Culled from the October 8, 1886 issue of the Walnut (Kansas) Journal.
Whipped the Man and Woman
A Whirling Pillar of Flame
Culled from the Allentown Leader, Monday, June 22, 1908.
Generously donated by Howard Presser.
Clubbed To Death
October 8, 1886
Marion Times-Standard
I was able to locate a follow-up article indicating what happened to the murderous cops. Something, but not much:
October 16, 1886
New York Times
A Young Jerseyman Murdered
October 3, 1886
A Young Jerseyman Murdered.
NEW YORK, Oct. 3.—Brazilla Vanderveer, aged twenty-six years, a native of Red Bank, N.J., but lately living in this city, was brutally murdered to-day by John Hughes, known as the “Dangerous Blacksmith.” Hughes and some friends went into an oyster saloon to get some chowder. Young Vanderveer went into the place and sad down to eat. The roughs refused to pay for their meal and assaulted the cashier, who grappled with his assailant. The cashier was a little man and Vanderveer went to his assistance. Hughes struck him a terrible blow on the forehead, felling him to the floor. Vanderveer was picked up and a physician called. Before he arrived the young man was dead. His skull had been fractured by the blow. Hughes escaped. A general alarm was sent out to all the precincts.
From the Collection of The Comtesse DeSpair
The 1886 Morbid Scrapbook
A Fatal Practical Joke
December 6, 1886
A Fatal Practical Joke.
READING, Pa., Dec. 6.—Joseph Seaman, of this city, met a friend on the street today, who had a bottle, which he jokingly said contained old rye, and offered Seaman a drink. Seamon placed the bottle to his mouth, and before he could be stopped drank some of its contents, which proved to be ammonia. His stomach and intestines were so badly burned that he became unconscious at once. His injuries will prove fatal.
From the Collection of The Comtesse DeSpair
The 1886 Morbid Scrapbook
Leaped from Brooklyn Bridge for $25
December 5, 1886
Leaped from Brooklyn Bridge for $25.
NEW YORK, Dec. 5.—Another Fourth-ward man yesterday jumped from the Brooklyn Bridge into the East river. The affair was kept a secret, and the facts did not leak out until late in the afternoon. Michael J. Hess, a laborer, living on Oak street, was the hero. He was picked up by a friend who was waiting in a boat. Hess was conscious. He was rowed ashore and carried to a saloon, where stimulants were poured down his throat. He revived from the shock, and said that in the period between leaving the bridge and striking the water he was not conscious. Hess left the saloon and walked through the streets in his wet clothes to get home. He drank more whisky and got into bed very drunk. He is now doing well.
From the Collection of The Comtesse DeSpair
The 1886 Morbid Scrapbook
Young Finn’s Jealousy
December 5, 1886
YOUNG FINN’S JEALOUSY.
He Tells His Adored to Call at a Hotel,
Where She Finds Him Dead.
NEW YORK, Dec. 5.—Thomas F. Finn registered at the West Side Hotel, Sixth avenue and Fifteenth street, on Friday evening, and got a room for the night. When it was entered yesterday morning he was found lying on his bed with a bullet hole in his breast and a discharged revolver in his hand. He had been dead for hours. A letter addressed to the landlord of the hotel stated that he was going to take his life, and asked that in case he failed to make a good job of it, he should be sent to the New York Hospital.
Finn was twenty years old, and has been a head messenger for the Mutual District Telegraph Company. He committed suicide through jealousy of the attentions by young men to a girl named Kitty Daly, twenty years old, who works in Stein’s silk factory. The suicide left a note which read: “K.D. has been the cause of this. She will understand all. Finn.”
The girl says she knew him since childhood. For a year past the couple have kept company. She refused to marry him once, but kept up the acquaintance. He was of a very jealous disposition. He met her on Friday by appointment, and said he had intended to kill her and himself, but Father Wall, of St. Agnes’ Church, had been trying to dissuade him, so he had told the priest that he would let the girl live, but made no promise about himself. Upon leaving her he told her to call at the West Side Hotel next day. She went there yesterday and learned his fate.
From the Collection of The Comtesse DeSpair
The 1886 Morbid Scrapbook
Froze To Death. Another Drunkard Gone.
February 2, 1867
Froze to Death. Another Drunkard Gone.
Mr. Thomas Warner, a man of superior intelligence and information and once a minister of the gospel, froze to death, while in a helpless state of intoxication, near Elysian, Le Sueur county, on the night of the 16th of January. The day previous to his death and most of the night he had spent in a saloon in the village and left for his home, near morning, in a state of intoxication. When within one hundred rods of home, he commenced falling down every few rods until at last he was obliged to crawl on his hands and feet, which he did until he got within ten or twelve rods of his own door, but could get no farther, then falling forward from his crawling position died. He leaves a very interesting family.
Thus another victim to intemperance has gone − perished in a snow bank, almost at his own door, and the tears of the widow and orphan are falling and aching hearts are almost bursting in breasts that know no comfort.
We have been fearful for the past winter or two that we should have a similar case to the above to report, as having occurred in this village, but so far, thank God, all have escaped, but no one knows for how long.
Culled from the February 2, 1867 issue of the Chatfield Democrat (Minnesota),
as reprinted in Coffee Made Her Insane.
A Fitting End For Both
December 6, 1886
A FITTING END FOR BOTH.
A Gambler Shoots the Woman Who Cast Him Off and Then Himself.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.—A double tragedy occurred to-night in the “Division,” a disreputable part of the city, which, by reason of the prominence in their respective lines of the parties concerned, created quite a little excitement among certain of Washington’s inhabitants. About eighteen months ago John Rowe, a gambler of New York City, came to Washington with a full pocket book. He was accompanied by Minnie Raymond, his mistress, whom he soon established as proprietress of a bagnio south of the avenue. About six months ago he encountered a streak of bad luck and lost all his money. He was discarded by his paramour in favor of another man, said to be the son of a prominent dry goods merchant.
Rowe went on to the house and asked her for money. On being refused, he upbraided her for her ingratitude, and was ejected from the house by the police. He threatened the woman’s life at the time. Luck still ran against him, and to-night, mad with jealousy and his reduced circumstances, he went to the dive and shot the woman through the head immediately on seeing her. He then shot himself through the head causing almost instant death. The woman is still alive, but will probably die.
From the Collection of The Comtesse DeSpair
The 1886 Morbid Scrapbook
The 1886 Morbid Scrapbook
The Starving Anarchist.
December 8, 1886
THE STARVING ANARCHIST.
Jansen Placed in an Asylum for the Insane and Forced to Take Food.
CHICAGO, Dec. 8—Henry Jansen, the wife-murderer, was transferred from the jail proper to the insane ward yesterday and his fast, which had continued for some days, was abruptly broken off. He was very weak from lack of nourishment, and could not have survived his course of abstinence many days longer. Superintendent Kiley determined to compel the man to take food, and to that end he prepared a very palatable concoction of brandy, sugar, milk, and eggs. As was expected, Jansen refused to take it. A muscular attendant pinioned the patient, and his clinched teeth were pried apart with a spoon. A spoonful of the mixture was poured into his mouth, and as he spattered and spat in an effort to eject it, a clasp was put down on his nose and as he gasped for breath, down went the life-giving fluid. In this painful fashion, while he writhed and roared between breaths, Jansen was compelled to swallow a gill of the fluid. Twice, later in the day, his heroically-administered meal was given him. His strength rapidly grew, although this improvement put him in an ugly frame of mind, and he denounced his saviors in the most bitter terms.
From the Collection of The Comtesse DeSpair
The 1886 Morbid Scrapbook
The 1886 Morbid Scrapbook