Daily Republican., 1884-07-01
MURDER.
SHOOTING A YOUNG IRISH GIRL.
WITH \ N UsKET-A DIR UNK.
EN- MANA CRIME.

A shock ing homicide occurred in the
Seventh ward, Philadelphia, Pa, on
Monday at noon, at No. 400 Henry street
near Eleventh and Lombard, the VIC
tim bt ting q young Irish girl, who has
only been few years In this country.
Her slayer, John Caldwell is a married
man, " hose wife Ia in an insane aey.
lum, and who was very drunk when he
committed the crime.
No one Witnessed the killing, and the
details are shrouded in the most impene-
trable mystery, the girl having died in
an instant and Caldwell having boen 30
intoxicated at the time that he remem-
bers nothing.
All the facts known are that Cald-
we'll, who is painter, 56 years old, and
who boards st No. 400 Henry street, in
Ia room adjoining that of the murdered
GIRL left the house early yesterday
morning, complaining that he was un-
we'll. He returned in a few hours,
greatly under the influence Of liquor.
He said to the landlady Of the house that
il he could rest for q short time ne
would feel better. He was advised to
take ride to the Park, but remarked
"Oh That would not do me any
good" After few minutes of further
cOnversation he said Where is
Mary ?"
He was informed that she was up.
stairs. The poor girl, who worked at
the laundry at No. 7O3 North Seventh
street, occupied the third story front of
the house, and, Monday being q holi-
day at the place where she was employ
cd, she was at home in her room, get
ting ready to 60 out, The young wo-
man was quiet person and very gene
rally respected. She had occupied the
third story front room, separated from
that of Cald we'll, when the latter's wife
lived with him, before she was adjudg-
ed insane and sent to An asylum.
Without . word Of reply, after he was
told that this girl was in her room,
Caldwel at once mounted the steps to
the third floor. He had been gone
perhaps Ave minutes, when an explO-
sion was heard from above, followed
instantly by piercing screams. No one
in the house had heard a word uttered.
Mrs. Mary Jane McKeon, who is the
house keeper in charge Of the place,
rushed ny stairs, where she was con-
fronted by Caldwell, who held an old
army musket in his hand, and WAS
looking wildly from his room through
the door. way into Miss Kelly's room.
Mrs. McKeon exclaimed in terror
"Have you shot Mary?' to which the
man replied; eyes, I did; and if l
had another load in the gun would
shoot you" At this the woman ran
down-stairs, and in q few minutes the
police arrived and arrested Caldwell
with the murderous weapon in his hand.
The unfortunate girl was found ly ing
dead on the floor Of her room, with a
bullet through her abdomen, which
caused almost instant death. When
taken by the police sldwell was wild
with drink and was staggering abou,
the room in an insane condition Ht
was taken to the N neteenth uistric,
lpolice station, Eighth and Lombard
streets, and as soon ~ he ~as put in {
teca m ins, . deer, lrusken s,eep.
The motive for the ctine CANNOT u
explained by any one who is acquaint
cd with either the victim OF her slayer
The woman bore perfectly goO char
/ acter. Caldwell was known to be oil
friendly terms with her, but no i'm
proper intimacy is suggested.
IL is supposed tn girl spoke sharply
to Caldwell about his drunken condl
tion, when he, In his drunken frenzy
picked up the musket and shot her
Up 10 midnight Monday night he ha(
not regained Consciousness, and although
visited by j. p. Nuttall, Esq, wht
proposes to defend him, could not tall
about the atfia r.
Caldwell when sober is industrious
but when drunk is very violent. Some
! time ago he stabbed a policeman who
atten pied to arrest him when drunk
and il said to have killed a man in
New Jersey in drunken fit seventeen
years ago, and was convicted of man
slaughter, but was subsequently par.
doned. He served on the United States
man-Of-war Wabash during the rebel
lion, has been at work at League
Island, and is member of &. A. r
Post, No. As. He is also member O
the Washington Brotherhood, having
been q member of he old Washington
Fire Engine Company. The Coroner
will hold AN inquest to-day.