The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-07-02
REIGN OF CRIME
IN PHILADELPHIA
six Women Killed or Wounded In
One Day.
SAD END OF LOVE AFFAIRS.
Old Beau of Mrs. Annie Casner Kills Her
Bride Of Less Than three Months
Fatally Stabbed Young Woman Stab
bed Through Heart, 1t Is Alleged, by
Man With " hom She Eloped.

Philadelphia, Pa. Especially Six
women figured in wave of crime
that swept over Philadelphia. In
furiated by the refusal of the girl TO
whom he had been engaged before
she married his rival to return to
her husband, Robert +. Brown, 20
years old, murdered Mrs. Annie Cas-
ner, aged 81 years.
A bride of less than three months
was probably fatally slashed with a
razor welded by her husband because
she had refused to have anything
more to do with him.
The finding of the body Of a mid
dle-aged woman in Wood Street
lodging-house furnished the police
with a third tragedy. Her husband
was committed to prison pending the
outcome of the investigation that is
being made of the peculiar circum-
stances of her death
Lured from her home, at 210
Adam Street, Mrs. Annie Casner, aged
21 years, was stabbed through the
heart by Robert E. Brown, her junior
by one year, who lived at 1924 Rus
sell Street. A butcher by trade. he
had armed himself with a long knife
with a keen edge. Young Brown
killed, the police assert, the girl to
whom he was affianced for more than
two years before she became the
bride of George W. Casner, Jr., nine
months ago.
Annie, | want you to return 10
your husband" he told her while
with her on the street. According
to confession, the police say he after
ward made, Il am to blame for you
having separated from him. Go back
to George Casner and be a good and
faithful wife"
Mrs. Casners refusal to accede TO
Browns request angered him and
finally quarrel ensued. Brown drew
the knife, which he had concealed
under his coat, and struck at her
with it. Her arm was slashed by the
sharp edge and finally well-directed
blow by Brown drove the knife
through her heart. AS she fell life
less to the sidewalk he fed to the
home of his sister, where he was
arrested.
Equally tragic was the attempted
murdeu of pretty 17year-old Mrs.
Matthew Hazel at her home by her
husband, the police allege. April l
the couple eloped to Camden and
were married secretly The girls
parents had objected to Hazel, who is
22 years old After their marriage
the two lived together for a month
and then went to Baltimore for
few days. Returning to this city they
lived for two weeks at boarding
house, and from there the girl went
to her parents. Wednesday night
last Hazel appeared at his young
wife's home.
He attacked her and broke her
right jaw. Then he left, knocking
her father down as he fed Again
appearing at the house shortly after
6 o'clock A. NJ, he went to his wifes
room; found her in bed with her
sister. He told her he had come af-
ter some clothing he had left in the
house and she gave 1t to him, when
he promised to go away and not
return. He grasped his wife by the
hair, drew her head back and, it is
alleged, slashed her throat with a
razor, inflicting a deep wound that
will probably cost her life. He then
escaped.
In a poorly furnished room Mrs
Catharine Skiffington, aged 40 years.
was found dead by the police. Scat
tered about the room were evidences
of a prolonged carouse, the police
assert, including nearly so empty bot
ties of whiskey. Mrs Skiffington was
awarded $1,000 as a result of dam
age suit she instituted against the
| city last winter, and since then she
and her husband have been drinking
heavily. Her husband, Patrick Skif-
hngton, was unable to give salts
factory explanation of the woman's
death, and was locked up.