Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-12-27
| NEWS By TELEGRAPH
From ALI Quarters.
| MURDER and Suicide.
A Worcester Man Destroys
His Family.
GUARANTEEING THE white House.
Disasters to Shipping on the
High Seas
ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING OF A BOY.
Mr.. Blaine Continues to
Improve.
GUARANTEEING THE WHITE HOUSE.
ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING OF A BOY.
CHRISTMAS TRAGEDY.

Murdered His Mother, Wife and
Daughter-Adds Suicide to the Awful
Grimes Dependency Assigned nj
the Cause.
WORCESTER, Mass, Dec ga horrible
triple murder and suicide was discovered
at noon to day in the upper fat of a three
tenement building at No. 81 Taintor street
Henry G. Varnum and his little adopted
daughter, Florence, were found dead, hii
wife was nearly dead when discovered and
died on the way to the hospital, and Mrs.
Wright, the mother of Mrs. Varnum, now
lies at the hospital in a critical condition.
unable as yet to talk or indication any way
the story of the awful event.
Henry @. Varnum came to this city from
Sharon, vt in September and sought en-
ployment as a machinist which he found
in the shop of L. L. Pollard. He then
hired the tenement on Taintor street and
sent for his family which consisted of his
wife, an adopted daughter, Florence, and
his wife's mother, Mrs. Wright. The
family lived quietly and to all appearances
attendant at Hope Congregational church,
and little daughter often accompanied her.
Mrs. Varnum was not present at any of
the church services Sunday and the pastor,
Rev. E. W. Phillips, remarked the absence
and expressed some surprise, saying that
Mrs. Varnum was not the sort of woman
to stay at home because it was cold. Mr..
Phillips had occasion to-day to make call
on Christy street, near Taintor, and In
passing thought he would find out If any
thing was the matter. He rung the
Varnum bell, but received no answer and
called up the lower tenement and later the
occupant of the middle dwelling, Mrs. F.
E. Hall, who said she had not heard any
thing from the Varnums and she felt
nervous about them. She also said that
the door up stairs was open.
Mr.. Phillips went up stairs Immediately
and entered the apartments through the
parlors. The rooms were very cold and
the furniture undisturbed. He passed
through the parlor into the back parlor
and then into the kitchen. He then pushed
open the door of the bedroom leading of
the kitchen and terrible sight met his
eyes.
Lying on the bed, covered with blood,
were Mr.. Varnum and his wife. The man
was quite dead but the woman was breath.
ing heavily. In the cot in the corner OF
the room lay the child, turned over
on her face dead. Mr.. Phillips wait
ed to see no more, but rushed
down stairs TO the Office of the Knowles
Loom works, where he telephoned
for the police. When the police arrived
the mother, Mrs. Wright, was discovered
in an adjoining room. She was conscious,
but not able to speak though she under.
stood what WAS said to her and made
several Intellectual attempts to articulate,
The bodies OF the man and child were re-
moved by the undertaken and the two
women were carried to tbs hospital. The
younger woman died jost as the ambulance
stopped at the hospital door. Mrs. Wright
is still unable to speak, but che may die
She is about eighty years of age.
The weapon with which the awful deco
was committed was an iron door hanger
an iron strap about fifteen inches long
headed by a cylindrical knob. The In
strument weighed fully four pounds
Varnum was killed by a stab from knife
identified as his own. He was cut in the
region of the heart There were no othel
marks upon his body.
Medical Examiner Keefe, who examined
the bodies, says that the deed was dons
early Sunday morning. The bodies of the
man and child when found were stiff ant
water in the kitchen was frozen. Their
was no sign of violence about the hous'
outside of the bedrooms Ga
Mrs. F. E. Hall, who lives in the tene
| ment below, says that she heard from tn
| child on Sunday morning at o'clock. Th
| noises ceased immediately and che though
| nothing of them
Henry G. Vsrnum, the man who com
mitted the horrible murders discovered
| this morning, came to this town from
Sharon, VT, early in September. He has
kept blacksmith chop in Sharon, wher
besides doing all sorts of odd jobs he hat
manufactured kitchen utensils He ha'
an attack of the grip last winter and sine
then had been subject to fits of deepond
| ency and melancholy.zsH His relations L
this city, fearing that he would commi
suicide and thinking that change G
scene and employment would benef
him in mind and body, induced him t
come here. AS soon as he found work b
became more cheerful and sent for b
wife and family. About five weeks ago b
left his employment, owing to some di'
satisfaction on the part of his employe
and himeelf. He has since that time bee
more and more respondent, and his broot
ing over his troubles resulted in tn
tragedy.
The aged mother, who is the only or
of the madman's work, Ia still unable
speak On account of the injuries to b.
face and jaw. She is resting comfortable
at the hospital, but Is not expected to r
cover.