Morning journal and courier., 1886-07-28
News by Telegraph FROM ALL QUARTERS. IA VICTIM OF REMORSE The Tragedy of Starvation
 Alley. IA WOMAN'S AWFUL MISTAKE. Harrington Declines to be
 Premier. A IMPORTANT TAX SUIT. More Trouble For ParsOm
 Downs.
A IMPORTANT TAX SUIT.
More Trouble For ParsOn
 Downs.

tfon Alley Told 1n Graphic Style by
 the Principal,
 LAWRENCE, Mass, July 27.-The most bru l tai murder ever committed in this city was
 brought to light shortly after midnight
 when it was reported at the station house
 that W illiam R. OConnor had confessed the
 murder of his mistress, woman forty years old, named Hannah B. Conway. The history l of the awful crime for which O'Connor is !, l now prisoner is peculiar and pathetic
 one. O'Connor is old and gray. When
 young he came from Ireland and in 1861
 went to the front and did gallant service for his adopted country. For several years he
 lived at the poorhouse here and for six
 months has been maintaining himself at
 129 Essex street, a locality known as Star
 vation Alley" At the poor farm was a wo-
 man named Hannah Conway, who for years | had peram bulated the streets with her hus-
 band, street piper named Langyal. The piping and climate wore out Langyals lungs,
 and he fell 8 victim to the New England pest,
 consumption. There it was that Hannah
 went to the poorhouse, became intimate with | O'Connor and when he left she followed. At
 his poor and poverty stricken quarters in the
 alley they lived together, notwithstanding ! William had wife and three children. The wife, however, left him years ago because of his penchant for other women. On January 29, O'Connor alleges, he discovered that | Hannah was not true to him. He further 1 alleges that certain fish peddler was party ! to it, that he heard her aver that she pre- ! ferred the peddler. This maddened him. Furious with rage he drove her from his | house. Since then she has not lived with him regularly, but has visited him periodi- cally. The last time she crossed his threshold was on Saturday night never to come out alive. He had just drawn his State aid and received her rather cold ly. She was exceedingly affectionate and avowed her intention of remaining over night. He referred to her previous conduct. | She promised to never slight him again. He l thereupon sent out for liquor, of which both l partook. Outwardly he appeared satisfied l with her apology, but inwardly the old mem l ory of his wrong was ranking. Sunday | morning dawned and the pair arose.
 Again O'Connor referred to the January | episode. According to his own story he was l determined that blood, and blood | alone, should appease his wrath The storm l soon broke. Suddenly and without warning | he seized the unfortunate woman, stripped | off her clothes and pushed her into an -ad
 joining shed. She fell face downward upon the earthen floor. Then seizing axe he dealt her terrific blow upon the head, l smashing the skull "When l gave her the first blow," he said to the marshal, 'T was afraid she'd recover and so I gave her two more. That finished | her and then dug hole in the floor and buried her." During the day two three companions of O'Connor called and they had some beer together. He seemed all right and they departed, never dreaming that ,s,, 4a, 1e xu,I,a 41ayy fboI body of O'Connor's mistress horribly muti- lated and disfgured. Sunday night after the men had departed. OConnor went to the shed. took the body out and being erture he had excavated he cut off both legs. Then wrapping the trunk and it's members in the mating of tea chest he threw them into the excavation and covered them over with some loose earth. Then he went to bed.
 Monday morning he went down town and made several purchases. During the after noon his conscience must have troubled him, | for he began to give away his effects. He met 8 companion on the street and said huskily: 1T have some four that I don't need. My State aid has been stopped. in the shed and Pm going to give myself up" Towards midnight this fact was reported to City Marshal O'Sullivan, who, accompanied by several officers, went to O'Connor's house. They burst open the door and found the murderer in bed. He lazily stretched himself out, opened his eyes and said: 'tHello, marshal. Did you come after mel" ''Yes," replied the officer, q want you Jockey. Tell me what you have been doing" 70, I'll go with you; never fear" he replied. | "Where's Hannahg' asked the marshal. "Well, she's where she'll do no harm. You'll find what's left of her there in the woodshed" The officers pushed open the door, which was partly ajar, and looked in. Nothing visible except lot of wood split and quantity of coal. "We po do nor, who was dressed, gave a fendish chuckle. ''You won't find her unless you dig for her," was the reply. Procuring spade the officers began to dig. Just at that mo ment a little clock in the bedroom struck the hour of one. f'Dig away, me lad-a- bucks; you'll have her soon," sang out O'Connor: And so it was. Soon the earth was cleared away and they dragged the body of the victim into the bedroom of her mur- sost dSssT naeaos as calmly an5 mnv ysar t6e fsI told ye if ye dug for her that ye'd find her." Through the darkness of the sur roundings the body taken into another chamber, while the officers hunted after Un- dertaker Breen. O'Connor taken to the police station and locked up. He would say nothing except that he had killed her and expected to be hanged for it. While on the way to the station the marshal told one of his = men to .yt go back ok any" ''Where are theye' he was asked. q burned them up before sewed her up in the bag," he answered. tHer leg is scorch- ed'' Ibid you try to burn her bodys" was asked. ''That you won't know till go to the high court. When get there I'll tell 'sHow is it there is no blood on the foora" .tOh," said the prisoner with sardonic smile, 'I washed it all up and yed never know if I did not tell about it. 'Were you not afraid to sleep so near the bodys" he was asked "Indeed l wasn't l slept sound enough till ye came in on top of me-" he said eoldly. he pleaded guilty "You had better plead not guilty" said the judge, "What do want to do that fora I killed her and I'm guilty and that's all about it. I do not want to get out of this. I want you to hang me and do not care how soon." Upon this the court remandsd him to jail to await trial l without bail He will be tried at the October term: In Jail o'cennor said to reporter: fore my God on that issue." He grasped with palsied hands the gratings of cell No. 10 and stared out at Marshal OSullivan. "Yes," he continued, 'tI killed Hannah and I meant to and want to be hung for it. plead guilty and I want to give my life for hers. That's according to the faith of our church" "What is?' interrupted the marshal interroga- lively. sDo you not know," said O'Conner, | looking ixedly at the officer, 'that it is written in the Old Testament, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tootha' If you do not can tell you it is, and when do go before my God he will forgive me for it." Then he stopped for moment, his frame shivered, his eyes dilated and fierce look came into his face. 'tshe ought to have killed me-" he said. 'sShe ought to have killed me. I killed her and she ought to have killed me, but she did not" he continued, ''and so through the majesty of the law Kill my. self. .no "But you should not talk like this if you expect to escape punishment at an," said visitor. sI do not want to escape; I want to die. I want to follow her. She wronged me- I avenged myself She's gone before and I'll follow" Turning toward the reporter he exclaimed: s'I wasn't drunk. I | knew what was doing. was sober and I
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