The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-30
WHEN CLOTHING STORE.
AN ILLINOIS TRAGEDY.
One Woman Brutality Murders Another, and
Then Cuts Her Own Throat.

O'FALLEN, Ill, Aug. 29.-The widowed sister
of Mr.. Van Court prominent citizen of this
place, was found dead in her garden, last night,
whose name is not given attempted to commit
suicide. The act of the woman who attempted
to commit suicide leads to the suspicion that she
committed the murder.
Later reports of the affair say that the
latter woman was found in smoke-h house on the
premises of her son-in-law John H. Lehman,
bathed in blood with her throat cut from ear to
ear, and bloody razor lying by her side. Surg
ical aid was Immediately summonded her throat
sewed up, and she was made as comfortable as
possible. There seemed to be no motive for the
dreadful deed but two hours later it was dis
covered to be the sequence of a crime still more
horrible and chastity Mrs. Cormack, highly
respectable widow, and sister of Hou
B. J. Van Court. was found lying murdered
in garden adjoining her residence half mile
east of town. Her head and face were dread
fully beaten and her clothing stained with gore
A terrible wound appeared in her breast; Gle
was found near by also a blood-stained piece of
iron kettle, and a club, both of which seemed to
have been used with terrible effect in the
tragedy. As it was known some jealousy or bad
feeling existed on the part of Mrs. Granther to-
ward Mrs Cormack, it was suspected there was
more than mere coincidence between the
murder and the attempted suicide, and on
closely questioning Mrs. Granther she confessed
to having killed Mrs. Cormack. 1t seems Mrs
Gfanthers little daughter had done chores for
Mrs. Cormack, and q dispute arose yesterday
afternoon between the women about the pay
ment Of money for the service. Bad blood
already existed, and still more angry feeling
arose, and Mrs. Granther in her passion. seized
the weapons at hand and stopped not till her
victim lay dead at her feet She then hurried
away, and in the reaction of her feelings at
tempted her own life. The account, SO far is
very indefinite. The facts will not be known be
fore to day, when an inquest will be held Three
sealed but unaddressed, letters written by
Mrs. Granther, are now in the hands of the
coroner. They will probably be read at the in
quest and it is thought that they will throw
some light upon the affair and reveal the cause
of the terrible deed.
Mrs Granther died between and 10 o'clock
last night. She confessed that she killed Mrs.
Cormack, but gave no reason for committing the
deed. It seems to be we'll known, however, that
she entertained bad feelings towards Mrs.
Cormack, growing out Of jealousy, and
that she had several times threatened to
kill her. She was woman Of forty
eight years, the wife of Thomas Granther, a coal
miner she had been divorced from two hus-
bands before marrying Granther and had lived
a very unhappy life. Mrs. Cormack was the
widowed sister of B. J. Van Court. owner and
operator of the coal mines near OFallon, and a
politician of some local note. She was
very highly esteemed lady who lived retired
life a short distance from town. It doesn't ap-
pear that she was aware that Mrs. Granther was
her enemy. John A. Lehman, son in-law Of the
suicide, says he never knew of any trouble be-
tween the women, and regard the affair as very
mysterious
The coroner's jury returned verdict that
Maria Cormack was murdered by Frederick
Granther, and that the latter committed suicide
The three letters left by the Granther woman
threw no light on the tragedy, but bear evi-
dence that the murderess was Of unsound mind