The record-union., 1892-05-04
HORRIBLE MURDER.
CRIME THAT RIVALS THOSE IN
WHITECHAPEL.
An Aged Lady Killed and Her Body
Cut and Torn to Shreds-The
Murderer Arrested.
Special to the REcoRp-ITNroS.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN,
CHICAGO, May 3.-A murder that rivals
Tor cruelty and horror the fates of numer-
Gus victims in the London Whitecbapel
district was committed between and 6
O'Clock this evening in the home of
Michael Walsh, at 344 Washburne avenue.
lhe victim was Mrs. Bridget Elizabeth
Walsh. Walsh left home for work as
usual this morning, leaving his wife fol-
lowing her customary occupations.
Walsh returned home few minutes after
8 O'Clock and found the front door locked.
and gained entrance to the house through
the kitchen. The fire was burning in the
stove and the evening meal partially pre-
pared.
We Inc appearance OF the room attracted
NaIsh'S attention as being peculiar, and
ne started in search of his wife. He
searched through the house and not find
ing her began to fear some harm had be-
fallen her. Noticing a strong and disa-
greeable odor from the bedroom he re-
turned there and made a more minute
examination of the room, partially dark
ened, as the window curtains were low
cred. lie raised them and pile of rags
met his gaze.
The first piece of cloth he raised was
stained with blood. He then threw the
pile aside and there on the blood-stained
carpet the nude body of his wife, with
SlXty-nVe gaShes, varying in length from
nall an inch to foot, told the story of
death, that came only after violent
struggle, as shown by the diSarraupe-
ment of furniture and splattering blood.
Not satisfied with killing his victim.
the slayer so horribly disfigured the
corpse that even Walsh could hardly re-
aliZe that he was gazing on the dead body
OF his wife Hrnfn tho Il.
woman's head to her feet were cuts i'm
every conceivable direction The wounds
were most numerous on the breast and
lower limbs, where the flesh was rinnad
and hacked in places until the skin hung
in shreds: Along the upper part of the
right leg there was cash over a foot i'm
length. Along either side Of this wound
was row of smaller gashes, made with
uniform length and evenly ARRANGED. as
if to give horribly artistic finish to the
work.
over each eye was deep cash. another
beneath the right eye, another along the
left check, and still another alone the
neck under the chin.
In the LETT breast, Immediately over the
heart, was pair of long bladed shears
that had been driven into the flesh. I'm
medlately under them was a small round
hole, resembling bullet wound. but
there was no trace of powder burns.
r.
ried from the kitchen into the badroon,
had been broken, and the handle was
thrust through the entire woman's trunI<
from the lower portion to the throat
Pieces Of the vital organs were torn off
and carried along by the blunt end of
wood, and the mouth was filled with
mass of blood and flesh. The broom
handle had been thrust UP with terrible
force, for the Woman's body was terribly
torn, and portions of the organs left lvino
on the floor.
All the wounds We're evidently in
fiIcted by shears, the edge being cut
rough. At the lower part of the trunk
was this especially manifest, where the
hesh was cut and torn. For moment
the sight of mis- wife's body so unnerved
Walsh that he was unable to act Recov-
ering himself, he notified the police.
Upon arriving, the police examined the
room where the body was found, and on
a narrow bed were three pillows covered
with blood. On the wall also were great
splotches, and the bed clothing was
stained. The rags which covered the
body, among which was also Mrs.
Walsh's clothing, were saturated with
blood
The police made hasty survey of the
situation, and started on a search for the
nerpetrator of the outrage. Their efforts
were rewarded, for within four hours the
self-ccnfessed murderer was arrested in
the person of Thomas Walsh. of 143
Washburn avenue, the dead woman,s
nephew.
When the prisoner was taken to the
station he acknowledged that he was the
guilty party, and said he and Mrs. Walsh
were drinking together, and he made an
improper proposal to her, whereupon
she slapped his face. He drew a knife
and stabbed her. The sight of blood sud-
denly drove him insane, with the result
that he mangled and tore the poor woman
as related above