Year: 1874

burgh, y. Y, Mary Ann Dwyer, blue
eyed young Irish woman, murdered her
three children and fatally injured her
husband. Michael Dwycr was one Of the
| striking coopers from the oil works. He
married his wife in Bristol, r. l.. eight
years ago, and being thrown out of employ
ment soon afterward, found employment in
Brooklyn. With the large body Of coopers
who threw down their tools six weeks ago,
in opposition TO the demands Of their
employers, Dwyer quit work


Two weeks ago his provisions were low.
and his wife begged him to 90 to work
again, and he did so. His society men
ordered him away from the works, and he
obeyed them. He had been attending the
coopers meetings regularly He returned
home at night after a society meeting.
partially under the influence of liquor. His
wife talked with him about how poorly they
were living on the small support the Union
gave to him, and told him to go to work on
the next day. He said he thought the
strike was over, and he would see bv the
papers whether the coopers were going to
give in


His wife then told him that she couldn't
stand his being out of work any longer.
She asked him whether he didn't lie when
he said that the strike was over. He said
no, and added that the papers would have
the truth about it in the morning. They
prepared to retire. yet talking about DIVERS
going to work. Mrs Dwyer, had put her
three children to bed in the back room
Maggie, the Oldest, seven years old, with
her head at the foot of the bed, and Jimmie.
aged fout, and Timothy, aged two, at the
head on two pillows. Mrs Dwyer lay
down by her husband on the folding lounge
in the front room. She did not clear off
the table when they had taken supper, bat
raked out the fire in the cook stove and laid
out her fiat irons ready to iron their cloth
ing.


At halfpast five the next morning she
was dressed and moving about her room
She looked into the hall the first thing to
see whether the newsman had brought the
paper. 1t was too early, and she went into,
the street to buy one. The newsboys had
not reached that part Of the city, and she
returned and told her husband. He dressed
and went into the street and found one.
He met Owen Murphy, a cooper, who
worked with him. Murphy said that he
was tired Of waiting for the Union to COM
promise or conquer, and that he was going
to work. Dwyer said that he wouldn't
hold out much longer.


Mrs. Dwyer awaited his return and asked
him what the paper said about it. He said
he had not read it vet but he had Just met
Owen Murphy, who said that he was going
to work on the next day. "If Owen
Murphy, who owns house and lot, can
afford to 90 to work, you can, said Mrs.
Dwyer. The husband said he thought he
would in day or two. His wife replied
that they were getting out of food she did
not want him to lay about in the saloons
with the idle men who were on the strike
Dwyer sat down by the front window to
read He told his wife that the strike was
not over and he was talking about what he
had read when suddenly he was struck to
the floor by hammer in her hands.


At o'clock the tenants below heard a
heavy fall to the floor, and, running into
the hail. saw Michael Dwyer dart into Mrs.
Slaven's room, just in the rear Of his own,
having his head bent down Blood was
dripping over his coat. He called to Mrs
Slaven to do something for him, saying
that he was hurt She put a wet cloth to
his wounds, and told him to hurry for
doctor Mrs. Dwyer then entered the
room with a coopers hoop hammer in her
hand, and darted towared her husband.
Mr.. Slaven wrenched the hammer from
her. thrust her out of the door, and stood
against it until he heard her shut the door
behind her in her own room. Then Dwyer
ran into the street, and meeting Sergt.
Fielding. told him that Mrs. Dwyer had
struck him with hammer, and that If
did not 90 to the house she
might hurt the children The Sergeant
hurried and met Mrs Dwyer at the door.
He arrested her and started for the police
station with her, telling her that she had
almost killed her husband I'The children
are dead, too, she said calmly, looking into
his face.


He took her to her room, and she led
the way to the door One Of the tenants
met the officer, saying, Mrs. Dwyer says
she has killed her little children" :" The
The Sergeant looked INTO the room anu cd"
that the woman's words were true. The
three dead bodies, bloody and rePulsiye,
lay in a mangled heap on the bed. He
quickly returned with his prisoner to the
police station. She went willingly, and
calmly gave her name. She said that she
was twenty-five years old, and, without
quiyer in her face, added


II wanted my little children to be in
heaven, and | thought at first would go
there alone, but then | thought L would
send them there before me-


She was quiet and lady-like, but there
was a restlessness III her eyes. Nothing
else in her manner justified the suspicion
of insanity. In the cell she quietly took
her seat and remained almost immoVable.