Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-12-29
FOUR BODIES IN A BED ROOM.
Horrible Discovery In Worcester,
Mass, Tenement.



Made by n Ministcr--rour Dead Bodies
Found in n Room--Thn Only survivor
of the Family Unable to speak.
WORCESTER, MASS, Dec. 2G.-A horrible
triple murder and suicide was discovered at
noon to-day in the upper flat ot a tehe-
ment building at 81 Taintor street, Henry
G. Varnum and his little adopted daugh-
ter, Florence, were found dead his wlie
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 n critical condition,
unable as yet to talk of the awful event.
Henry e. Narnum came to the city from
Huron, Vt, in September, and found EN-
ployment as q machinist in the shop of Il.
l.. Pollard. He then hired the tenement
on raintor street and sent for his family,
which consisted of his wife, mn adopted
daughter. Florence, and his wile's mother,
Mrs. Wright. The family lived quietly,
and, to all appearances, happily. Mrs.
Narnum was regular attendant at Hope
Congregational Church, where she sang in
the choir. Her husband and little daugh-
ter often accompanied her.
Mrs, Narnum was not present at any OF
the church services Sunday, and the pastor,
Rev. Il. W. Phillips, remarked her absence
and expressed some surprise. saying that
Mrs. Nnrnum was not the sort of woman
to stay at home because it was cold. Mr..
Phillips had occasion tudayto make call
on Christy street, near Taintor, and, in
passing, thought he would see If anything
was wrong. He rang the Narnum bell,
but received no answer and called up the
lower tenement, and later the occupants of
the middle dwelling, Mrs. II. II. Hall. who
said she had not heard anything from the
NarnumS, and that she felt nervous about
them.
She also said that the door upstairs was
liz
dlately, and entered the apartments
through the parlor. The rooms were very
cold and the furniture undisturbed. He
passed through the parlor into the back
parlur, and then to the kitchen. He then
pushed open the door of the bedroom
leading off from the kitchen, and a terri
bic 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 breathing heavily. In cot in the
corner Dl the room lay the child, turned
over on her face, also dead. Mr.. Phillips
waited to sec no more, but rushed down
stairs to the office of the Knowles Loom
Works, where he telegraphed forthe police
When the police arrived the mother,
Mrs. Wright was discovered in an adjoin-
ing room. She was conscious but not able
to speak, though she understood what was
said 10 her and made several Intellectual at
Temps to urtCulate, Ehe bodies of the
man and child were removed by an under
taker and the two women were carried to
the hospital. The young woman died just
as 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 crime
was committed was an iron door hanger
All iron strap about Is inches long, headed
by Il cylindrical knOp. The instrument
weighed fully four pounds. Varnum him
sell was killed by u stab from knife,
identified rs his own. He was cut in the
region OF he heart. There were no other
marks upon his body
Medical Examiner kecfe, who examined
the bodies, says that the decd 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 Ol the bedrooms. Mrs. II. Il. Hall,
who lives III the tenement below, says that
She heard slight sound from the child
about o'clock Sunday morning and
moment later the sound of footsteps. II
noises ceased Immediately and she though
nothing of them