Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1882 — APPALLING CRIME. [ARTICLE]

APPALLING CRIME.

A Mother Poisons Her Four Children ■ad Herself. Domestic difficulties in a poor Gormin famijly of Chicago culminated in a blood curdling tragedy, Mary Sycboldt, aged 35 years, wife of Caiper Seyboldt, a baker, and residing at 51 F.n-ieli street, murdered her four children and then committed suicide. The story of tne crime is one of the most remarkable in the police annals of Chicago, and ranks with any of the Borgia sensations. At 5 c’cloek in the morning, Casper Seybold arrive! home after working all night at a bakery, and was met at the door by his wife. She was dressed in a new chemise trimmed with lace and blue ribboa, purchased especially for the awful occasion. She acted strangely, and could scarcely stand. “Come in, Casper, come in,” she said, waving her hand, “and see our little children. They are all dead—all our four little children are dead, gone to heaven, Casper. See how preity they are. Every one got nice flowers for the angels ” For a moment the husband was stunned, and thought his wife crazy. He hurried to the bedroom, and there a strange sight met his horrified eyes. Laid out, as for burial, wore the four children—Matilda, aged 12; Anton, aged 7; Annie, aged 2 years and 6 months, and the baby, Agnes, aged less than 4 months. They were dressed in white, trimmed with blue ribbons, hair nicely smoothed and tied with blue ribbons and in’ theirjhands bouquets of fresh flowers. All were stone dead except Matilda, and she was just breathing. Mrs. Syeboldt followed her husband into the room so full of death, and said: “Yes, I sent them all to heaven, because God wanted them." Casper Syeboldt was stupefied.. His lips moved but no sound came. He at last recovered sufficiently to realize the awful deed, and then hastened across the street and summoned Mr. Martin, a grocer. That gentleman hastily procured- the services es a physician, but he could do nothing for the dying girl, Matilda. Attention was then turned.to Mrs. Syeboldt, who was in convulsions. She managed to toll the physician that she gave the poison to her children first, laid them out, and then prepared herself for death, taking the remnant of a large dose of strychnine. She died in great agony shortly after 7 o’clock, and waj laid out beside her children. The motives of the woman in this silent, bloodless destruction of her children and self may be partly gleaned from the following notes ana bits »t writing found among the effects ot the family. They are by the oldest daughter of 12. The resignation shown by the writer is remarkable: “I wish to all my playmates a better and a happier time than I had, so good-by to you all, for you all are welcome to the place where I have gone. Remember me.’’ Among the papers was one containing two verses of the hymn beginning • “ There is a happy land,” etc. Another note is addressed to a playmate: “ Mary Murphy: Please tell Lizzie Martin [probably the daughter of the landlord of the house, 51 Finnell], Minnie Otten and Lizzie Reymould that I have forgotten their dispute and forgive them. I guess tliey will feel sorry for it May they think of me as their friend. “Tilly Syeboldt.” Other notes.read as follows : “ Dear Papa: Forgive ma, we have to leave you. Mamma thought it lias the best we could do. lam now in tiie better land, where we all live in freedom. Your daughter, Matilda.” “ Dear Papa: Please bury us decent at Wunder’s cemetery, that we may all be buried togtjthor. That’s all I request of you. My knife and money is for your present, and is in the collar-box. Buy for Anton, ;Annie and self flowers from the money which I have saved. It is mine. The knife is yours.” “ For May Murphy : I will tell you theetory of our trouble. My mother was always sick, you know, and thought of dying often, and thought how if she was dead how we would be treated, and so thought best fpr all of us to die at once, and bought something to kill us. The baby first, Annie second, Tony third, and I after. We did not suffer much, and now wo are all out of trouble.” •• Posey Morris: Take the book that I’ve brought home from school. It is not mine. It is the History of the United States. Take it to room 5, to George Caproni. It is on the lower shelf of the closet.” “This is for Mary and Nell Muiphy, my two dear playmates. I wish you a happier ana better time than I had. Good-by. You are all welcome.” Two or three of the slips containing portions of the above were written in German characters, the remainder in English.