Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-12-31
NO. 49,.
MURDERED HIS FAMILY.
Horrible Triple Tragedy on Christ
mas Day.
Henry c. Varnum Kills his Wife,
Daughter and Himself.

A horr BILE triple murder and suicide was
discovered at noon in the UPPER fiat OF
tenement building at 81 Taintor street, Wor.
chester Mass Henry C. Varnum, and his
lite adopted daughter, Florence, were
found deal, his wife was nearly dead when
discovered and di on the way to the los
pital, aud Mrs, Wright, tie mother of Mrs.
Varnum, now lies nt the hospital in criti
cal condition unable as u ct, to told or in
dictate in any way TIE story Of tie awful
event
nry C.. Narnum came TO Worcester
from Haron, VT, in September, and found
imp oylnent as machinist in the shop Il
l.. L. Pollard. He then hired tie tenement
on faint r street aud sent for his family,
which con sted Of his WIFE, an adopted
daughter Floten e, and bis wiies motn r,
Nj. Wright.
The family lived quietly and to all APP
pearances happ ~, Mrs N0gnum was =
regular attendant at Hope Con .regational
Church, where She sang in the CHOIR. Her
hus All and little daughter oitea accom-
lantd her. Mrs. Nel mum was not present
at any OF the church services on 5 nday,
and tue pastor, Rev. + W, Phillips, re
marked the ahseuce and expressed some
surprise saying tuat Mrs. Naruum was not
cause it was cod. Mr. II lips had occa-
sioa to MAKE call on Christy
street, near Taintor and in passing
ou.h ne would see If anything was
wong. He rung the Nartum bell, bat re-
eelvsl 10 a swer, and called up the lower
teI-u ent aud lat the occgp mt OF the mid.
die daehing, Mrs + f. Ha J, who said she
had not heard an thing from the Narnums,
and that ste felt nervous about them.
rnt+Nn nv THE pAsTop
She also said that the door upstairs was
open. Mr.. Phillips went up stairs immedi-
ately and entered the apartments through
the parIor The rooms were very cold and
the furniture undisturhed. He paSsel
through the parlor into the bacs parlor aud
tlsu 10 the Kitchen II then pushe open
tue door IT The bedroom leading Off from the
kitchen ami terrible sight met his eyes.
Lying o tue ted, covered with blood were
Mr. NHrnum and his wife. no man was
gate al but the woman was breathing
heavily. In cot in the corner OF the room
laY the Chi d, turned over On h,r face, also
Gead.
Mr.. Phillip, waited 10 sec no more, but
rushed down tats to the oiiics Of the
Knowles Loom Works, where he telegraphed
for the ol &c. When the police arrived the
mother, Mrs. Wright, was dscovere in an
Alls 10 speak, though she understood what
was SAID 70 her an made severai Intellectual
attempts to articulate. Tie bsdies 0; tho
mau aud child we're removed by an under
Laker, AMI the Two women were carried 10
tue hospi al. The younger woman died just
as the ambu ance stopped at the hospital
door
Mrs. Wright is i'll unable to speak, but
she nay live She Is about 50 years OF oge.
J he weapon with which the ,ime was com
init cd was an iron door-uanger an iron
stiap about Is inches long headed by a
g ltLdrieai knob he instrument weighed
iuhy four pounds. VBrnum himself was
killed by a stab from knife, identified as
his own. He was cut IN The region OF tho
heart There were no other MARKS upon his
body.
Inc bodies Of the man and child when
found we're stiff, and water in the kitchen
was frozen. there was no sign OF violencs
about The house ogtsids Of the bedrooms.
Mrs h. L. Hall, who lives in the tenement
below, says that she heard a sIi hit sound
from the enid at abou o'cl OK aud mo-
msnt later the SCUM Of footsteps. The
no.s-s case immediately and she thought
nothing OF them