Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-12-27
VARNUM'S AWFUL DEED
He Was Out of Work and Had
 Become Despondent.
THE MoTHER-IN-LAw STILL ALIVE

Not Thought That She Can Recover-Ths
 Machinist Had Always Borne a Good
 Reputation-DetailsO of the Double Mur
 der and Suicide at Worcester.
 WORCESTER, Mass, Dec. 27.-Henry O. Varnum, the man who committed the terrible murders discovered yesterday, came to this city from Sharon, Vt., early in September. He had kept a blacksmith shop in Sharon, where, besides doing all sorts of odd jobs, he had manufactured kitchen utensils.
 He had an attack of the grip last win ter and since then had been subject to fits of despondency and melancholia. His relations in this city, fearing that he would commit suicide and thinking the change would benefit hin in mind and body, induced him to come here.
 He soon found employment as a machin' ist in the shop of L. L. Pollard and then hired the tenement on Taintor street and sent for his family, which consisted of his wife, an adopted daughter, Flor ence, and his wife's mother-in- law, Mrs. Wright.
 Narnum appeared more cheerful until five weeks ago, when he left his employ ment owing to some dissatisfaction on the part of both his employer and himself. He has since that time been more and more Respondent and his breeding over his troubles resulted in the tragedy.
 The family lived quietly and to all ap- pearances happily. Mrs Varnum was a regular attendant at Hope Congregational Church where she sang in the choir. Her husband and daughter often accompanied her.
 Mrs. Varnum was not present at any ot the church services Sunday and the pas tor, Rev. w. w. Phillips, remarked the absence and expressed some surprise, say ing that Mrs. Earnum was not the sort of d woman to stay at home because it was cold.
 NIr. Phillips had occasion yesterday to make a call near Taintor street and in pass ing the house thought he would find out if anything was the matter. He rang the Narnum bell but received no answer and called up the lower tenant and later the occupant of the middle dwelling, Mrs. F. +. Hall, who said she had not heard any thing from the Narnums and that she fell nervous about them. She also said that the door upstairs was open.
 Mir. Phillips went up stairs immediately and entered the apartments through the parlor. The rooms were very cold and the furniture undisturbed. He passed through the parlor into the back parlor and then into the kitchen. He then pushed open the door of the bedroom lead ing of from the kitchen and a terrible sight met his eyes.
 Lying on the bed. covered with blood were Mir. Varnum and his wife, The man was quite dead but the woman was breathing heavily. In a cot in a corner of the room lay the child, turned over on bp, F.,n Il. ,J,,H PhillinS wait tpH to see no more but rushed down stairs to the office of the Knowles Loom Works, where he telephoned for the police.
 When the police arrived the mother, Mrs. Wright, was discovered in an ad- joining room. She was conscious but not able to speak though she understood what was said to her and made several in etfeCtual attempts to articulate.
 The bodies of the man and child were removed by the undertaken and the two women were carrie. to the hospital. The younger woman died just as the ambu- lance stepped ut the hospital door.
 The weapon with which the awful deed was committed was an iron door hanger, an iron strap about fifteen inches long headed by d cylindrical knob. The in strumcnt weighed fully four pounds Narnum himself was killed by a stab from T knife, identified as his own. He was cut ill the region of the heart.
 There were no other marks upon his body. Medical Examiner keefe, who eX- amined the bodies, says that the deed was done carly 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. k. Hall, who lives in the tenement below, says that she heard slight sound from the child about o'clock Sunday morning and d moment later the sound of foot steps. The noises ceased immediately and she thought nothing of them.
 The aged mother, who is the only one who could possibly give the exact details of the madmau's work, is still unable tC speak on account of the injuries to her face and jaw. She is resting comfortably at the hospital, but is not expected to re- cover
 Father Henrici's Successor.