Omaha daily bee., 1889-02-26
CLASPED IN HER ARMS.
Mrs. McCnulley Asphyxiates Herself
and Two Children.

CHICAGO, Feb. 25.-[S Special Telegram to
TAE BEE. The last act of a sensational
drama took place here to-day.
On December "a, 1887 reporter for a
Chicago morning paper, called at the West
Side residence of William McCaulley to ask
an interview with that gentleman concerning
a divorce suit which Mrs. McCaulley had
just fled The reporters ring was answered
by Mrs. McCaulley herself. She said her
husband was at home, and the caller was
conducted to the sitting room, where Mr..
McCaulley received the visitor, and to ascer
tain his business. The two retired
to adjoining ) room @and the
interview was in progress when the
door was suddenly burst open by the wife.
Before either of the two men were aware of
her purpose, she fired a revolver point blank
at her husband. The shot reached vital
part, and the victim DIED without word.
Mrs. McCaulley's frenzy continued for hours
after the terrible deed. She raveo like u
maniac, and gloated over her bloody act, eX-
pressing no remorse, yet protesting her love
for HIM she had slain. 1t was his iptidelity
which had goaded her to the awful tragedy,
his alleged intimacy with her own sister. On
the Tuesday following the tragedy the
coroner sat upon the case After hear
ing the testimony and listening to the
prisoners story the jury discharged her,
declaring her insane. But later an attempt
was made to get the grand jury to take up
the case, McCaulley's mother coming on to
urge an indictment. This attempt failed, as
did an attempt to influence the disposition OF
the dead mans estate.
This morning it was discovered that dur
ing the night Mrs. McCaulley had killed her
self and her two children. She was found in
her room in bed firmly holding in her teeth
a rubber tube, one end of which was at
tGched to the still flowing gas jet. The tube
ran from the jet under the bed clothes,
which were drawn over the faces of Mrs.
McCaulley and the children. Asphyxiation
was seen at glance to be the cause of their
death.
Her children, boy three years and six
months, and girl one year and six months
of age, were clasped in each arm. The story
of the tragedy was told by Mr.. Furness, at
| whose house Mrs. McGaulley lived.
MRS. McCaulley had been in the habit of
coming down to breakfast on time" he said,
land when at 10 O'Clock this morning she
had not appeared my wife naturally sup
posed that something was wrong. Accord
lngly she went up stairs and called Mrs.
McCaulley. No answer came, and smelling
gas my wife supposed that something was
wrong. She burst open the door and found
the mother and children dead, lying
| singularly peaceful expression on
the faces of the three. The bed clothing was
| pulled up over their faces, and Mrs. Nc.
Caulley had probably taken this precaution
| to prevent the failure of her plans, AS soon
as saw the situation l notified the police
Had Mrs. McCauliey inJimated that she
intended to commit suicide!n
mo, not to my knowledge. Ever since She
killed her husband she had been of retiring
melancholy disposition. OF late she had
been almost querulous and pecyish. But
didn't suspect any thing of this sort. She
seemed much wrapped up in her children"
Mrs, McCaulley has a brother in Brooklyn
named Joseph Mackin.