The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-21

Falls Village, Conn, Feb. 20.-When
he awoke this morning the 10-year-old
son OF Postmaster Walter Chaplin
found the corpse of his mother in the
ding room Of their home and near by,
the dead body OF Charles Mead, about
% years old, the con Of Rev. II. p
Mead, formerly OF Falls Village, but
now of Scotland, Conn. Some distance
away was revolver with several cham
bers empty. Mr.. Chaplin, who is super
intendent OF Henry Bishops factory at
Sheffield, Mass, was summoned home
upon the discovery Of the double trag-
cdy.
Chaplin had confded the adminstra-
ton OF the postoffice 10 his wife, as his
duties at Sheffield kept him occupied
there large part of the time. Mrs.
Chaplin was supposed 10 be at home
spending tint night alone with her child,
Joseph. When the latter arose this
morning he found the door blocked and
forcing il discovered his mothers dead
body lying against it. Coroner Higgins
began investigation about noon. 1t show
ed that while there were two bullet
wounds in Mead's head. there was but
one in the forehead Of Mrs. Chaplin. The
revolver was found nearer to Mrs. Chap
ms body than Meads.
The coroner did not complete his in
Sestgauon but many accept the theory
that Mead went to the house, an unde-
sired visitor, or that he broke in. and
that Mrs. Chaplin. in order to protect
herself, killed him and subsequently
killed herself. Mrs. Chaplin was the
diughter Of Sidney Morris. a lifelong
resident Of Falls Village, and the head
~ a well known family.
WinStod, Conn, Feb. 20-Coroner Hig-
gins returned here tonight from Falls
Village, where he spent the time inves-
ngatlng the Chapin-Mead tragedy, and
made the following statement:
Il have rendered no verdict in the
case and will probably not do so until
the early part of next week. l have no
nesitancy, however, in stating that un-
less there are new developments [ shall
report 10 the superior court clerk that
Mrs. Chaplin met her death at the hands
Of Charles F'fl Mead, and that the latter
killed himself. l am practically con-
WINGED that the man shot the woman
twice and then killed himself. Mead
bore an unsavory reputation and We
practically concluded that he went TO
the Chaplin residence because he was in
4dludtcu VIII MIS-. Ildpll ana because
he was thwarted in certain purposes.
committed the crimes of murder and sui
eide"
ITALIANS IN TROUBLE.
New York, Feb. 20.-Vittorio Marigii-
iano, who combines in his own person
the callings of banker and barber, and
Angelina Frauta, his so-called common
law wife. are in custody charged with
the responsibility of the death of Fran
cisco Priori, a laborer. Mott street was
the scene of the tragedy. Yesterday
Priori, who had been drinking, tried to |
kiss Mrs. Luigi, whom he came upon as
che was gossiping with some other Ital- |
Ian women. The familiarity was re- |
scented but Priori was persistent, and )
when Mrs. Luigi ran into Marigilianos /
place OF business Priori followed. The =,
barber and banker interfered and Priori |
drew a knife and slashed Marigiliano on
the cheek. Mrs. Frauta, armed with a
club. felled him senseless to the floor. |
He died at the hospital today and Mar |
giliano and his mistress have been lock-