St. Paul daily globe., 1890-12-25
THREE FATAL SHOTS.
An Early Christmas Morning
Tragedy, Which Will Re-
suit in Three Deaths.
Silas Mickles Shoots Dead His
Adopted Daughter, EN-
ma MeCloud.
He Then MoPtally Wounds His
Wife With Revolver and
Razor,
And Completes His Work by
Cutting Short His Own
Existence.

mas morning, of all others in the year
TO be chUStn for the perpetratiOn of
ghastly crime, the hand of the murderer
has done its awful work. Emma Me-
Cloud lies dead at the Chestnut street
mOrgue. Near her on slab is
the body of Ter slayer, Silas MickleS.
The third victim, Mrs. MickleS, is al the
city hospital. She is shot in the aldo
men and her throat is cut. She will
die. Silas Mickles, the man now dead,
is responsible for the crime. lie first
shot Emma McClOud, WI o ran scream
Ing from the house and fell dead
on the pavement outside. The man
then turned the murderOus weapon ON
his wife and shot her as described. after
wards cutting her throat to insure
death. He then retired TO an inner
room opening from that in which the
first shots had been fired, and, lying
Flat on His Back
on the floor, placed SS-caliber revolver
to his right ear and blew out his own
brains. The frightful tragedy was en-
acled at 1910 this morning. The
house in which it occurred Is
-twO-story frame building. No. 70
West Tenth street. The family
consisted of the murderer, Silas
Mickles, a colOred man employed in
hauling ashes about the city; his wife.
also cOlOred. woman about fOrty-6ve
years of age, and their adopt
ed daughter. Emma McCloud.
handsome mullatto girl aged
seventeen. The first intimatiOn
received by the police of the affair was
sent Id by Police Officer Newell, who
was on the beat. He was attracted to
the spot by the screams of the wounded
girl as she ran from the house. The
shots were SO muffied from having been
fred inside the house as to be
Scarcely Audible
short distance away. The officer hur
Tird to the spot and found the young
girl lying near lamp post. Her body
lay half on and half off the sidewalk.
Her eyes were wide open. but glazed in
death. There was evidently no hope
for her life. Almost before the
breath was out of the dead woman's
body. Mrs. Mickles came running from
the house. She was screaming wildly.
BloUd tiowed in a dark stream from
fearful wound In her neck. and
she fell TO the pavement crying
that she was shot. Officer Newell hailed
o hack and conveyed the wounded
woman to the police station. After a
hasty examination by Dr. Baker she
was taken 10 the city hospital. An ex-
animation of her injuries proved that
they were OF character which would
probably
Result i'm Her Death.
The roons in which the triple tragedy
occurred are two small apartments on
are In the rear of the building,
and are reached by side
door. The shot which killed
Hiss MeCloud was fired In the
Ioem nearest the street. The young
woman ram out instantly and, reaching
the street, fell dead. Then, without
moving from where he stood, the
murderer fired again at his
wife. Satisfied that death would
ensue in her ease, he opened the
door to an inner apartment and took his
Own life as described. The body was
found lying back down. A loaded 3S-
caliber revolver was held In the right
hand, and another of smaller caliber lay
Oh the breast,
Fully Cooked
and ready for use if the other failed. A
puUl of blood covered the floor and sat-
urated the clothing of the murderer.
He was stone dead. Mrs. Mickles was
seen by representative of the
GLOBE before she was taken to
the hospital. She seemed to be
iD dying condition, but essayed in
voice choking with the blood that
welled from her lips at every word
TO tell the story of the crime.
Mickles. she said. was her hus-
band. lie was of quar-
Telsnme disposition and inclined to jeai-
DuSy, but there had been no recent dis
putes. Yesterday he was IN Mime
apOlls all day, and returned at 8 o'clock
In the evening. Tie seemed in very good
Sprits.and she thought Il little in liquor.
Having a Good Time
and he replied that he had been enjoy
Ing himself. He removed his shoes and
sat IN a chair 10y the stove. saying
nothing OF QuarrelsOme character
until about $3.50. when he began 10 up-
braid her tor matters In connec-
ton with the household. Hot
words passed between them, and
she quarrel continued until shortly after
IL O'clock, when the young adopted
daughter of the couple returned from
Christmas celebration at Masonic
ball. Finding her foster mother the
object of Mickles' abuse, she
interceded for her. Mickles then turned
his wrath upon her, accused her of be-
ing loose character, and swOre she
should not live in his house If she
wanted TO be stopping out all
night to dances. The girl retorted. and
like a flash Mickles pulled a revolver
from his pocket and fired. She died
within half a minute from the sound of
the report. Andrew Molineux, col
ored man who was seen at the house
After the Murder,
stated that he had known Mickles for
some time. but knew of no reason for
the commission of tile crime. lie had
bad speaking acquaintance with Mick
les, but the latter had never told him of
bis family affairs. There seems TO be
foundation for a rumor circulated soon