The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-24
From the . York Sun.

from the . L OFH sun.
AUSTIN, PA, Juln.-A startling story
comes from one o5he lumber camps at
Kettle Creek, thisounty, the truth of
which interested pses have started out to
Investigate. In All, 1899, the people of
all this region weraorrified by the news
that Frank Hancoc a lumberman living
at Blue Run, neathe Tioga and Potter
county line. hadnurdered four of his
children and counted suicide by hanging
himself in his hous The news was made
known by Hanco's wife. who had been
absent from hon on the night of the
tragedy.
Her story was tat she had gone home
and found the fos children lying dead.
some in the houselnd some in the yard.
They had been tabled and frightfully
mutilated with a lg butcher knife. The
Oldest child was 1years old. A fifth child,
babe, was asleehnd uninjured in pool
of blood at the sid of one of its murdered
sisters. A note, oparently in the hand
writing of her hUDand, was found in the
house, in which b confessed the terrible
crime, giving as Is reason his desire to rid
his wife Of himse and the children because
of he conduct.
that hancock Wis jealous of his wife with
good ;ause, and that he had frequently
upDraled aer for her unfaithfulnesss.
1t wa aso shown that the day
before the butchery at Blue Run
Mrs. HqcoEk and John Coagley, with
whom ne hsband had frequently charged
her wlthleifg intimate. were nearly all day
togethers tie woods. The fact was brought
out also bat the schirography OF Mrs.
Hancock rsembled in a remarkable manner
that of h husband. Many who knew
Frank Htcock we'll refused to believe
that he cou have committed the shocking
crime whlchis alleged note declared him
guilty or, bl on the strength of the evil
dence submled verdict to the effect that
he had murded his children and himself
was rendered Not long afterward two
aprons, said tsoelong to Mrs. Hancock, were
found under aputhouse near the scene of
the murder. ley were soaked with blood.
After the eroner'5 investigation was
over, Goa gley 1t Blue Run and came to
this place TO WOO in the saw-mills. While
here he made ndecret of the fact that he
was in constant sar that detectives were
following him, al the appearance of every
stranger IN Aust caused him the greatest
uneasiness. Thisaeling grew on him. and
he finally dlsappared suddenly, and his
whereabouts has liver been learned Mrs.
Hancock also left8lue Run after the in
vestlgatlon was oNr She was soon heard
of as an abandoneAanger on of the lumber
camps, living VIII this and that rough
lumberman. 1t isot known what DISPOSE
ton she made Of Il babe that escaped the
fate Of its brothers I'D sisters on that bloody
night at the Blue I'm cabin.
few days agoa messenger from the
Kettle Creek camp Ant to Coudersport. the
r4A.
startling story thAtlrs. Hancock had died
In camp, and that before dying she had
made confession, wich not only acquit-
ted her husband of tn murder of the chill
dren and himself, butwhich declares that
she herself and two OF her paramours.
whom she named, butghose names are not
made public, murdere her husband and the
children. The confeson is to the effect
chat she had become ARMED at the threats
her husband had madagainst her because
or ner persistent unfahfulness, and, egged
on by bhe two men, sh resolved, with their
alo, 10 put Hancock OF of the way. The
plan was to chloroforn him while he was
asleep, hang him to a after, and place
note IN his pocket, as written by himself
stating that be had committed suicide. and
why.
Mrs. Hancock succeeded in chloroform-
ing her husband while 70 was asleep in bed.
ana tne Two men, who we're waiting for the
signal, entered the hous, provided with q
rope. and were hangingHaucock when the
Oldest child awoke. roe up in bed, and,
seeing the strange ma, made an cutlery.
The mother herself seized butcher knife
and tried to brighten th, child into silence
The other four childpn. being awakened
by the noise, were all butchered as tue
first had been to silence them. The babe,
being too young to be dangerous to
the murderess, was not harmed A new
note then had to be written to include the
murder of the children aswell as the sui
eide, and Mrs Hancock, according to the
alleged confession. wrote 4, surrounded by
the victims of the horrible nights work.
She and the two men Their went away, and
the next day she made this announcement OF
the frightful discovery she had made on
coming home.
man who lives in Austin came from
Coudersport yesterday, and he says that the
story, horrible as it is, is generally believed
here: Further developments are expected
u few DAYS.