Evening journal., 1905-03-07
CHESTER SLAYER
ONCE LIVED HERE
Chatham Was a Son Of a
Former Pastor of Scott
Church
SMYRNA WAS HIS BIRTH PLACE

John L. Chatham, aged S4 years, a
prominent druggist. at Sixth and Ker-
lin streets, in Chester. Pa, beat to
death his mother-in-law, Mrs. Isaac
Abrams, aged So years, fatally injured
his wife. Mrs. Sarah Chatham, aged 2S
years, badly hurt his two years old
daughter Harriet. and then shot him
self through the head. dying last night
In the Chester Hospital. The awful
tragedy was committed yesterday af-
ternoon, the slayer who was insane, us
ing a hammer in beating his victims on
the head.
Chatham was a former resident OF
this city. He was a son OF the late
Rev. Francis M. Chatham. who was
pastor OF Scott NJ. e. Church during
the first year OF the wilmington Con-
ference and who died at Berlin, Nd.
on May 20, 1878. while pastor OF the
Methodist Church at that place. The
murderer suicide was born at Smyrna
while his father was pastor OF the
Smyrna Circuit
Conference Supports His Mother.
Mrs. Annie d. Chatham was married
TO the clergyman at Smyrna and he
brought her to Scott Church as his
bride one year after assuming the pas
crate. She is now being supported by
the Wilmington NJ Il. Conference and
Is confined in Kirkbride's Insane Asy-
/ lum, Philadelphia. She has been In
that institution for about 25 years. II
Is through his mother that the Chester
druggist inherited insanity
The Rev. Mr.. Chatham was a WE'LL
known minister OF the Wilmington
Conference. While delivering an inn
passioned sermon I'm the Berlin. Nd.
lChurch he was suddenly stricken with
heart disease and died IN the pulpit
His death so shocked his widow that
she soon lost her mind and has since
been demented.
The wife OF the slayer, who is II
the Chester Hospital, is conscious al
times today. but the physicians hav,
no hopes for her recovery. She muir.
murs frequently: Raise me up. John
dear" and then lapses into uncon.
seriousness. She is suffering from TIVE
fractures OF the skull.
A note addressed to Mrs. Chatham
II is said, has been found in one Of tn
down-stirs rooms. which is now in pos
session OF Coroner w. G.. p. Gilmour
but ne refuses TO divulge the contents
Il is hinted that the possession OF thi
J by Mrs. Chatham may have made he
= husband ny I'm a rage. and may hav
caused the trouble.
Scene Of the Crime.
The scene OF the crime was the sit
ting room Of Chatham's home, I'm tn
rear Of the drug store. Mrs. Abram
was dead when nelghbors discovers
het, while Chatham was found behinl
the prescription counter his llfe's blool
ebbing from a gaping pistol wounl
In his temple. He failed to regain con
seriousness.
Mrs. Chatham when asked as ,to tn
identity OF her assailant, gasped, "Johl
John did it," meaning her husband.
The -year-old daughter OF tn
lChathams, garbed only I'm a tiny shirt
stained by her mothers blood. lay clos
beside the PROSTATE form OF its par
ent The child. too. had been attacke,
by her father who lacerated her hea,
by a blow from the bloody hammer.
All evidence gathered by Chief o
Police Leary and Coroner Gilmour. az
ter an investigation into the tragedy
substantiates the theory that Chatham
became violently insane following
quarrel with his wife, and then attack
ed the two women and his only child
He was a man OF moods. his friend
. declare.
The tragedy was discovered by En-
anuel Eliason, a delivery boy, who en-
tered the store to buy cigarettes.