New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-21
OVERCOME BY HERSUFFERING.
THE FATHER KILLED HIMSELF AND CHILD.
SHE BAD H-P DISEASE AND COULD NOT GEL
wELL-BoTH AsPHYxIATED IN
THE BATHROOM.

The question is did Michael varley turn on the
Gas In his bathroom with the Intention 10 ehd MS own
life and that OF his little child or we're the dcats Oh
father and daughter due to accident Inc "e'k"' VI
circumstances however. tavors the opinion he'o W
his widow. his ply yscian. and his friends that the
father driven 70 madness BY the hopeless suhennS Oh
n child whom he dearly loved resolved BY one act u
end her agony and his own.
var,ey WAS forty three old and for more IMAM
fifteen years had kept liquor store IN dneNht pr''
Of the Fourth Ward. six years ago ne hah maue
enough money to keep his wife and four cmidreh NJ
comfort for the rest OF their lives He made uu MS
mind 10 retire from work. Up to the end OF March
he has lived In one OF the roomy od-fashond houses
in MadIson-st Then with $4,000 OF his savings ne
houpht the big apartmenthouse No. 2204 seventh
ave Tie first floor he appropriated to the use OF his
family and the rest Of the house he let to different
tenants.
To all appearances varley had only one sorrow In
tho world-hs far-haired, bluc-eyed, pretty httie
daughter Annie who had just passed her ninth year.
For the first four years Of her life Annie though
always fragile, had been in good health Then came
a weakness Of the hip and the weakness slowly De
veloped Into disease absolutely fnc,rable vi
all Vareys children Annie was his best loved.
The father tried In every way to bring her oacK 10
health but for his hoart-broken appeals, the
specialists had but one reply-the child would be
q cripple for the rest OF her days.
Within the last few months his whole waking
life was given up to the cure Of his afflicted child
Often he was seen carrying her in his arms along
the streets OF late he had suffered from slight
Deafness but II this added to his mental distress no
but himself knew It.
It was Just II O'Clock Tuesday night when he bade
his wife good night, and taking Annie into his room
closed the door. Mrs Varey with her three other
children occupied the adjoining. When she
awoke at O'Clock she went into tho room usually
occupied BY her husband and Annie and found that 10
was empty. This circumstance dtd not worry her,
as the two had been accustomed 10 take an early
morning walk. But two hours later she had occasion
to go into the bathroom. moment later frightened
shrek rang through the house Mrs Varley rushed
wildly into the street DR.. Ackerman. whose once Is
ut No 40 West One hundred and thirteth-st. was
passing the house Mrs Varley came out. and she
| clutched him by the arm "My husband and child
are dead she gasped and fell falnting In the ply
| sician's arms.
bathroom door came upon a sight which turned him
cold and motIonltss. On mattress stretched along
the noor Of the little by the side Of the bathtub
lay Varley and his child. The mans head and shoul-
ders were propped reclining attitude against the
wall On his breast With tiny arm encirclng his
neck and her head resting his shoulder was Annie
Her lips parted In smile and she seemed to be
| sleeping. They dead The sickening smell from
the gasburner turned full told the rest Of the story
That Varley should have gone to the bathroom ex.
cept for the express purpose OF destroying nlser ana
| his child Is at least improbable. Varey could nave
no object except one for leaving bis bedroom: Mrs
Varcy is soon 10 become mother, and the shock OF
the double death is terrible one to her.