Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1879 — DOUBLE TRAGEDY. [ARTICLE]

DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

A Private Marriage i» Discovered, and the Bride Commits Suicide—The Husband Unsuccessfully Attempts to Follow Her. From Dr. J. L. Jones, of this city, we learn the particulars of a melancholy tragedy which has taken from family and friends one of Perry township’s lairest and most intelligent ladies, and but for a fortunate accident would have lost to them a most worthy young man. Miss Mary Holt was the daughter of Jacob Holt, a man of wealth and prominence, and one of the most respected citizens of Perry township, one was in the prime of her young life, intelligent, cultured and refined. She wall be remembered by many of the teachers of this county as an attendant at institutes and examinations. She was respected by all. admired by many and most fondly loved by one. James Ashburn was a worthy young man, living on a farm near by. Between himself and the fair Mary there had sprung 9a attachment which, beginning iu joy, has been the death of one, and will be a lifelong blight on the other.

The family of the young lady were averse to her attachment with this young man, and had provided what they deemed a more eligible suitor, who was expected to arrive in a short time to claim the hand of the young lady against her will, but at the bidding of her parents. To secure themselves against the rigor of parental demands, the young people resolved upon private marriage, which was solemnized by Esqire Wald rip about three weeks ago, only a few trusted friends being present. They went to their respective homes, and only met occa sionally in company with a sister o the young wife. 011 last Saturday, Mr. Ashburncommunicated to his wife the fact that their secret had been divulged, and that it would be impossible to keep it from her parents. She declared she would die before she would face the storm of parental such communication would bring upon her, while he endeavored to dissuade and comfort her. Immediately on her return home, however, she went to her room and swallowed a dose of strychnine, and in thirty minutes she was a corpse. The young husband, in the agony of his grief, declared that they should not be long parted, but was closely watched by anxious friends. On Sunday he was informed by his cousin, in whose care he had been left, that the funeral procession would pass the house soon, and was asked if he would go. He replied that he would, and directed the young man to go and get the horses ready. Hardly had his companion left the room until the report of. a pistol was heard, and hurrying back, ne found young Ashburn on the floor, weltering in his own blood. The muzzle of the pistol had been placed almatt against nis forehead, but in the excitement ot his crazy grief the range had been too low. and the ball, ranging downward, had lodged in his face, without inflicting a necessarily fatal wound. He is now under the care of physicians, who entertain strong hopes of his recovery. Should he recover, he will be removed as soon as possible from the sorroVful associations of his present home and taken to Indiana, where he had formerly lived.—[Woodson County (Kansas) Post.