Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-02
A MYSTERIOUS VISITOR
Coroner's Inquest on the Remains of
the Woman and Child Muir
dered in Colorado.
sp. culnt1on rs to the Perp.trator and CAUSE
of tho Dssd- Interested Parties.
A Eortune-Secreta.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CoLo., May L.
jury at Msnitou to hold an inquest on
Mrs. Kearney and her seven year old
grandson, jean Hand. The only wit
ness tina. testified was Miss Nellie Ellis
worth, the youngest daughter Of Mrs.
Kaarney, and the aunt Of jean Hand.
Her testimony did not elicit anything sd-
ditionel to that already reported. She
stated that her aunt had no money or val
tables about the house, and that she die
not believe the deed was committed for
robbery.
The jury did not go Into any
thing Of family nature, aud
the Inquest was only held TO determine
the exact cause Of death. The session was
of short duration, and the j lry returned
verdict TO the effect that the deceased
came to their desth from blows with 8
hatchet in the hands of 8 party or parties
unknown.
An effort Is being made to induce the
county officers to offsr reward for the
perpetrators Of the awful deed. Who
now confronts the Officials. We're
for their money or was
there some overpoweripg motive
which induced the murderer to commit
the butchery? II money merely was the
object, why was the boy killed first? The
| house had tine appearance of having
| been ramsscksd, but it is thought
| that the old lady had but little money or
| vsluaoles In the house. Vague hints ere
| thrown out that the motive for the crime
may be found in the family itself. Be-
tween the Hands and Ksarneys there has
always been bitter feud which was the
outgrowth OF q sudden death
under suspicious circumstances in
| this city seven years sgo. It IL
stated that the boy would have come into
q fortune on reaching his majority. 1t is
certainly one OF the most peculiar crimes
ever committed In Colorado, snd brings
to light many things almost forgotten in
connection with the people. The father
OF THE MURDERED BOY
died in this city some years ago suddenly
from an overdose Of morphine, although
| 1t was believed by many that he con-
mittee suicide, and even darker suspi-
cions were entertained. His wife was
8 most beautiful woman, ana ia to-day
| studying to appear on the operstic
stage In New York. Fred Hands father
WAS immensely wealthy, aud from the day
OF bis sons death until dis own, which
| occurred about two years ago, there ex-
| listed feud between the Hsnd and Ksar-
ney families. When old man Hard died
his fortune to the murd, red
boy, but left 1t In care Of the P Philadelphia
Trust Company, and only q small allow
ance has been given Mrs. Kaarney au-
nuslly for the support Of the child.
! Now 1t appears thst at the
time of the murder there
was q third party at the house with her
and the boy. That this person, who
ever and whatever he wss, COM
mitted this crime, there cen be no
| doubt. Who was he? Is the question.
There were three plates on the table spd
their neces sary accomplishments, and
whoever the murderer is was the visitor
for whom the third plate WAS set. All
appearances indicate that this visitor
went to the house for
THE PURPOSE OF MURDER,
that he fist struck the boy blow on the
head with the Ratchet IN the house. Mrs.
Kearney rushed to the assistance of the
boy, who had gone struggling out doors,
and as see went out he pulled the door
to and it locked isself on the inside
by q spring lock. She
then rushed for safety to the stable and
the murderer made exit fromthe house by
means Of q window, and arrived at the
stable. There is every indication to
show that Mrs. Kearney closed the
door and had time to drive nail
on the inside to hold It before
the murderer CO. there snf that Ia spite of
the nail and her own efforts to hold the |
door the fellow pushed it open and Drained
her in the corIer where he had
crowded her, and thst he then |
returned to the house where the boy had |
fallen unconscious at the door and, II not |
dead, despatched him. carried him to the |
liable ed threw N into the box
as he was found. The fact !
Is evident th,s the visitor was friend OF |
toe fam ly or some one who could claim |
some intimscy with them. 1t is said that |
the fortune left the boy Is nearly $780, |
600, and that there are parties who would |
be interested in his death 70 the amount |
Of tWo-thirds OF that sum.
- -