Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-11-24
SLEW THE CHILDREN.
Mystery Surrounds the Death Of
Two Little Ones in the
Cornell Home.

| Oconomowoc, Wis, Nov. 20.-[Spe-
cial. AT 6 o'clock this morning two chill
dren of Ernest Cornell were found dead
in their bed at the family residence on
Oak street. Their father, Ernest Cor
nell, was lying on the floor, his throat cut
from ear to ear, but still living. He was
able to talk and said he did not know
whether he had committed the murder or
mot.
Cornell was about the city yesterday
and it is said had been drinking freely.
Ills own statement is that one John Lew
ss, known as the horse-skinner, brought
whisky to his house and induced him to
drink it. The first information of the
murder came from Lewis at 6:3O o'clock
sthls morning, when he told George Shep-
ard that Cornell was dead. Shepard went
ltc the house and then Immediately notified
DIR. Wilkinson and City Marshal Brannon.
Mrs. Cornell, this morning, was at the
residence of Mrs. Rice and it was re-
ported that John Lewis had left town
taking the younger Cornell. children with
him.
| Lewis was later arrested by Deputy
Sheriff Palmer
The Fathers Statement.
! Justice Robinson went out to the prem
Uses to hold inquest on the two children
:! Willie. aged 6, and Lille, aged 4. They
both lay on the bed where they were MUIR
ldered and the father lay across the foot
sof the bed.
He was in possession of his faculties,
but his throat was badly gashed. He made
the following statement: Il am the ia
Ither Of these children | don't know how
they were killed. l found myself on the
floor bleeding from this wound in my
neck and saW5the children on the bed and
blood all over the walls.
John Lewis came in the house last
might and shortly afterwards my wife
came in and offered me some whisky.
II said, No, but you have some? She
Isaid No and then Lewis offered me
some and said it was good whisky. Then
they coaXed me to drink some and
drank lot of it." =
The three, according to Cornel's state
ment Then FINISHED the bottle and Cor
IIead, but soon lost CONSCIOUSNESS and
knewss&lothing until he heard the clock
lstrike*at $50 this morning.
3! Last night. he says, when his wife was
in the room he begged her not to go with
Lewis, but she said: sch, pshaww and
went out with him.
Found Razor.
| When Cornell woke up this morning
The picked up razor from the floor and
placed it under his pillow and afterwards
Iput it on the stand. He did not make
ANY cutlery during the night.
! Cornell was unable to make a sound
iuntu his throat was sewn up this morn
ing.
When his wife opened the bedroom door
this morning, he says, she turned up the
lamp and said: my God!. What have
you been doing to yourselfr' And then
she cried: Look at the children back of
you.''
Cornell alleges that he heard Lewis say
to Mrs Cornell: Haven't you Il place
where we can put them until night?" but
he could not hear the answer. This was
seriousness.
1 Lewis was a boarder at the Cornell
household and, it is said, had agreed to
pay the rent.
CorneH closed his statement by saying,
God knows what did after L drank
that WhiskyI'
The jury. after listening to his deposi-
ton. was discharged and will meet again
Monday morning at 8 o'clock. District
Attorney Parkinson will then be here
The family is in poor circumstances and
7 the children will be buried at municipal
expense.
Lewis Held as Witness.
The police authorities claim this after
noon that Lewis is not actually under ar
rest, but is being held as a witness They
absolutely decline to permit him to be
seen by reporters. Mrs. Cornell is still at
liberty, but it is possible that she will
also be taken into custody and held as a
witness.
The two living children are Mrs Cor
nelPs by previous marriage. The muir
dered children were children of the pres
ent union.
The bodies are still at the house. where
they have been viewed by hundreds of
curious people. The news of the murder
mas created great excitement in the city
aAd surrounding country.
The general opinion is that Cornell
killed the children and afterwards at
tempted to commit suicide, because Of his
domestic troubles.