The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-01-20
KILLED FAMILY
AND SELF.
Bergen the Base Baller
Drained His Wife
With an Axe.

North Brookfeld. Mass, Jan. 19-Mar-
tin Bergen, the well-known ba eball play
or, and one Of the Boston Clubs catchers
last season, killed his wife and two child
rem with an AK this morning and then cut
his own throat with u razor at his home
In the eastern part of North Brookfield
The crimes were discovered by Michael
/ Bergen, Martins father, who was staying
at the house Of a neighbor. Mr. Bergen
went to his sons house about 8 o clock, but
finding the curtains drawn went away
suppo,ing the family to DO asleep. About
noon he returned, and, finding every thing
In tho same condition MS earlier in the day
he tried the door, found 1t unfastened and
en- cred.
Martin Boreen's body and that of the
little girl, Florence, six and IL half years
old, were lying on the kitchen floor while
III the adjoining bedroom woro the bodies
OF Mrs. Bergen and her three yoar- oil son.
Joseph Mrs. Bergen was lying on the bed
with her feet hanging over the side. while
her hands were raised aa though In sup
plicaton or trying to ward off u blow. The
little boy was lying on the floor.
Mrs Brrgen's skull was crushed. Tho
little giiis body showed that several blows
had fallen upon Der head. Bergcn's throat
had boon cut with razor
THE AUTHORITIES SUMMONED.
Mr.. Bergen spread the alarm and the
medical examiner, DR.. l.. w. Norwood in
formed the authorities. In tho bedroom
was found the axe hat Bergen had used.
All tho circumstances indlra cd that the
murders had blen committed only short
time before the elder Bergen's first visit,
Dr. Norwood expressed lhe opinion that
the murders wcro committed by Martin
Bergen and that bio had suddenly became
Insane. lie thought Mrs. Bergen was the
first victim, that the boy and then the
girl received their death blows, and that
after ho hal slain all the rest of his fam.
lily, Bergen stood before tho looking glass
and killed himself.
Mrs. bergen the murdered woman was
thirty-one years old and was Miss Harriet
Gaines, of Pit;silcld. She was married to
Martin 'rgen about seven years ago.
She worked in il mill AZ North Brook
Held aud boarded with Rufus In
graham.
Mrs. lngrnham said today that Mrs.
Bergen was very attractive woman. After
Their marriage MIR. and Mrs. Bergen
continually finding fault, and this he con-
tinued to do after they began living on
snow ball Fa m" which Bergen bought
and where ne spent his winters.
HAD SHOWN SIGNS OF INSANITY.
ject TO fit, of melancholy This was noti-
oeaby tho case last O1tobar whsn no
showed signs of insanity and priest was
called to soc him
Bergen was BON in North BrOokfeld in
1871. His professional career was begun
with tho Wllkesbarre Club, of the East.
ern League in 1893. He ufterward played
viii tho Pitsbnrg, Lewiston, Kansas
I ity and Bos Oh teams.
Boston, Jan, 10 A. II Soden, presi-
dent of the Bos on Baseball Corporation
declared that Bergen had bean dospond-
cnt and erra'ic while with the team last
year. and that he feared all tho time that |
the crtchcr would shoot Ole OF his fellow |
players
Brrgen's connection with thu Boston |
team expired October 10 last. Nothing |
had been aid to him about the next sen
on, MIR. Sndrn said, and no did not think
Bergen would have been On tine team noxs
season.