Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-12-27
A MAOMAN'S ERENzy.
Kills His Wife, Daughter
and Then Himself.
MOTHER R-lN-LAW ATTACKED
Bhe 10 in q Hospital and Not Expected
to Recover.

WORCESTER, Mass, Dec. 1-Henry G.
Vsrnum came to this city from Sharon,
VT, in September, and sought employ
ment "a ma;hinist, which he found In
the shop of L. 4. Pollard. He then
hired tenement on Tainter street, and
sent for his family, which consisted Of
his wife. an adopted daughter, Florence,
aud his wife's mother, Mrs Wright. The
family lived quietly and, to all appear
snces, happily. Mrs. Varnum was q reg
ular attendant at Hope Congregational
church, where she sang In the choir
Bsr husband aud little daughter often
accompanied her. Mrs Varnum was not
present AT any Of the church services
Sunday, aud the pastor. Rev. K. W.
Phillips, remarked their absence and ex-
pressed some surprise, saying that Mrs.
Narnum was not the sort of won an to
stay at home because it was cold.
Mr.. Phillips had occasion to make call
VII Cbristy street, near Tainter, yesterday,
aud in passing thought he would find out
II anything was the matter. He rung the
Narnum hell but received no answer and
called up the lower tenement, and later
the occupant OF the middle dwelling, Mrs
L. r, Hall, who said she hadn't heard
anything from the Varnums and that she
felt nervous about them. She also said
that the donr upstairs was open.
Mr.. Phillips went upstairs Immediately
and entered the apartment through the
parIor dooI The rooms were very cold
aud the furniture undsturbed. He passed
through TIE parlor into the back parlor
and then into the kitchen. He then push
e'i open the door of the bedroom leading
of from the kitchen and
Tervibie sight Met His Eyes.
Lying OH the bed covered with blood,
were Mr.. Farnum and his wife The man
WAS quite dead. but the woman was
breathing heavily. In cot in the corner
OF the room lay the child, turned over on
her tace, also dead. Mr. Phillips waitel to
sse no more, but rushed down stairs to
the office of the Knowles loom works,
where he tclephoned for the police When
the police arrived the mother, Mrs Wright,
was discovered in All adjoining room She
was conscious but not able to speak,
though she underst ood what was said to
her and made several Intellectual attempts
Ia articulate The bodies of tho man and
child were removed by the undertaken
and the tw" women were carried to the
hospital The young woman died - the
ambulance stopped At the hospital door.
Mrs. Wright is still unable to speak, but
she may live. She is about 80 years Of
age.
The weapon with which the awful deed
was committed was al iron door hanger,
an iron strap about fifteen inches long,
headed by cylindrical knob. The in
strulnept weighed fully four pounds.
Narnum himself was killed by stab
from knife, i'leatif ii rs his own. He
WAS cut in the region of the heart. There
were no other marks upon his body Med
ical Examiner keefe, who examined the
bodies, says that the deed was done early
Sunday morning. The bodies OF the man
and child when found were stiff, and
water in the kitchen was frozen. There
was no sign of violence In the house out.
side of the bedrooms
Mrs. +. +. Hall, who lives i'm the tene-
meut below, says that she heard slight
sound from the child at about 5 O'Clock
Sunday morning, and a moment later the
sounds of footsteps. The noises ceased
Immediately and she
Thought Nothing Of Thsm.
Varnum bad kept a blacksmith shop in
Sharon. VT. where, besides doing all sorts
Of odd jobs, he had manufactured kitchen
utensils, He had sn attack Of the grip
last winter, and since then had been sub
ject to Ats OF dependency and melan-
choly. His relations In this city, fearing
that he would commit suicide and think
ing that change Of scene and employment
would benefit him in mind and body, in
duced him to come here. AS soon As he
found work he became more cheerful and
sent for his wife aud family. About Ave
weeks ago he left his employment, owing
to some satisfaction on the part Of both
his employer aud himself. He has since
that time been more and more despondent,
and his brooding over his troubles re.
suited in the tragedy.
The aged mother, who is the only one
who could possibly give the exact details
Of the madman's work, is still unable to
speak on account of the injuries to her
face aud jaw. She is resting comfortably
at the hospital, but is not expected to re-
cover.