Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1888-08-31
BRUTAL ASSAULT ON A WIFE.
A Youthful HuSband Causes a Great
SensatiOn in East Boston.

The residents of East Boston, Mass, have
not yet forgotten the sensation caused two
years ago by the marriage of James Jerrior,
French Canadian aged 35 years, with Han
nah Mack, widow aged 73, who owned the
small brick house and lot of land at 43 Por-
ter street. A still greater sensation was
caused when the fact became known that
jerrior in fit of drunken frenzy, had
knocked his aged helpmate to the flour,
jumped upon her, kicked her in the head, and
inflicted such other serious injuries that the
physicians who examined her Immediately
pronounced her case a hopeless one.
The mismated couple led a very unhappy
life and their quarrels were frequently re-
marked. Jerrior was addicted to the use of
liquor and possessed morose and savage
temperament Many time the neighbors
have been awakened at midnight, or at ear
ly hours of the morning, by the piercing
scr, ans OF the wife, expecting every minute
| that she would be murdered. They all said:
HE wants to get her out of the way as
quick as possible for tire property"
lhey were thus not very much surprised to
hear that Jerrior, who had come home to
dinuer in an intoxicated condition, was
abusing his helpmate The old lady had pre-
pared him a nicely roasted dish. but he
cursed her because the food was not corned
beef and cabbage. AS his wife did not ap-
pear, he searched the house for her, and
finally ascertained that she was in tenants
rooms. He dashed upon her. and after floor
ing her, crushed in her breast and stomach
with his heavy boots. and kicked her so
violently at the base of the skull that a fatal
fracture was inflicted.
When the officers arrived they found the
brutal husband standing in his shirt sleeves
| over the unconscious form of his bleeding
wife. When the patrolman seized him by the
arm with the intention of putting the twis-
ters upon him, he made desperate resis-
tance. In his drunken frenzy he exclaimed;
81 intend to do with her as Id-n please but
the man was securely bandcuffed and taken
TO the station.
Meanwhile messengers were sent for physi-
cians and DR.. McDevitt was the first to re-
spond. The old woman was unconscious,
and was bleeding from the mouth, nose and
ears. The physician saw that her case was
serious one, and after applying such treat
ment as was practicable, ordered her re-
moval to the Massachusetts general hospital,
whittier she was taken in the police ambu-
lance. No hope was given of her recovery.
When locked up, Jerrior was fearfully ex-
cited by the rum he had imbibed and his
naturally furious temper. Mrs White, in
whose basement the assault took place, was
arrested in order that she might be detained
as witness. She was the only person who
saw Jerrior commit the brutal assault
1t is said that Jerrior once enlisted in the
United States marines, and deserted. His
duties as a common laborer called him fire.
quently to the wharves, and once, taking ad-
vantage Of a favorable opportunity he stole
valuable quantity of junk from vessel
He was arrested and fined $50 and costs.
During the past eight or ten years he has
been arrested a number of times, principally
for drunkenness and assault and battery.
He was a widower when he married the old
lady Mack