Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-08-31
DOUBLE TRNGEDY.
A Jealous Husband Commits An
Awful Crime at MarShii6Id.
BOTH OF THE VICTIMS DIED
II Former Lancaster Lddg, Mrs. William
Moran, IS Killed bU Husband.

The people Of Lancaster were very
much shocked and excited Monday
morning over The news received over
: the wires by Mrs Peacock and family
Of the shooting OF her daughter, Mary,
by her husband, William Moran. who
then Killed himself at their home in
Marshleld, Wis. The terrible deed
was committed early Sunday morning
but for some reason the dispatch was
delayed and did not reach her friends
here until after s O'Clock Monday
morning.
Mrs Moran sister, Emma Chase,
and brother-in-law. Joe lycy. went on
the noon train to Marshield and will
bring her body and the four children
back with them AT the request of
the mother the Eastern Stars of this
city will take part in the burial serv-
ices.
AS none Of the particulars have
been received by the family up to
this time we copy from the Milwau-
kee Sentinel the following:
Marshfield, Wis, Aug. "a. William
Moran, fireman on the Northwestern
road, at o'clock this morning shot
his wife twice through the head and
then turned the revolver on himself
Both were instantly killed.
A week ago Mrs. Moran had begun
proceedings for divorce, charging
cruelty, and the double tragedy today
was because she would not consent to
Withdraw the suit. lie had also been
insanely jealous of her, making accu-
sations Of intimacy with other mon.
and then, il is said, beating and chok-
ing her numerically. The couple
have four children, the oldest Of which
is girl OF ii years
Two weeks ago Moran packed up
his clothes and left the house and has
since lived at railroad boarding
house. This morning when the two
youngest children came down stairs
about O'Clock they saw their father
sitting in rocker with his shoes Off
and they ran back to tell their mother
This was what he had been waiting
for, rs he could not get up stairs on
account OF the door being locked, the
entire family having slept on the Sec
ond floor through fear, since the trou-
BILE began. Moran went to his wifes
room whore she was still in bed and
began quarrel with her, making
threats as To what he would do If she
did not Withdraw the divorce suit
against him.
The oldest girl realizing from form
or experiences that violence was to be
expected hurriedly dressed and ran
TO neighbours house for assistance
Before reaching the house on her re-
turn She heard several shots fired and
ran to her mothers room, passing
Moran at the head of the stairs rs he
was rcloading his revolver. She
found her mother dead and the bed
clothes saturated with her blood.
Moran went to a garrett in the rear Of
the house and ut once shot himself
through the brain.
The couple have lived in this city
for the past eight years and it was
only known last winter that he was a
wife beater the woman's pride having
kept her husband s cruelty secret, it
said. for fifteen years 1t was then
discovered by the neighbors after he
had beaten her almost to death and
they had been called in by the daugh-
! ter to render assistance At this
mime Mrs. Moran told an intimate
Friend how she had been knocked
down, kicked and choked innumerable
Times since almost the week OF their
marriage
William Moran is well known in
Madison, where he was familiarly
..nown as "Reddy, and was for many
years driver for the Jefferson omni-
bus line Of which his father is still
superintendent. lie afterwards Sc
cured position rs fireman between
Madison and Lancaster.
In the latter city he met Mary
Chase, a very attractive girl Of re-
spectacle parcntage. After their
marriage they lived in Wausau prior
to moving to this city.
Mrs. Moran was highly respected
here aud member of the Eastern
Star, and the mans jealous accusa-
tions are looked upon BY all who know
her rs entirely without excuse.
For the past two months Moran's
treatment of his wife has been com
mon talk around town rs tho chief of