Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-06-05
A 2ARAisLA DoMEsrIo TRAGEDY.
A Maniac Mother KiTls Her Five
ChIIdren mud MerAeIr.

ALBANY, N. T., May 30.- Christopher
recently, engaged at the West Albany Central
railroad shops He had wife and five chill
dren when he left his house at 8 O'Clock last
eyening-his wife Caroline, aged 80 his chill
dren-Mattle, aged 8 years; Henry, aged Z
Andre, aged 8 johnnie, aged 8, and Willie,
the baby, aged months. When Christopher
left the house the baby was sitting i'll his
mothers lap growing, and all the other
children were playing about the kitchen.
little before III o'clock the father returned.
AS usual he entered by the front door and
passed through the hall into the kitchen. The
swinging lamp which lighted the room was
turned low, and he saw nothing of his wife
or any Of his children. The bed room door,
which opens into the kitchen, was closed. He
opened 1t and Ill his broken English he called
to his eldest child, Matte Matte Where's
mutter No one answered. Turning, he
passed into the front hall and, ascending tho
stairs raped the door OF Mrs. Margaret
Miller widow, aged TO, who rented the
| attic. Mrs. Miller, where's mine frau ~ he
| queried. She replied that she did not know.
lie then returned to the kitchen, and, step
| ping into the bed room, he CROPPED about the
| bed until his hand came LII contact with the
wet led clothes, and, withdrawing it quickly,
| he held his hand up to the light aud saw
| that 1t was bloody. In terror he dashed out
| through the front door, screaming,
Ihe alarm spread quickly and the police
| were soon at hand Schrelier then supposed
that his wife and whole family had been
killed, and ON returning to the house, With
| the nelgh6ors and police, the light was
turned up. Then II partial view OF the
| tragedy stood revealed. ln one corner Of
| the kitchen stood the cradle. Over the top
| OF ii was thrown piece of pink tarlatail,
| Az officer turned this back, and there lay the
| infant with Ills throat cut and his head hang
ing to the body by the merest shred of skin,
In the kitchen bed room lay Henry and
Fannie and johnnie, each child With Its throat
cut from ear to ear. The bed clothes were
twisted and soaked with blood. Henry, the
eldest mad evidently struggled desperately,
but all had been attacked while asleep. The
mother was missing with the eldest child and
the terrible tragedy was clearly the mothers
work.
Officers were dispatched in various drec
tions to find her, and an hour later her re
mains were found on the New York Contra
railroad track, not far from the house. Whili
the officers were viewing the dreadful sight d
her remains by the aid Of lanterns they wert
startled by a child's voice near them. SIX fee
away, lying near the outside rail- Matti,
raised her head partly up.
Please, mister take me home, I'm 81
cold An officer picked her up in his arms
and then he SAW that part of her left arm wa
J missing and her left foot cut oil, She said
II couldn't get away from my ma, she pnllot
me on to the track. When the engine cam
| tried to get away, and then 1t struck me.
The poor child was taken to st. Peter
, hospital and placed under the influence of al
opiate. She was too much exhausted Il
undergo an operation and died this afternoon
Meanwhile the remains OF tho manla
mother had been gathered up and taken bacl
/ to,the house. They were but q mass of pulp
, as probably two trains had passed over then
before they were found. She had carried ant
dragged Matte to the railroad track ant
then sitting between the rails she held th'
struggling child III her lap and awaited TIT
coming OF the first train. MattIes body wa
taken TO the house at 4.30, and in the parlol
are now laid in boxes the Six bodies, com
prising nearly AN entire family.
The only cause given for the woman,
sudden insanity IL that she had lost her hus
bands bank book the day previous and tina
when he learned of the loss, he became yer!
angry and struck her. lie then left til,
house to consult friend about getting tn,
, money ont of the bank. On Als way lie me
his daughter Louisa by the first wife, WIN
was about to cali at his house. She sald tina
, sac remained at the house over an hour In
, mother put all the children but Matte to be,
! While She was there. Shu then told Louls
her trouble about the bauk book and tn
o quarrel. Louisa says she WAS intensely ex
= cited wheli she left ner, at about O'clock
The weapon with which the deed had bee
committed was discovered this moruln
, under the bed reeklng with blood. 1t was
razor which Schrefer had made from an ol
lille,