The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-07-22
CONFESSED 10 FIVE MURDERS
AN ABANDONED UOMiN'S ALLEGED
DEd7UBED DECLARATION.

Confcssinr That She Killed Her Husband.
Frank Hancock. and Four Children in
1ssO-A Crime That Had Becn Credited
TO the Husband, Who Was Supposed
to Have Committed Suicide.
AUSTIN, Pa. July 21.-A startling story comes
from one Of the lumber camps Mt Kettle Creek,
this county the truth OF which interested par
ties have started out to investigate In April,
1889. the people OF all this region wero hor-
riilcd by the news that Frank Hancock, lum-
herman living ut Blue Run. near the Iioga
and Potter county line. had murdered four OF
his children and committed suicide by hang
ing himself In his house. The news was made
known By Hancock's wife, who had been nh
sent from home on the night OF the tragedy
Her story was that she had como home and
found the four children lying dead. some in
the house and some in tho yard They had
boon stabbed and friEhtfully mutilated With a
big butcher knife. The oldest child was III
years Old. fifth child. u babe. was asleep and
uninjured in pool OF blood at the side OF one
of Its murdered sisters. A note. apparently In
the handwriting oil her husband. was found in
the house. in which no confessed the terrible
crime, giving rs his reason his desire to rid his
wife Of himself aud the children because OF her
conduct
At the Coroncr's inquest 1t was develorod
that Hancock was jealous OF his vile with
good cause ind that he had frequently up
braided Ler for her unfaithfulness. 1t was
also hown that the day before tho butchery
at Blue Run Mrs. Hancock aud John Coag!ey.
with whom her husband hal frequently
charged her with being intimate. were nearly
all day together in tho woods. The fact was
brought out also that tho chiroEraphy of Mrs
Hancock rcscmbled in a remarkable manner
that of her husband. Many who knew Frank
Hancock vol refused to believe that be could
nHys e9sa is him fy o but tbs
to the ellec, that lie had murdered his children
and himself was rendered. Not long after
ward two aprons said to belong to Mrs. Han
cock. were found undernn Clubhouse near me
66i ieeooi. u '''' AA''"'.' "'' "'i' ''N~lN "'
Alter the Coroner's Investigation was oyer.
WorS IN he wSe here o made
no secret o. tho fact that he was In constant
isar mat deiettyes were i%owins nun n ahn
caused him the greatest unensiness. This
feeling grew OH him, and he finally Disappeared
seSn ns neosn also Blue Run
after the Investigation was over. She was soon
lumber amps: living with this and that rough
lumberman. 1t Is no. known what dispositioni
its b, othe and sisters on that bloody night at
the Blue Run cabin.
lev dnns @so tn 5pm be eoS
seat OF Potter county. with tho Startling story
that Mrs Hancock had died in camp. and mat
before dying she had made confe sion which
not only &c lu!,ted hor husband uf the murder
Of the children and himself. hut which declares
that she herself and two OF her paramours.
whom she named. but whose Names are not
| made PUBLIC. murdered her husband and tho
children. The confession is to the effect that
she had become alarmed ut the threa's her
husband had made against her because OF her
persistent unlGth tutess. nnr ,eGEed on by ths
two men, she resolved. with their aid. TO PUT
Hancock out. Of the way. The plan was to
to q iafter. and place a note In. his pocket as
If written by him elf. stating that he had COM
mitted suicide. and why.
Mrs. Hancock succeeded In chloroiorming
her husband while be was asleep in bed. and
the two men. who were waiting tor tho sigma;
entered the house provided wit y rope. aud
were hanging Hancock when the oldest child
awoss roso un in ted and te eel the
herself seized n. butcher knife and tried to
| Brighten tho child into silence. and falling she
STABBED it to death The other four chi,i en-.
| being wnkened hy the n Use. were al butchered
| rs tho first had been. TO silence them. The
babc, being too young to be dangerous to
| tho murderess was not harmed. a new note
| then had to be written to include The murder
Of the children as we'll Us the su eide. and Mrs.
| Hancock. according o tho alleged comics ion.
wrote it. surrounded by the victims OF the hor-
ribe nights work. She and the TWO men then
| went away. and tho next day she made the an.
F; nouncement OF the irightful discovery she had
made on coming home.
dprsport yesterday. anu he says that the story.
| horrible as ii Is ID Generally believed there.
! Further DEVELOPMENTS are expected in few
days,