New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-06
HACKED HER SISTERS HEAD.
A BLOODY ASSAULT IN A CLAsSON-AVE
HOUSE.
A CRAZY GIRL ATTACKED WITH AN AXE HER
SISTER, WHO HAD TAKEN TENDER CARE
OF HER-THE WOUNDED WOMAN
LIKELY To DIE.

LIKELY To DIE.
Alice Heaney. twenty-five years Old Of No.
1913 Casson-ave. a feeblemnded girl, stole out
of bed early yesterday morning and. procuring
heavy weapon. murderously assaulted her Sis
ter. Mrs Kate Larkin thirty-nine years old.
while she was lying in her bed asleep. She then
calmly dressed and going to the Fourth Pre-
cinct Station House. four blocks away, at Clas-
and DeKalb ayes. told the story of her
deed and gave herself ip to the police.
Mr. Heaney. the father Of the two women. is
a Union veteran. who for years has been living
in a soldiers home somewhere in this State
Alice Heaney born with feeble mind, ana
in early childhood was put into Catholic or
phan asylum. Her sister, Mrs. Larkin. whom
she almost killed yesterday morning, was mar
ried years ago, hut her husband died about a
wear ago He was dissoute and she separated
from him some time ago She supported herself
by doing domestic work. and later as a seam
stress, She used to visit her sister frequently
at the asylum. and about ten years ago, think
ing that the girl not being cared for as
tenderly as she wished she took her to live with
her in Kosciusko-st Alice had never given any
trouble at the asylum She proved solace to
the lonely life of Mrs. Larkin, who watched over
her with the care of mother. Three years ago
tiers rented the basement of the house at No
123 the upper part of which is occupied by Mrs
$ Bodle and her daughter. The apartment con-
sisted of two rooms the kitchen in the back
and a large room in front. which was used as
q sleeping and living room The inside stairs
leading TO the basement had been walled up.
and the only ways of entrance were by the 'front.'
door leading into the street and the door lead
ing into the back yard. Mrs. Bodle said that
her tenants were quiet people, and that she had
not been into their rooms more than three OF
! four times in the last four years.
FIRST SIGNS OF INSANITY.
Alice although always morose and moody.
never showed any signs Of insanity until about a
wear ago when she used to get up In the middle
of the night and walk up and down In the BACK
ward CRYING and moaning. The neighbors were
kept awake by her actions, but her sister always
waited for her to become quiet before bringing
her into the house.
The midnight promenades had been going on
for a week. when morning she dressed ana
went downtown. She wandered through all the
large drygoods stores, creating a good deal OF
excitement by shouting and otherwise acting
strangely In the afternoon she was arrested IN
Prospect Park and the next day was ad)udged
insane and committed to the Flatbush Asylum.
could not bear to be parted from her sister Sc
cured Alce's release and once more took her 10
their home In Classon-ave. Mrs. Larkir worked
earlv and late TO get delicacies for her unfortu-
nate sister Alice was stubborn and wilful, but
she was humored and petted by her older sister
The hot weather OF the last week seemed 10
affect the girl, making her more petulant and
restless than eve~. Several times lately. when
her sister demonstrated with her. she was hearo
to say: You had better keep still. Kate; thereli
be murder here yet"
But as the girl was small and weak she was
thought to be perfectly harmless and no account
was taken of her remarks
On Tuesday morning Mrs Larkin left the
house at $50. was her usual custom, leaving
her sister sleeping. During the day Alice pusleu
herself with the family washing, working TOT
many hours hot stove. and In the proiilng
sun in the yard. She never had anytning 10 say
to the neighbors but they noticed While she was
at work that her eyes had peculiar. CLASSY
look Her sister came home about O'Clock IN
the afternoon and what words passed between
them is not known. In the evening MIS- Earkln
sat out for while on the steps OF nelghoors
house. When about TO go home. ar lo O'CLOCK
she said: Alice is not feeling well tonight.
told her that she mustn't work so hard am
going out now to get her some ice cream That
was the last the neighbors saw OF her.
HORRIBLY HACKED ABOUT THE HEAD.
The two sisters slept together IN bed IN
the front ROOM and 1t is thought they retired
about 1890 The first intimation that Mrs
Bedle received Of anything wrong was when the
policemen who had broken into the basement
called her down from the third floor where she
was sleeping with her daughter. No one was
witness of the girls act, and what happened
can only be CLEANED from the prisoners STORY
II seems that during the night she lay awake
and brooded over what she thought was her SIS
ters imperious conduct. About 3 o'clock Alice
rose silently from beside her sleeping sister
stole throughout the backyard ana got .he
axe in the woodshed. Coming back TO the Deu-
side she raised the weapon and rained Dlow
after blow on her helpless sister. AT the nr3t
blow, the sharp edge of the axe penetrated me
forehead just above the right temple, nut the
blows were continued until the snOuldeis anu
head were covered with cuts and bleeding pro-
fuselv The crazy girl then leaving her sister
for dead deliberately washed her hands dressed
berself and starr ed for the Fourteenth Precinct
station She boted the front door on the inside.
locked the back door. and went out into the
alley through a neighboring yard
THE SERGEANT STARTLED.
Sergeant White. at the station. was startled
when the woman came In about $50 ana toid
the story in a matter of fact way. He held the
girl. while he telephoned word over to the TWEEN
tv-frst Precinct station. at Flushing and Ger
mont ayes in which district the affair TO place
Acting Detective Gallagher and Roundsman Mat
thews were dispatched TO the scene lne OIL
GERS forced the door and found Mrs. Larxin lying
in a pool of blood at the foot of the bed An
ambulance was hastily summoned from The lio-
neopathic Hospital. and Dr.. Allen, after a nasty
glance AT the woman hurried her 10 the hosli-
tai large heavy axe was found In the
woodshed but not trace OF blood coul1 ne
found on IT, The neighbors said that they did
! not believe the girl could have lifted so large
| weapon Alice Heaney taken TO the fos-
pitai where she recognized by Mrs. Lar
| kin in a moment Of consciousness. she was ar
roioned before Justice Teale. in the Myrtle
| Avenue Police Court yesterday and was re-
| noanded to await the result Of her sisters in
injuries Il was said at the hospital last even
ing that Mrs Larln's recovery was doubtful.
OH NTLNN IL uOG-hILLLNG.