The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-09-27
An Awful TragedV.

4 most terrible tragedy occurred in
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on the
l7th inst, which threw the city into a
fever OF excl ement. A mob Of sever
al hundred people surrounded the ten
ement house No. 3 Middle street, where
the bodies of three dead persons par
TALLY attest the extent ot the crime.
Fred H. j. Helm, aged forty-tiveyears
a hard working cooper in the employ
of the Eldredge Brewing company. has
a family of three daughters, the eld-
est, Carrie, aged fifteen years, keeping
house for him. Several months ago
his wife left him, and it is report
ed that she had been unfaithfuI to
her marriage vow. Since she left town
it is reported that the girl Carrie had
become wayward, hut it cannot be
said how much truth there is in the
story. Helms troubles preyed upon
his mind until he resolved to end
them and to not only remove the
partial cause of his misfortune, but
also remove from temptation the
three female members Of his house
hold. Two OF them and the murderer
were found dead in his home, while at
the cottage hospital the third daugh-
ter was dying, with u bullet III her
neck, and at his home on State street
Charles W. Taylor, well known
hardware merchant, whose name has
been connected with that Of the Helm
woman, was under the hands Of the
surgeons with two bullet holes in his
back
The story OF the murder is as fol-
lows: Charles w. IaylOr, IL stove
dealer on Market street, while entering
his residence, corner Of State and Un-
ion streets was rushed upon by the
murderer, who fired two shots in rapid
succession at Taylor both Of which
took effect. In reply to questions h
stated that he did not know what
prompted Helm TO shoot him. Tay-
Tor is prominent in several secret So
cieties, and also III business enterpris-
cs lie is thirty five years old and
married.
After shooting Taylor, Helm hurried
to his own hOuUc, and little before 8
o'clock people living in the vicinity
were alarmed by hearing five pistol
shots fired in rapid succession. I'M
mediately thereafter Maud, the thir-
teen-year-old daughter OF Helm, was
seen running out OF the house and down
the street. She proceeded but a short
distance when she fell on the pave
ment NeighbOrs rushed to her as
sistanCe, and on asking her what was
the matter, she replied: "Father has
shot me" Her dress was then disCOv-
cred to be on fire, but it was quickly
eXtingushed. A physician soon arriv-
ed ON the scene and ordered the girl
taken to the hospital. An eXamina-
ton shows that the first shot fired en-
tered the right side ofher face, at short
range. As she started to run out of
the house, her father fired two shots
at her, one taking effect under the
shoulder, passing through her stOm-
aCh, the other passing through her hip.
The lower part Of Helms house was
the scene of
THE MURDERER : MOST HORRIBLE WORK,
and it shows evidence of u terrible
struggle. The kitchen was covered
with blood from one end to the other,
and everything was i'll great disorder.
Just outside the back door OF the
house lay two bodies. Carrie,
the oldest girl, lay with her feet to-
ward the door with her face covered
with blood, the bullet having entered
the left side of the face, passing up
ward toward the brain, death having
resulted instantly. Across her pros
trate form lay Bertha, the youngest
daughter. When found sh0 was un-
conscious, but expired i'll fifteen min
utes, the bullet that caused her death
having entered her head just behind
the left ear.
Sheriff Coffin arrived at Helm house
at SIS and afterplacing a guard about
the house detailed men TO search the
city for the heCriminaI While this search
was going on City Marshal Joy and a
force OF officers arrived at the house
and it was decided to closely examine
the chambers lest he should be in hiding
there As they entered the front cham
Der they were Mortified to aee the head
body Of Hem stretched on the floor
with a bullet through ms temple from
a revolver which lay at his side. The
crowd that had gathered about the
house were wrought to the highest
pitch and had the murderer been TAX
en- alive they would, without question,
have taken the law into their own
hands.