The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-18
MURDERED HIS FAMILY
Rash Act of an Insane Man in
Chicago.
A BULLET FOR HIMSELF
Tried Laudenum First and Then a Rec
volver-Three Are Dead and Two
Dying - Stupifled Them
With Liquor.

Chicago, Nov 11.-Carrying out plot
he had apparently planned with delib-
Grafton, Cornelius Corcoran to-day shot
four of his children. killing two Of
them, and then ended his own life. The
tragedy occurred at his home, No. 54OI
Dearborn street.
The dead:
CORNELIUS CORCORAN, aged AZ
years.
MARGARET CoRCoRAN. years.
died at Mercy hospital,
JOHN CORCORAN, I years old, died
at Mercy hospital
The wounded:
Kate Corcoran, IA years old If She
recovers 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 d fiat building
for a month past. To all outward APP
pearances he was kind and considers
ate. For some days he had plotted for
the death of his children and he nearly
accomplished his purpose Tuesday 4
night. Hearing the children cough, flai
arose and in the darkness administer
ed laudanum to five of them, Clifford.
Timothy, John, Margaret and Lizzie.
Mercy hospital, where Timothy died to-
day and Corcoran exhibited such pro-
found grief over the affair that the po-3
lice and the coroner thought the giv-l
ing of the laudaunm was a mistake.
Baked in his purpose to end the lives
of the young ones Corcoran, 1t is
thought, made desperate plans for his
act of to-day.
About 10 O'clock the grandmother OF
the children. Mrs. Margaret Wrenn,
accompanied by her niece, Mrs. Mamie
Corbett called at the Corcoran home.
When they rang the bell Corcoran
called. who is there?'
1T is Mamie and your mother" re-
piled Mrs. Corbett
Corcoran thrust his head out Of tha
door. disclosing the fact that he was
attired in his night gown and closed
the door again, saying: Wait just a
minute, Mamie
The two women opened the door and
stepped into the hallway. Just then
three shots We're 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 Fifth street
and Hyde Park police station. An ap-
palling sight greeted the eyes of the
police officers when they entered the
COrcOran fiat. In the hrSt bedroom.
just off the paror 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 breathing
heavily In the room to the rear Cor
coran's dead body was found on the
floor, while that of Lizzie, the baby.
reclined on q pillow. A revolver lay
near Corcoran's right hand. Five OF
the chambers were empty
Every one of the wounds, with the
exception of Kates. was behind the 4
ear. Kate 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 half an /
hour after his arrival at the hospital. |
and no hopes were held out for the re-
covery of the others. Evidence of Cor !
coran's intention to kill his children
was seen in the room. empty whiskey
and wine bottles showing that he had
given the children literally of the IL
quor and stupefied them. Corcoran was
injured about three years ago in a COL
lision with a cable car while driving a.
mail wagon. His leg was broken and
his brain was affected, it Is said
Six months ago Corcorans wife, tho
daughter of Mrs Wrenn, became in
sane and since then has been an inmate
of the asylum at Kankakee.
The only child to escape injury was
Marion 16 years of age, who is at tha
hospital nursing her brother Clifford.