Rensselaer Union, Volume 5, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 June 1873 — The Recent Domestic Tragedy in New York. [ARTICLE]

The Recent Domestic Tragedy in New York.

Ngw Tons, Jons 3. The following are the particulars of the shooting of Mansfield T. Walworth, the author, who was a son of the late Chancellor Walworth, by his son, Frank H. Walworth, of Saratoga. It is to be remarked that Mr.’Walworth and his family have for some time been living separately —Mrs. Walworth and her son Frank residing at Saratoga, and Mr. Walworth boarding in this city. The family is one of the oldest and most respectable in New York. It appears that a serious quarrel has divided the husband and father from his wife and son, and the son claims that his father’s repeated and persistent insulting and threatening letters to his mother are what impelled him to the terrible deed: Monday afternoon, about 8 o’clock, Frank H. Walworth arrived in this city from Saratoga, and put np at the Sturtevant House. He wan assigned to room No. 267. After cleaning himself from the dust of travel, he went out and proceeded to the house where his father was boarding, in Fourth avenue, two doors north of Fifty-fourth street. He inquired for Mr. Walworth, and was informed that he was not at home. He then left a note, asking his father to call at the Stnrtevant House and see him, as he wanted to settle up some family matters. When Mr. Walworth reached his house, he received a note which his son had left, and this morning left the house about 6 o’clock to go and see him. At 6 ;15 Walworth entered the Sturtevant House, and inquired of the night clerk for Frank n. Walworth. The clerk sent a little boyup to his room with the card of Mr. Walworth senior to ascertain if the son would then see him. The boy soon returned with the answer to show the gentleman up. Walworth senior then went Upstairs, and in about fifteen or twenty minutes afterward the sound of shots was heard coming from the room by the chambermaid, who ran down stairs and informed the. clerk. The cierk immediately sent out for an officer, but before he arrived Frank Walworth walked down stairs with his coat on his arm, and stated to the clerk that he had shot his father, and asking where the nearest police station was. After receiving the desired information, he went to the telegraph office, sent off a*, dispatch to his uncle, telling him what he had done and asking him to break the news as gently as possible to his mother, before she could hear of it in another way. He then proceeded to the Thirteenth Street Police Btation, and, walking up to the desk, stated to Sergeant Mullen, who was in charge, that he had shot his father, who was then lying dead in the Stnrtevant House, at the same time handing over his revolver, which proved to be one of Colt’s five-barreled. The Sergeant examined the chambers of the revolver and found that four of them had recently been emptied of their contents. Ha then asked the young man why he committed the murder, ana the answer was “Family troubles.” He was then taken back and locked up in one of the ceils, after which the Sergeant went down to the Sturtevant Honseto ascertain the truth or falsity of the statement made by the prisoner. The hotel clerk told him that it was true, and showed him to the room where the body of senior Walworth had been found lying on the floor with a pool ol blood about his head. Coroner Young soon arrived and made an examination of the body and wounds. There were four bullet-wounds—a wound in the left side and one in the right side of the chest; another in the left arm, and yet another in the right side of the face near the ear. There are marks of powder near this, so that the weapon must have been close to the flesh when it was discharged. The Coroner then gave a permit for the re. moval of the body, which was subsequently taken to the undertaker’s at No. 60 Carmine street. Dr. Marsh will make a post mortem examination of the body at the aboVe place to-morrow morning, and the inquest will be held the latter part of tins week. The prisoner will remain at the stationhouse until after the inquest, and should a verdict be rendered against him, he win be sent to the Tombs. He is but nineteen years of age, and treats the affair very lightly. He expresses no regret for the murder, except in so far as the terrible distress it will occasion his mother and family. Dr. Mfcrsh did not find any pistol in the pockets of the deceased, but found the bote left IS him by his son in his breast pocket. The Tribune famishes the following: Mrs- Walworth, a little more than three years ago, imtituted proceedings for divorce and eventually obtained a bill of separation on the ground of cruel treatment on the part of her husband. She received the sympathy and support of the relatives of herself and husband and all friends who were conversant with the facts in the case. Since her separation from him Walworth has annoyed ner in various ways, principally by writing her abusive letters and occasionally threatening her life. He has also reflected upon her character, it is said, in an indirect way, in one of his works of fiction. . Mrs. Walworth is the daughter of General Hardin, of Illinois, a military man of prominence in the Mexican war, he having especially distinguished himself at Buena Vista. Frank Walworth, on a commitment madeont by the Coroner, has been removed to the Tombs. m « i To prevent illegal voting, the OoMtitution&l Convention of Pennsylvania has adopted a provision which requires that each ballot cast shall be numbered in the order of its reception, and each Yot*r, W he pleases, may asan additional safe, guard write his nanw tm tiift back of the ballot. #w „ v „ . . • ... • ? n .’ fciTj./ s