Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-02-07
MYSTERIOUS DEATHS.

A Man And His Wife Found Dead In
Seymour-Probable Case of Murder
And Suicide.
On Thursday afternoon the dead bodies of
John Sullivan and Margaret, his wife, were
found in the bedroom of their house about
two miles north of Ansonia. Nothing about
the bodies indicated violent death. On
table in the bedroom was bottle partly
filled that was labelled alcohol. The hus-
band was in bed when found, while the
woman lay upon the floor partly disrobed, as
if about to retire. It is said by the neigh
position and easily provoked to anger. The
deceased leave children, and with the ex-
ception of the queer spells on the part of the
woman their characters were above reproach.
Mr.. Sullivan was member of the Father
Matthew T. A. B. society, and one theory,
that he might have been drinking hard, was
ended almost as quick advanced. for his
associates say that they have not known Of
his drinking glass Of liquor for years.
Coroner BollmaR was notified and went to
the scenetyesterday morning and at once be-
gam thorough investigation, being driven to
the Sullivan house by ex-Deputy Sheriff
Tucker. The body of the man had already
begun to decompose, but that of the woman
looked quite natural. There were no evil
dences of violence, although it looked as if
Sullivan died in spasm. 1t seemed to be
clearly case of poisoning, and it seemed
probable that strychnine was the drug used,
as there Was no odor of laudanum
chloroform or anything of the kind
likely to be called into requisition
in such case The closest search, how
ever, failed to reveal any poison of any kind
about the house. The conclusion at once ar
rived at by the coroner was that Sullivan had
died hours in advance of his wife. Also
that it was pretty certain that she gave him
took some herself and in such large quanti
ty that death ensued even while she was in
the act of disrobing.
From all that can be learned Mrs. Sui
ivan was intensely jealous of her husband,
although according to the testimony of all
who knew the couple it was fiction of her
brain, as he never gave her any
cause to suspect that he was unfaith
full. She had talked as if she thought
he had been untrue to her, but had never men
toned any females name in this connection
The house occupied by the couple was owned
by them, the deed being in Sullivans name.
January ~ Mrs. Sullivan, accompanied by
her niece, Maggie Donovan, called on Attor-
ney Ballou here and tried, without success, to
have her name put in the deed. 1t is said
she asserted then that her husband had been
unfaithful to her, and because the couple
had had no children he had taken up with a
younger woman, and she feared he would
eventually sell his property and run off Or
in the event of his death with his name in
the deed Mrs. Sullivan would not get all the
property.
DR.. M. G. White made post-mortem ex-
animation of the bodies and found unmistak-
able traces of poison in the stomach. The
character of the drug used will be made ap-
parent after chemical analysis. There seems
to be no doubt but that Sullivan died at
least twenty-four hours before his wife. The
double funeral will take place tomorrow.
Personal.
Mr.. Henry S. johnson, the State street
grocer. and wife leave on Tuesday next for
their trip South, sailing on the City of Au-
gusta.
General F. D. Sloat has resigned as presi-
dent and trustee of the United States Tele-
phone company of this city and disposed of
his interest in the same.
Mrs. Isaac Bull, of Wallingford, died Thurs
day evening of consumption, aged thirty eight
years.
Mr.. P. McKenna, of this city, has rendered
to the st. Francis orphan asylum an offer to
provide the main asylum building with fire
escapes at his individual expense. The offer
has been gratefully accepted. The Yale iron
works have been contracted with to furnish
the iron work.
Rev. Ira Pettibone, of Winsted has gone
on trip to central and northern New York.
Mr.. and Mrs. G. J. Camp of Winsted, &C
companied by Miss Nellie Camp and Mrs.
Florence Chamberlain Mosely of New Haven,
week After weeks sojourn at the nation
al capital they will proceed to New Orleans
for visit to the exposition.
Major E. v Preston, wife and dughter,
of Hartford, left yesterday for the Pacific
coast to remain away couple of months.
The Hon. Charles Hubbard, of Middlefeld,
received on Thursday (his seventy-sixth |
birthday his appointment by Governor Har-
rison as one of the delegates to the national |
council of agriculture to be held in New Or |
cans the 21st inst.
Charles P. Nettleton, of Shelton, took a |
irst prize at the Farmers club show in New |
York on Thursday for a white gelding Thorn |
As cat and second for the gelding cat Tom |
ME. Walter Scott's dog Snip, of Waterbury,
'ook second prize.
Frank NJ. Blair, merchant of Chicago and |
;hird son of Charles Blair. of Collinsville, |
has gone to Europe on two months trip.
DIR. J. B. Flint, dentist in Collinsville, has 4
gone on visit to the great exposition at |
New Orleans
Frank Frisbie, L. Buell. and Horace |
Johnson, of Collinsville, started Wednesday |
IN four weeks trip to New Orleans.
Walter Neal, of Plainville, has returned,
md gives glowing account of the carnival
It Montreal.
The Hartford Posts Collinsville CORE
pondent says: George R. Dickinson, of the
Yale Divinity school. supplied the Congre-
,ational pulpit last Sunday, February 1. He
$ young man of pleasing address, with
lear, distinct utterance, and an able and
raceful sermonizer.
Entertainments.
HYDE & BEHMAN'S MINISTRIES.