The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-11-18

SnlcdSo, NOV 1f.-Carrylng out a
plot he had apparently planned with
deliberation. Cornelius Corcoran today
shot four of his children, killing two
of them, and then ended his own life.
The tragedy occurred at his home, 54O1
Dearborn street
The Dead.
Cornelius Corcoran, 40 years of age
Margaret Corcoran, years; died at
Mercy hospital.
John Corcoran, years old; died at
Mercy hospital.
The Wounded.
Kate Corcoran. IA years old If she
recovers she will lose her left eye.
Lizzie Corcoran. years old; may die.
The police are convinced the man
was insane. Corcoran had lived with
his seven children in fiat building for
month past. To all outward appear
ances he was kind and considerate.
= For some days he had plotted for the
death of his children and he nearly ac-
complished his purpose. Tuesday
night, hearing the children cough he
arose and in the dark administered
laudanum to five of them, Clifford,
Timothy. John, Margaret and Lizzie.
The first two We're removed to the
Mercy hospital where Timothy died
today. and Corcoran exhibited such
profound grief over the affair that the
police and the coroner thought the Civ
ing of the lauCanum was a mistake
His Desperate Plans.
Baked in his purpose to end the lives
of the young ones. Corcoran, it is
thought, made desperate plans for his
act of today.
"a bout 10 o clock the grandmother of
the children. Mrs. Margaret Wren. ac-
companied by her niece. Mrs. Mamie
Cor5ett. called at the Co-ccIan home.
When they rang the bell Corcoran
called, Who is there?"
It's Mamie and your mother" re-
piled Mrs. Corbett.
Corcoran thrust his head out of the
coor, disclosing the fact that he was
attired in his night gown. and closed
the door again, saying, Wait just a
Mamie
The two women opened the door and
stepped into the hallway. Just then
three shots were heard, followed by a
succession of screams.
In the panic the two women darted
out of the doorway and ran down the
street, screaming at the top of their
voices. Hurrying to an adjacent drug
store, word was sent to the Fiftieth |
street and Hyde park police stations. |
An appalling sight greeted the eyes
Of the police officers when they entered /
the Corcoran fiat. In the first bed i
room. just off the parlor, was the body /
Of Margaret, lying in a mass of blood |
at the head of the bed, while at the |
foot lay John, unconscious and breath
ing heavily. In the room to the rear |
Corcoran's dead body was found on the !
floor, while that of the baby. Lizzie. re- !
clined on a pillow. A revolver lay near !
Corcoran's right hand. Five of the !
chambers were empty.
The Shots Were Fatal.
Every one of the wounds. with the
exception of Kates was behind the
ear. Kate was shot in the left tenn
)le. The police removed Kate and |
he baby Lizzie. who was still breath
ng. was taken there. John died with
n a half hour after his arrival at the
and no hopes were held out /
,or the recovery of the others.
Evidence of Corcoran's intention to
Kill his children were sees. in the room,
empty whisky and wine bottles show
ng that he had given the children lib
rally of the liquor and stupeied
hem.
Corcoran was injured about three
while driving a mail wagon His leg
vas broken and his brain was affected.
I is said. Six months ago Corcoran's
wife. the daughter of Mrs. Wrenn. be-
anne insane and since then has been
IN inmate of the asylum at Kankakee
The only child to escape injury was
Marion 16 years of age. who is at the
lospital nursing her brother Clifford.
Lizzie Co-coran died at midnight.