Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-13
A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.
Attempt to Murder an Entire Family
Near Boston.

MOTHER AND ONE son DEAD AND kSoTHxR BOT
WILL pIE-srILL ANOTHER son ISyuKED-rkE
MURDERER HrNsELf MEETS DEsrH N A PEcU-
LIAR xASSER-A BELIEF THAT HE WAS cRAzY.
BosroS, July lS--A horrible tragedy was
enacted in somerville at an early hour this
morning. The victims are Mrs. Catherine
Smith, aged forty-fve, her son Thomas aged
fourteen, and the perpetrator Of the terrible
deed, August Rosenberg. while two other
children of Mrs. Smith were injured. one of
whom viii die. The murderer has been living
with Mrs. Smith for about wear as her hus-
band. but n Is the general belief that they were
not married The cause Of the tragedy In not
known, although it is stated that Rosenberg has
complained about the way he has been treated
IN money matters by the woman. The scene
OF the shooting was at the corner Of Dane
street and Dane court, Som erville. where Mrs
Smith, since the disappearance OF her husband,
carried on provision and grocery store busi-
ness
were aroused by number Of pistol shots and
the police were promptly notified The police
entered the front door and encountered
THE DEAD BODY OF THOMAS SMITH.
He had evidently been shot in the forehead
and had tried 10 reach the front door before
falling dead. The body of Mrs. Smith was
found in bed She had evidently been shot in
the right temple while aslsep. Willie, the Sec
ond son. aged twelve, was found IN a room in
the attic, shot through the body. He will prob
ably die. Augustus, another son. aged seven.
was also found in the attic. shot in the mouth,
and the physicians think his recovery possible.
The youngest and only other son. boy named
Charles. aged tve, was slightly wounded He
was in bed with his little sister Mabel, one year
younger.
After accomplishing his bloody work Rosen-
berg jumped from a window aud for some time
was thought TO have escaped. but shortly after
ward his dead body found in Dane court,
about 500 feet from the scene of the murders.
There was no wound, and from froth at the
mouth il Is supposed that he either died in a fit
or by poison. Rosenberg was the husband Of
Charles Smiths sister, who died a few years
ago. He had several children of his own living
In Bow-street court, Someryille. He went 10
1--we with Mrs. Smith shortly after the disap-
pearance Of her husband, who was generally
supposed to have committed suicide by jump
ing from Portland steamer. Rosenberg was
about forty-hve years old
WILLIE WILL SURELY DIE.
In an interview with Medical Examiner Dur
rell this morning in regard to the affair, he
says that the wounds on Willie Smith show that
the bullet entered his back and penetrated the
bowels, making death a question of only a few
days Augustus injury rs but flesh wound,
and he will recover. Both of these children
are at the hospital. IL IL the doctors opinion
that Mrs. Smith was killed instantly. bullet
entered her temple. and there Ii another wound
in the back OF the head which can't be en-
planned except by another bullet Thomas. the
fourteen-year-old boy, who was instantly
killed, was shot in the cheek. the bullet coming
out IN the back OF the neck
ROSENBERG MET HIS DEATH
in most peculiar and unintentional manner
while attempting to escape from the scene of
his fiendish work. In trying to scale fence at
the end of the lane through which he ran the
doctor thinks he fell a pile of railroad
sleepers lying beside the Fitchburg tracks and
struck his head on spike. which fractured his
skull and instantly killed him. DIR. Durell
says there Is no doubt that he was crazy The
house where the murders occurred has been
all day surrounded by crowd Of curious
people.