlie
at once, and bought something TO kill us. The
baby first, Annie second, Tony thrd, and aft
or We did not suffer much, aud now We are
oil out of trouble"
" Rosey Norris: Take the book that I've
brought home IRON school. II rs not mine. II
| Ii the History OF the United States. Take II to
room s, TO George Caproni 1t Is on the lower
shelf OF the closet"
"This is for Mary and Nell Murphy, my two
dear playmates. wish you happier and bet
ter time than had. Good-by. You are all
welcome"
Two or three Of the slips containing por-
lions OF the above were written in German
.h. 70 ct ara tho remainder in Enyliah