From the January 8, 1897 edition of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle:
“Mrs. Kate Brennan of 416 East Sixteenth Street, New York, last night narrowly escaped having her throat cut with a huge carving knife by her son, Matthew, a hunchback. The latter demanded money for liquor and when his request was refused he attacked his mother. The opportune arrival of another son saved Mrs. Brennan from being killed. The hunchback had to be bound to a bed. He cut his brother severely before the knife could be taken away from him. He was sent to the workhouse for six months this morning.”