New-York tribune., 1901-05-18
KILLS SON AND HIMSELF.
FATHER USES CYANIDE OF POTASSIUM
FOR THE DOUBLE TRAGEDY.
NO REASON KNOWN FOR THE TERRIBLE
DEED OF A BOOKKEEPER IN HIS PEI
HAM HoME-QUEER CONDUCT
OF A STRANGER.

HAM ROME-QUEER CONDUCT
OF A STRANGER
John L. Haigh, twenty-eght years old an
pert bookkeeper for Roberts. Cushman & Co.
wholesa le dealers in hat trimmings in Washing
ton Place, this city. poisoned his six-year- old son
last night and then committed suicide at his
home i'm Pelham. The boy died in terrible
agony before a physician arrived The poison
used was cyanide Of potassium. pound can of
it was found in the where the tragedy oc-
Cured. it bore the name Of Schieffelin & Co,
the wholesale druggists. The accountant it is
believed bought a large quantity from the
wholesale house under the pretence that he was
in the drug business.
The cause of the tragedy is mystery Cor
oner Banning. of Mount Vernon. held an ex-
animation last night but did not succeed in
clearing it up. Mrs Mary HaiGh the widow of
the suicide, thinks that overwork and worry
were the causes. She is Frustrated from the
shock.
The Haighs have lived in Pelham about two
years. They have been prominent workers in
the Congregational Church of the Covenant. Mr..
Haigh and his wife always seemed to get along
happily together She told Coroner Banning
that the only trouble they had ever had was
when she scolded him for working too hard.
Mrs. Haigh is pleasant looking young woman.
Haigh was tall and square shoudered. and en-
joyed outdoor sports. His wife says that he
never gambled drank. The couple had two
children whom Haigh idolized. One of them
was Charley, boy of five. and the other is so
young that he has not been named He is
known Baby"
STORY OF THE TRAGEDY.
Haigh had a pair Of pet goats for the children
and when he was home his neighbors say most
of his time spent with them in play. Ac-
cording 10 the version of the tragedy given by
Mrs. Haigh to Coroner Banning. Haigh returned
to Pelham last night as usual at , o'clock and
ate supper at o'clock with the children and
herself. He appeared to be in pleasant mood
and after the meal suggested to little Charley
that they play hide and seek.
All right. papa" exclaimed the child in de-
light
You upstairs and hide and then I'll go
up and hunt for you. Mamma and baby can
stay in the dining until we get through
Mrs Haigh took the baby on her lap and sat
down to read a newspaper. She forgot all about
the game Of hide and seek until suddenly she
heard a scream. II was from Charley. He ap-
paared 10 be choking At first she thought it
was the TWO at play, but as the screams grew
louder she knew that something terrible was
going on. She bounded upstairs TO the front
fedroom where the screams came from and was
surprised 70 find the door locked. The cries Of
the child by this time we're ceasing Mrs Haigh
called vainly to her husband to open the door.
She received no reply. Finally the cries and
groans stopped altogether. The maddened
mother struggled vainly with the door. but was
not abe 10 open IT. It had been locked from the
inside
Mrs. Haigh finally gave up the task OF getting
into the room and ran out and called in he
neighbors One of them, a man named James
Stacey. succeeded in breaking the door from its
hinges. When Mrs. Haigh caught a glimose of
the interior she tainted.
CLAsPED IN HIS FATHERS ARMS
Lying on the floor was the tall form Of her
husband. The boy was clutched in his arms
and beside them lay a little doll. Neither Of
them was vet dead, but they were unconscious.
and their faces and mouths were terribly burned
The pound can Of poison and the glass in which
it had been mixed lay beside the bodies. Haigh
had undoubtedly held the boy in his arms while
he forced down his throat the burning solution
Then he had taken drink Of it himself
In five minutes after the bodies We're found
the father died without having regained con-
sciousness. The boy lived a few minutes longer
than his father. His mother and the neighbors
carried him downstairs and tried to force milk !
down his throat. Then they sent for Dr. Van
Patten, of Mount Vernon. but the child died
before he arrived
Mrs Haigh told Coroner Banning that she
knew of no reason for her husbands deed except
that he was despondent or overworked She
said that he hard worker. and frequently
put in his time at nights the books of the
firm. Haighs neghbors say that he never ap-
peared despondent, and that he was the last
man in the world they would expect to commit
such a shocking deed. Coroner Banning did not
search the dead mans clothing last night to see
II he had left any letter explaining his reasons
for wanting TO die.
The house was upset and Mrs. Haigh was
in such hysterical condition that the coroner
postponed his investigation until to-day
a peculiar story told in Pelham last night
about a strange young man who in Pelham
the day before the tragedy to see Haigh He
visited his cottage at Firstst. and Sixth ave,
and not being able 10 find him, went into the
drug store of s. G. Lyman, where he bought a
sheet of paper and an envelope and wrote note |
Mr.. Lyman is also the postmaster of Pelham !
The stranger, who was about twenty eight years
old, appeared to be nervous.
Here is an important letter for Mr. Haigh" |
said he TO the druggist, when he had finished |
Il want him to get IT tonight. Are you GER |
tain that he will call for his mail?'' The drug
gist informed the stranger that Mr.. Hagh sell |
dom failed to stop at the postoffice on his way |
home. This seemed TO satisfy him. and he |
went away. II learned yesterday that |
Haigh did not go to New-York on his usual |
train, which leaves Pelham at o'clock. He was |
seen in Pelham as late as IL o'clock by some |
of his neighbors.
THE POSTOFFICE AND TIE TUNNEL