The Portland daily press., 1888-03-14
KILLED HIS CHILDREN.
Darius Warren, the Wife Murderer,
Commits a Second Crime.
Placed Under Arrest, He Shoots His
Two Little Girls
And Then Terminates His Own Mis-.
cradle Existence,
With the Pistol Concealed Under
His Coat Sleeve.
The Three Shots Fired in Twenty
Seconds.


AQRle M. NdIItu, db DCubOus VIZ ouAANsJ
night, under suspicious circumstances which
was fully reported in today's PRESS, culmin-
ated tonight in one of the most shocking
tradgedies which ever occurred in New Eng
land. Warren, the husband, on being arrest
ed tonight shot himself dead after killing
both of his children, thus committing triple
murder and suicide.
This morning, at IL O'Clock, party con-
sisting of County Attorney Carleton. Coron-
er Carver, Attorne Waldron. and Doctors
Thayer and Hill proceeded to Somerset Mills
by train, arriving there at about l2S0 p. NJ
Thence they walked across the river to the
residence of the Warrens, getting there at
o'clock. A photographer from Waterviile
accompanied the party and he made photo
graphs of the body. Following this, the
physicians proceeded to make a careiui anu
thorough autopsy of the body,which was tor-
ribly bruised, especially On the arms ana
face While the examination was in progress
another jury was impanelled which met at
the school house near by large number OF
people being in attendance. Several wit
nesses were examined. The post mortem
required some four or five hours to complete
il and it was decided from the nature OF the
injuries that they were sufficient to cause
death. There was no fracture OF the skull,
but there had evidently been blows upon the
head sufficiently heavy to prove fatal to this
weak, frail woman.
During the afternoon Warren stood about
in the kitchen in the custody of his keeper,
with his head cast down and saying but
few words. But little did anyone suppose
that he had in contemplation the terrible
deed which followed. About s o'clock this
evening he was informed of the result OF the
autopsy and the officers prese arrested INN
for murder, manacling his hands IN front
with handouts. His two children, Annie,
aged eight, and Cora, aged three, both girls,
were in one of the chambers OF the house,
the latter having been brought home after
being carried away on Monday morning.
he at once requested that he might see them
before he was carried away. An officer ac-
companied him to the room where the chill
dren were. In twinkling Warren pulled
% calibre revolver out from his coat sleeve,
and aiming at the older girls forehead, shot
her dead through the brain. The little three
year old was back to him and he shot her In
the back of the head. She was alive at last
accounts but will die. He then aimed the
revolver at his own breast and shot himself
dead through the heart, thus sweeping from
existence an entire family. 1t was horrl-
BILE deed and as soon as it was noised about
was the cause of great excitement in the
neighborhood and throng OF people sur
founded the house. Warren was no doubt
impeled to commit this second murder ana
suicide because of his first crime Wnen ne
saw that he was to be branded as murderer
bv the examination, he probably acted lup-
on resolve made in the afternoon 10 de-
stroy himself and children. He must nave
been skilled in the use OF a revolver, 1or
with his manacled hands he was but ~ sec
on6s in doing the shooting. coroner carver
deemed a further inquest unnecessary. con,
stable Reed is in charge Of the bodies ana
house tonight, and the officers and physlc-
ians retured to Wateryille by special train.
The tale of that terrible Sunday night VIII
never be told 1t was forever hnsned a!uh. by the
girl appeared at the door Of the nearest
neighbor's at twenty minutes of five. O'Clock,
on Monday morning, and, knocking, ex.
claimed in faint voice, Let me In Let
me n I'm freezlngP she Ns was asKed s.4oih wnas
very sick; father says she can't live hall an
hour. and wants you to go for the doctor.
About o'clock the little one went to an
other neighbOr's and reported tnat ner motn-
er was dead, and wanted some one to go ana
lay her out. The first person to arrive, MRS.
Withee, found Mrs. Warren on the bed In q
little room adjoining the kitchen: The. Ded
clothes were all removed and the furniture
was scattered about as If there had been a
struggle There were locks OF Mrs. war
rents hair upon the floor, and there was
small fire burning briskly upon the fioor IN
front of the stove, and it is generally belley-
ed that Warren intended to burn up the
house to cover his crime. 1t is the general
opjnion that, while in par0xysm OF rage ne
beat the life out OF his poor, consumptlye
wife, and afterwards invented the story that
she died of fit.
Warren has brother, Joe, who with his
wife has been at the house since Monday
morning. Mrs. Warren's brother and sister
also came today. The Warrens formerly
lived in Manchester, adjoining this city, ana
once their house caught fire and several
passers by rushed in and put 1t out. IheIe .
were evidences at the time that Warren start
ed tine Are himself The scene OF the crime
is ON the river road, in Benton, just opposite
Somerset Mills, The house is two story
one and sets facing the road on the SIDE next
the river from which it is distant about three
rods. 1t is located on a side hill which extends
to the river. A stable and wo0dshed clap
boarded and painted adjoin it. By the road
side opposite the house Is little red shop
where Warren made his tinware. The lnte-
rior of the house was dirty and III clutter
ed condition. Warren was 80 years OIL age
of medium size and dark complexion, ana
wore a dark beard cut rather close ana pony
ed. His appearance was slouch and he had
q hang-dog look lie Is SAID 10 nave Deeh
very passionate man.