The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-18
DEED OF AN INSANE MAN
CORNELIUS CORCORAN KILLS TWO OF
HIS CHILDREN, WOUNDS TWO MORE.
And Later Ends His Own Life with a
bullet in the Head-GrewsOme Scene
in n Chicago Flat.

CHICAGO Nov. 17.-Carrying out a plot
he had apparently planned with delibera-
ton. Cornelius Corcoran to-day shot four
of his children, killing two of them and
then ended his own life The tragedy &C.
Cured at his home, No. 54O1 Dearborn
street. The dead are:
CORNELIUS CORCORAN, forty-nine
years old.
MARGARET CORCORAN, five years old,
died at Mercy Hospital.
JOHN CORCORAN, seven years old, died
at Mercy Hospital.
The wounded:
KATE CORCORAN. fourteen years old.
may die. If she RECEIVERS will lose her left
LIZZIE CORCORAN, three years old,
may die.
The police are convinced the man was in
sane. Corcoran had lived with his seven
children in a fiat building at No. 54O1 Dear
born street for a month past. To all out
ward appearances he was a kind and con-
siderate parent For some days he had
plotted for the death of his children and
he nearly accomplished his purpose Tues
day night. Hearing the children cough he
arose and in the dark administered laud-
anum to five of them-Clifford, Timothy,
John, Margaret and Lizzie. The first two
were removed to the Mercy Hospital, where
hibited such profound grief over the affair
that the police and the coroner thought the
giving of the laudanum was mistake.
Baked in his purpose to end the lives of
the young ones, COrcoran, II is thought,
made deliberate plans for his act to-day.
About 10 o'clock the grandmother of the
children, Mrs. Margaret Wrenn, accom-
panied by her niece, Miss Mamie Corbett,
called at the CorcOran home. When they
rang the bell Corcoran called out from the
inside, who's there?"
Its Mamie and your mother" replied
Corcoran thrust his head out Of the door,
disclosing the fact that he was attired in
his night gown and closed the door again,
saying: Wait just minute, Mamie" The
two women opened the door and stepped
into the hallway. Just then three shots
were heard, followed by succession of
screams.
In the panic the two women darted out
the doorway and ran DOWN the street
rTpr ia at 1ng L1 o. shouted Mrs Cor.
bett frantically and hun wing 10 an ada
cent drug store, word was sent to the
Fiftieth-street and Hyde Park police sta
ton.
An appalling sight greeted. the eyes Of
Lieutenant Clancy, Sergeant Ryan and
other officers when they entered the Cor
parlor, was the body of Margaret, lying in
a mass of blood at the head of the bed.
breathing heavily In the room to the rear
Corcorans dead body was found on the
floor, while that of the baby Lizzie reclineG
on pillow. revolver lay near Corcoran s
| right hand. Five of the chambers were
empty. Every one of the wounds with the
exception of Katies was inflicted behind
| the ear. Katie was shot in the left temple.
| The police removed Kate and John TO the
Mercy Hospital and later the baby Lizzie,
who was still breathing, was taken there.
John died within a half hour after his ar
rival at the hospital and no hopes were held
out for the recovery of the others.
Evidences of Corcorans intention TO kill
| his children were seen in the house. In one
room empty whisky and wine bottles
| showed he had given the children literally of
| the liquor and stupefed them.
Corcoran was injured about three years
ago in a collision with cable car while driv-
| ing a mail wagon. His leg was broken and
| his brain was affected, II is said. Six months
| ago Corcorans wife. the daughter Of Mrs.
Wrenn. became insane and since that time
| she has been an inmate of an asylum al
| Kankakee. Cornelius has never been right
since his accident" said Mrs. Wrenn. He
| has always acted queerly, and when ny
| daughter became iii it affected him. He
never would have done such dreadful
| thing if he had been in his right mind"
The only child to escape injury was Ma
| rion, sixteen years DID, who is at the hos
pital nursing her brother Clifford.
Later-Lzzie Corcoran died at midnight