The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-27

woacEsfER, Mass, Dec. GA hor-
fible triple murder aud suicide was dis
covered at noon to-day in the upper
fiat OF tenement building at 81 Tain-
tor street. Harvey O. Narnum and his
little adopted daughter Florence were
found dead, his wife was nearly dead
when discovered aud died ON the way
to the hospital, and Mrs. Wright, the
mother Of Mrs. yarnum, now lies at the
hospital in acriiical condition, unable.
as yet to talk, or indicate in any way
the story of the awful event.
Harvey O. Yarnum came to this city
from Huron, Vt, in September and
sought employment as machinist,
which he found in the shop OF L. 1.
Pollard. BE then hired the tenement
on Taintor street and sent for his fami-
~, which consisteds Of his wife, an
adopted daughter, Florence, and his
wile's mother, Mrs. Wright. The fami-
ly lived quietly, and to all appeafancas
happily. Mrs. Varnum was regular
attendant at the Congregation church,
where she sang in the choir. Her
husband and little daughter often ac-
companied her. Mrs. Narnum was not
present at the church services Sunday
and the pastor, Rev. E. w. Phillips res
marked tho absence and expressed
some surprise, saying that Mrs. Var
nun was not thesort OF woman to
stay at home because it was cold.
Mr.. Phillips had occasion to-day TO
make call near Taintor street, and fn
passing the house thought he would
find outif anything was the matter.
He rang the Varnum bell but received
no answer and called up the lower tone
sment and later the occupant to the
middle dwelling Mrs. +. +. Hall, who
said she had not heard anything from
the Varnums, and that she felt nervous
about them. She also said that the
door upstairs was open.
Mr.. Phillips went up stairs immedis
ately and entered tho apartments
through the parlof. The rooms were
very cold and the furniture undisturbed.
BE pushed open the doar Of the beds
room leading off from the kitchen anda
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. Ina corner OF the room
lay the child, turned over on her face,
also dead. 4fr. Phillips waited to see
no more, but rushed down STAIRS and
telephoned for the police When the
police arrived the bodyof Mra Wright
was discovered in an adjoining room.
She was conscious but not able to speak,
though she understood what was said to
her and made several Intellectual at
tempts to articulate. The bodies OF the
man and child were removed by the un-
tertaker and the two women were car
ried to the hospital The younger wo-s
man died justas the ambulance stopped
at the hospital door. Mrs. Wright Is
still unable to speak, but she may live.
She is about eighty years OF age.
The weapon with which the foul deed
was committed was an iron door hang
er, an iron strap about fifteen inches
long, headed by a cylinderical knob.
The instrument weighed fully four
pounds, Varnum himself was killed
by q stab from knife, identified as his
own. &c was cut in the region OF the
heart.
Medical Examiner Keefe, who exam
ined 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 about
the house outside Of the bedrooms.
Mrs. F. +. Hall, who lives in the tene-
ment below, says that she heard O
slight sound from the child at about 5
o'clock Sunday morning, and a moment
later the sound Of footsteps. The
noises ceased Immediately and she
thought nothing Of them.