The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-06-15
doubly deserving your prosperity Hap
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Sonth I"
APPALLING CRIME.
A Mother POisOns Her Four Children
and HOrselG.

Domestic diff .ullies in poor Germsn fami-
ily OF Chicago eliminated in blood curdling
tragedy. Mary Syeboldt, aged IS years, wife Of
Casper seyboldt, . baker, and residing at 81
Fnncll street, murdered her four children and
then committed suicide. The 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 5 c'c.ock in the
morning, Casper Seybold arrived home after
working all night at bakery, and was met at
the door by his wife, She WAS dressed in .
new chemsc trimmed with lace and blue
ribbon, purchased especially for the awful oc-
cason. She acted strangely, and coul ! scarcely
stand.
..Come in, Casper, come in, she said, wav-
ing her hand, "and see our little children.
They are all dead-all our four little children
are dead gone to heaven, Casper. See how
pretty they are. Every one got nice flowers for
the angels"
For 4 moment the husband was stunned, and
thought his wife crazy. He hurried to the bed
room, and there . strange sight met his horri-
fed ewes. Laid out, o. for burial, were the four
children-Matilda, aged II; Anton, aged q;
Annie. aged years and months, and the
were dres ed in white, trimmed with blue rib
bons, hair ncely smoothed and tied with blue
ribbons and in theirihands bouquets Of fresh
flowers. All were stone dead except Matilda,
aud she was just breathing. Mrs. Syeboldt fol-
lowed her husband into the room 30 full OF
death, and said: 'Yes, sent them oil to
heaven, because God wanted them"
Casper Syeboldt was stupefed. His lips
moved but no sound came. He at last recov-
cred sufficiently to realize the awful deed, aud
then hastened across the street and summoned
Mr. Martin, grocer. That gentleman hastily
procured the services II . physician, but he
could do nothing for the dying girl. Matilda.
Attention was then turned to Mrs. SyebOldt,
who was in conyusions. She managed to tell
the physic an that she gave the poison to her
children first, laid them out, and then prepared
herself for death, taking the remnant Of ,
large dose OF slrychn,ne. She died IN great
agony shortly after O'Clock, and was laid out
beside her children.
Tie motives OF the woman in this silent,
Lloodless destruction Of her children and sell
may be- partly Cleaned from the following notes
AMI bis IT writing found among the effects Of
the family They are by the oldest diughter
Of II. The resignation shown by the writer IL
remarkable:
II wish to all my playmates better and .
happier time than had, 80 good-by to you all,
for you all are welcome to the place where
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 playmate:
i. Mary Murphy: Please tell Lizzie Martin
[probably the daughter OF the landlord Of the
house, 81 FlnnelL Minnie Often and Lizzie
Reymouli that have forgotten their dispute
ana forgive them. gncss they will feel sorry
for 1t. May they think Of me AS their friend.
'.TIIIY SYEBoLDT."
Other notes read as follows:
..DeM Papa: Forgive MI, We have to leave
you. Mamma thought it MAS the best We could
do. am now in the better land, where we all
hive in freedom. Your daughter, MATILDA
:. Ikdr Papa: Please bury us 4 cent at Wun-
der's cemetery, that We may all be buried to-
gelher. That's al request OF yon. Ny knife
and money il for your present, ana is in the
c,llar-box. Buy for Anton, Anne amt self
flowers from the money which have saved. 1t
il mine. The knife is yolr-.'
:. For My MURPHY: viii tail you the story
Of cur IL, ulic. NJ mother was always sick,
you know, and thought Of dying often, and
thought how II she was dead how we would be
treated and so thought best for all Of Us to die
at once, and bought something to kill us. The
baby first, Annie seconl, Ioay third, anl aft-
er. We did not suffer mu.h, and now We are
all ont OF trouble"
..Rosey Norris: Take the book that I've
Ii the History OF the United States. Take it to
room 5, to George Caproni 1t is on the lower
shelf OF the closet
s.This is for Mary and Nell Murphy, my two
dear paymates. / wish you happier and bet
ter time than had. Good-by. You are all
welcome"
Two or three OF tho slips containing por-
tons OF the above were written in German
characters. the remainder in English.