The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-04-22
THREE ARE SLAIN
WOMAN SHOT AND 7A5Es
cIUesEp TO DEATH NEAR
ELGiN, Ill.
ENDS SEARCH or FIVE DAYS
Coroner Declares Victims Were Slain
by an Assassin-Msnny Sleep, the
Husband and Father. colIopses
Under Strain.

Elgin. ILL.,. April 2i.--Discovery OF
the mutilated bodies of Mrs. Maud
Sleep. wife OF farmer living ga
miles west of Elgin, and her two chill
dren, aged two and four years, IN the
bottom OF a dry cistern on the farm
uncovered a grewsome murder lnys-
terry. which is battling police authori-
ties and residents Of Elgin. Mrs. Sleep
had been missing since last Monday.
When found she was lying In crum-
Piled heap with her babies beside her.
with four bullet wounds In the chest
and neck, while the children's SKULLS
had been smashed. apparently with
the butt end OF a revolver Their
heads were almost severed from their
bodies.
Revolver Found Beside Well
revolver with one chamber emp
tied was found beside the well, while
a blood-stained ak lay in woodshed
adjoining the house. No other clews
have been discovered so far.
immediately after the woman's body
had been taken from the cistern and
the bullet wounds were found. Coroner
Norton communicated with the police
officers and detained every person on
the farm. All others who are known
to have been on the place within the
last week will be placed under suryeil-
lance.
Since Monday Mrs. Sleep and the
babies have been missing. Two daugh-
tiers, aged eleven and nineteen years.
have led the searchers night and day
and have hunted over the entire coun-
tryside. The husband, Nanny Sleep,
has been laboring under a high aerv-
Gus tension. which made watch ever
him necessary.
Find Bodies in the cistern.
A revolver found near the cistern
first directed the searchers to the spot.
Looking down, the first of the men
saw the bodies and shrank back with
cry. Others hurried forward and
the bodies were taken out.
The children we're brought up first.
Their bodies were stained with blood.
The theory that the mother had killed
them in a fit of mental arrangement
and had committed suicide after drop
ping them in the cistern was immedi-
ately advanced
Suicide Theory Abandoned.
When the body of Mrs. Sleep was
drawn up and the four bullet wounds
were discovered the suicide theory
was abandoned
1T seems we are face to face with
a terrible murder" said Coroner Nor
ton. 81 can make nothing out of II.
Well have to wait until we find more
clews."
Mrs. Sleep left her home Monday
evening after making few remarks
TO hired hand.
II am going to take a stroll around
the farm with the children" she said.
Tell Ida to get supper"
Mrs. Sleep left with Orville, aged
two years and Sarah. aged four. She
was not seen after that time by any
one so far discovered.
Family Begins Search.
When dusk came and Mrs. Sleep did
not return Ida, the eleven-year-old
daughter. and her father started
search. Calls for the mother remained
unanswered. They visited the envi-
rons of the farm alone and then called
in the neighbors for help. The search
proved futile.
Throughout the night and the next
day they searched for the mother and
the children and then the husbands
strength gave way. AS time went on
his nervousness increased.
Members of the searching party be-
gan their hunt for more clews as soon
as the bodies had been drawn up and
laid out on the ground beside the els
torn