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Foreign News
October 19, 1801
Jenks's Portland Gazette
Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
What is this article about?
A man in a fit of insanity in St. John's, Newfoundland, attacked a poor woman's house with a hatchet, killing her and her three children, and wounding six others, five of whom died. Colonel Patton disarmed the attacker.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
HALIFAX, SEPT. 22.
A letter from St. John's, Newfoundland, to an officer in this garrison, mentions that a person in a dreadful fit of insanity, having possessed himself of a hatchet, went to the house of a poor woman, in which there were three children, and split their skulls in a most shocking manner --The mother hearing the cries of her children, ran to their assistance and shared the same fate.--The unhappy wretch was at length disarmed by Col. Patton: but not before he had dangerously wounded 9 persons, six of which were dead, when the vessel in which the letter came, left St. Johns.
A letter from St. John's, Newfoundland, to an officer in this garrison, mentions that a person in a dreadful fit of insanity, having possessed himself of a hatchet, went to the house of a poor woman, in which there were three children, and split their skulls in a most shocking manner --The mother hearing the cries of her children, ran to their assistance and shared the same fate.--The unhappy wretch was at length disarmed by Col. Patton: but not before he had dangerously wounded 9 persons, six of which were dead, when the vessel in which the letter came, left St. Johns.
What sub-type of article is it?
Violent Crime
Insanity Attack
What keywords are associated?
St Johns
Newfoundland
Hatchet Attack
Insanity
Murders
Col Patton
What entities or persons were involved?
Col. Patton
Where did it happen?
St. John's, Newfoundland
Foreign News Details
Primary Location
St. John's, Newfoundland
Key Persons
Col. Patton
Outcome
9 persons wounded, 6 dead
Event Details
A person in a dreadful fit of insanity possessed himself of a hatchet and went to the house of a poor woman with three children, splitting their skulls. The mother ran to assist and shared the same fate. The attacker was disarmed by Col. Patton after wounding 9 persons total, with 6 dead by the time the vessel left St. Johns.