Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1890-09-19
DREADFUL TRAGEDY.
A Demented Father Shoots His
Three Daughters, a Msr-
chant and Himself.
Domestic Troubles and the Sin.
fulness of his Wife and
Daughter the Sup
posed Cause.
A Night of Butchery.

PORTSMOUTH, y. H., Sept. ia
most terrible tragedy occurred in
Portsmouth, tonight, aud the city l. in
fever ,f excitement. A mob Of sev-
pral hundred people surrounded the
tenement house at No, 3 Middle street
where the bodies # three dead per-
sons partially attest the ext nj of tn.
crime. Fred II. j. Helm, aged 4j
years, hard working cooper in the
employ Of the Eldredge Brewing
company, has family Of three dsugh.
tiers, the elder, Carrie, aged IL years.
keeping house for him. Several
months sgo his wife lef. him and II is
reported she had beed unfaitbful to
her marriage vow. His troubles with
his wife are said to have dated back
over several years. Since she left
town il j. reported the girl Carrie had
berame wsyward. hat il cannot be
said how much truth there IL in the
story. Hein'- troubles pieyed upon
his mind until lac resolved to end
them, and 10 not only remove n par
tia cause Of his misfortune, Int also
remove from temptation the three fe-
male members Of his nous hold. Two
Of them and the murderer lie dead In
home, while at the Cottage hopitsl
the third daughter lies dying with a
bullet In her neck. and 1T his home on
State street Charles w. Taylor, a well
known hardware merchant whose
name has been connected with that Of
the Helm woman, lies under the hands
Of surgeons with two b. llet holes IN
his hac@ The story OF the murder Is
as follows: Chsrles w. Taylor, a
stove dealer on Market street. while
entering his residence, c1rner state
and Union streets. at 7:9O tonight, was
rushed upon by murderer who fired
two shots in ranid succession at Tay.
lor, both Of which took effect. Taylor
is still alive but very low. although
able to converse with those about him.
In reply to au' tions he stated that he
does not know whs. prompted Helm
to shoot him. TAYLOR i prominent in
several secret societies. and also in
business enterprises. He is 81 yeas
old and married After shooting
Taylor, Helm hurried to his own house
and n little befo,e eight o'clock people
living in he vicinity were alarmed to
hear FIVE shot fired in rapid sncoes-
sion. hmm dia'-ly Maude. Helms.
l3-year old daughter, was seen In run
out of the house aud start DOWN the
street. She proceeded hut shoyt dis
tspce when she fell to the pavement.
Neigbhors rushed tn er assistance and
on psking her what was the matter
she rerlied: Father has shot me-"
Her dress was then discovered To he
on fire. but was quickly extinguished.
A physician soon arrived on the scene
and ordered the Girl taken to the hos
pital where she now lies in critical
condition. Examination shows that
the first shot fired entered the right
side Of her face at short range. Az
she started TO run out OF the house her
father fired two shots nj her, one taxi
ing effect under the shoulder. passing
through her stomach, the other pas
sirg through her hip. The lower part
Of Helms dwelling was the scene Of
the murderer's most horrible work
aud il shows evidence Of q terrible
struggle. The kitchen was covered
with blood from one end to the other
and everything was In great disorder.
just outside the back door of the house
lay two bodies. Carrie. the eldest
girl. lay with her feet toward the door
With her face covered with blood, the
deadly bullet having entered the LETT
side Of her face, passing upward to her
brain. death having resulted instant.
ly. Ac oss her prostrate form lay
Bertha. the youngest daughter. When
'und she WIS unconscious, but she
expired In Is minutes. the bullet that
caused her death having entered her
head Just behind the left ear. Sheriff
Cofiin arrived at Helms house at s: Is
and after placing guard about the
house, detailed men 10 search the city
| for the criminal. While this search
was going On the city marshal Joined
the force ofofiicers end arrived ut the
house and II we decided TO closely
examine the chambers lest he should
be In hiding there. Az they entered
the mont chamtsr they were horrinsd
10 sss the deed body Of Helm stretched
on the noor with bullet through his