Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-09-18
ONE GENT.
HELMS HORRIBLE WORK.
Five Victims of His Death
Dealing Revolver.
ALL CAUSED BY AN ERRING WIFE.

Portsmouth CN. H. Cooper Kills Two
Of His Daughters, Fatally shoots Third
and the Man who Ruined His Home,
and Then Commits Suicide.
PORTSMOUTH, ". H., Sept. 1s-A terrible
tragedy was enacted in Portsmouth last
night, and the city is in fever Of excite
ment A mob Of several hundred people
surrounded the tenement house No 9 Mid
die street, where the bodies of three dead
persons partially attest the extent Of thu
crime. Frederick H. J. Helm, aged 40 years,
hard working cooper in the employ OF
the Eldredge Brewing company, has FAM
lily Of three daughters, the eldest Carrie.
aged Is years, keeping house for him. AS0N
eral months ago his wife left him, afidSt
is reported that she had been unfaithfulfc
her marriage VOWS. Since she left town il
was reported that the girl Carrie has be
come wayward
Five People Shot.
Helms troubles preyed upon his mind
until he resolved to end them, and to not
only remove the partial cause of his mis-
fortune, but also remove from temptation
his three daughters. Two Of them and the
murderer himself lie dead in his home,
while at the Cottage hospital the third
daughter lies dying with a bullet in her
neck, and at his home on State street
Charles w. Taylor, a well knowa hard
ware merchant, whose name has been con.
nected with that of the Helm woman, is in
the hands Of the surgeons with two bullet
holes in his back.
He Would Have Been Lynched.
Before the discovery Of Hein's dead body
in a closet at his house officers and citizens
were securing the city in search OF him
Had he fallen into the hands OF the mob
there is not the slightest doubt that be
would have been lynehed. The story Of
the murder is as follows:
Tho Story of the Murder.
Charles w. Taylor, stove dealer on
Market street, while entering his residence
at State and Union streets at about 7:3O last
night, was rushed upon by Helm, who fired
two shots in rapid succession, both OF
which took effect in the small of Taylor's
back. Taylors wife aud neighbors heard
the report OF the revolver, and he was taken
into the house. The physicians extracted
one ball, but were unable 10 find the other
In reply to questions Taylor said he did
not know what prompted Helm to shoot
him. Taylor is prominent in several secret
societies and also in business enterprises.
His injuries will probably prove fatal
Taylor says little about the matter, but
stories are ahoat which have reached the
ears Of his family causing them much an,
guish.
The Shooting Of Maud.
Shortly before o'clock people living in
the vicinity of Helms house were alarmed
by hearing five pistol shots fired in rapid
succession. Daniel Casey and Arthur
Walker, who were strolling along Isling-
ton street, were surprised 20 see Maud, the
| l3-year-old daughter Of Helm, come run
ming out Of the house and start down the
street. She went but short distance
when she fell on the pavement Both
men quickly ran to her assistance, and on
asking her what was the matter, she re.
| plid, Father has shot me-" Her dress
was then discovered TO be on fire, but IL
was quickly extinguished. A physician
soon arrived and ordered the girl taken To
the hospital, where she now lies in a
critical condition. An examination shows
| that the first shot fired entered the right
side Of her face, at short range AS she
| started to run out of the house her father
| fred two more shots at her, one taking
! effect under the shoulder, passing through
her stomach, the other passing through
her hip.
The Kitchen Covered with Blood.
The lower part Of Helms house was the
scene Of the murderer's most horrible
work, and IL shows evidence Of desperate
| struggle. The kitchen was covered with
| blood from one end 70 the other, and
everything was in great disorder. Just
outside the back door OF the house lay
| two bodies. Carrie, the Oldest girl, lay
with her feet tward the door with her face
covered with blood, the deadly bullet hav.
| ing entered the left side of the face, pass.
! ing upward toward the brain, death hav.
ing resulted instantaneously. Across her
| PROSTATE form lay Bertha, the youngest
daughter. When found she was uncon-
scious, and she expired in fifteen minutes,
the bullet that caused her death having
entered her head just behind the left ear
The BYurderer's Suicide.
Sheriff Coffin arrived at S:15, and after
placing a guard about the house detailed
men TO search the city for the criminal
While this search was going on City Mar.
shall Joy and force Of officers arrived al
the house, and il was decided to closely ex-
anime the chambers lest he should be hid
ing there. As they entered the front
chamber they were horrihed TO see the dead
body Of Helm stretched in the closet. A
bullet had passed through his head from
the revolver which lay by his side.
superintendent vaccarno victimixed.
| WASHINGTON, Sept ls.-Virgno Vac
carno, superintendent of silk culture, agri-
cultural department. has been victimized
to the extent Of 5000 by two of his fellow
countrymen. They represented themselves
several days ago to be rich wine merchants
of California, and the three men became
| great friends. On the pretense Of not hav-
| ing received draft from home with which
to pay the charges on a lot of wine shipped
| to them, they borrowed 5000 from Mi.
Vaccarno, since which time nothing has
| been heard of them.
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