The Portland daily press., 1899-02-14
FOUR MYSTERIOUS DEATHS.
Tragic Occurrence in N assaehI:s sets
Town.

Four Members Of Family Found Dead
and Three Others Supplied Police
Are Unable to Explain Mystery.
Marlboro Mass, February IA grew
some spectacle was brought TO the atten-
tion of d policeman early this evening
when he went to small house In the
rear OF o tannery located behind one Of
the shoe fact tories of the John A. Frye
company. He found the house full Of
sn oks and in a room off the kitchen four
persons lying on mattress which had
been placed on the floor, all dead, and in
the kitche three other persons in q state
of insensibility. The dead are:
Edward r. Underwood. aged so years.
Olive Underwood, aged "a, daughter of
Edward.
John Clifford, two year Gold son of
Olive.
Francis Underwood, eight year old
daughter of Ed ward.
The unconscious persons were:
Robert Nom llen, about 30 years old.
Mrs. Underwood, wife OF Edward
Underwood
Guy Underwood a son.
The peculiar case was brought to light
Wntn yuunG WOlDuh - poiiOt
officer that the house appeared to be on
fro The room was found full of smoke,
but not sufficient to indicate that the
building was on lire.
The dead and insensible people were
found In the room. All were partially
undressed. In the kitchen was IA small
wood stove in which q lire was burning,
but there was little wood in 1t The un
conscious persons were taken to the
station In haog. Two hours later the
Jour bodies were taken to the city morRue.
The inquiry continued until quito lats
tonight amt alter it was over Medical hx-
aminer Hoitt and City Physician Dervin-
which is not made known. DIR. Hoitt
was interviewed but declined to express
an opinion as to the cause of the four
deaths.
The Underwood family, who were evil
IDENTITY In very straiR tened circumstances,
moved into the small house in which they
were found a few days ago and the furni
ture had not been arranged in the several
rooms.
Late tonight Mrs. Underwood, Mr.. No.
Mullen and the son, Guy, had been re-
vived sufficiently 20 talk but little could
be learned from them. They acted as II
under the influence of u drug.
There was both wood and coal in the
house of which the Underwoods were
the only tenants. When asked for his
opinion as to when death ensued, Medical
Examiner Hoitt said the bodies were
GOLD when found and that the four per-
sons had been dead some hours. He bad
not believed the family suffered or died
from exposure There was no food OF
ATTY kind found In the house tonight
and the thres persons cared for at the
station house eagerly drank the milk
given to strengthen them. The Under
wood family had lived In various places
in this city for serveal years. MIR.
Under wood was box maker by trade,
but had doLe some railroading. Me-
Mullen appears to have been boarder
4 be police say that the family was well
known to them and its reputation was
not OF the best
The police have been unable tonight to
make much Roadway In the case. They
are depending upon the result of the
autopsy TO give than facts to work upon.
Late tonight City Msrshal Pope said
that among the things found In the
kitchen was bottle which had con
tanned liquor After careful conidera-
ton he had found little to strengthen the
theory of asphyxiation. He declined to
commit himself on the poison theory
n oh hua nrovpn atrop