Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1875 — A Pennsylvania Tragedy. [ARTICLE]

A Pennsylvania Tragedy.

About five years ago William Russell, a farmer, living a few miles from this village, was left a widower with one child. The care of the farmer’s house then devolved upon his daughter .Harriet, aged sixteen years. A girl named Mary Stokes, about the same age, was employed to aid in the household work. Miss Russell discovered that her father was paying the attention of a lover to the girl. The farmer's daughter dismissed the Stokes girl from her situation in the family. When Russell learned of this proceeding he immediately brought the girl back and told his daughter that she was to rema^ there as long as she chose. The daugfiler 'ftwfeupon left “the bouse and went to work at sewing in the neighbor; hood. Mary Stokes finally left Russell’s, and a few days afterward sliss Russell resumed her old position in her father’s bouse. Living in this village was a highly-re-spected young carpenter named. Horton Hurst, llis father owned a farm adjoining that of the Kussells. Some years ago a difficulty arose between the two farmers about the proper location of a line fence. A long, bitter and expensive lawsuit followed. Farmer Hurst was finally successful in the suit, and died two years ago. Russell Jiated the name of Hurst, and when, some three years since, be made the discovery that bis daughter and the son of his old enemy bad formed an attachment for each other and were actu-, ally engaged to be married he threatened* to disown Harriet if she did not at once renounce the idea df wedding young' Hurst. She made the sacrifice in obedience to her parent About three months ago Russell astounded his daughter by telling her that he intended to soon marry the girl Mary Stokes, and bring her back to the farmhouse. Harriet assured him that when he brought his wife home he would find his daughter gone. Friday morning the old farmer, telling Harriet that he would return with his wife in the afternoon, drove away toward the home of Mary Stokes, 'fhe daughter placed the house in readiness for the return of her father, and about noon started for Roseville. She left behind her on the bureau in her room the following letter addressed to her father:

Dear Father —l have always tried to be a dutiful daughter to you, but the act you intend to do to-day is more than I can submit to, as I have more than once told you. You choose a companion above me. I hope she will be as true to you as I have been, and that Jou both will be very happy. Do not think am writing this with alight heart, although in leaving the home of mychildhood I go to find a home with one I have long loved and whose wife I expect to be in a few hours. God bless you, father, and good-by. Your once-loved daughter, Hattie. Upon reaching this village Miss Russell was met by Horton Hurst. They proceeded to the bouse of Mrs. William Filley, a sister of Hurst’s, and about three o’clock in the afternoon were married by the Rev. Mr. Young, of the Methodist Church. Afterward they went in company w ith Mrs. Filley and a young gentleman, a friend of Hurst’s, to the village tavern, where it had been arranged to take dinner. They were nearly through the repast, which had been very like a wedding feast, when the door of the din-ing-room was burst in, and Farmer Russell, pale with rage, and a singular glitter in his eye, sprang into the apartment. His daughter arose hastily and ran toward him with outstretched arms, but he threw her aside and sprang upon her husband. “ You scoundrel!” he exclaimed, “ you set my daughter up to leave her home!” He graspki Hurst by the throat, but the young man threw him off and commenced backing toward the door. Russell seized a knife from the table, and, getting between Hurst and the door, attempted to stab the young man. Hurst received the thrust in his arm, and seeing that the old man was bent on murder drew a revolver and warned him to stand back. Russell did not heed the warning, and continued to make deadly lunges with the knife. Hurst received many of these in the arm and shoulder. Hurst’s sister escaped from the room during the melee, and the young men present seemed to be paralyzed with terror. At last Hurst pushed his assailant back from him and leveled the pistol at him. His wife at this instant sprang between the men just as her husband’s pistol was discharged. The ball entered her brain, and she fell to the floor and expired without saying a word. The report of the pistol brought a number of persons into the room. Hurst had fallen an his knees beside his wife’s body, and, after several times frantically appealing to her by name to look up and speak to him, he rose to his feet and before a hand could be, extended to prevent him shot himself through the head and he fell dead beside his wife. Russell seemed stricken dumb by the fearful scene, and was led from the room like a child.

As soon as the excitement that followed the news of the tragedy could be so*ueallayed the bodies of the young married couple were removed to the residence of Mr. Fijlgy, followed, by , hundreds of People. In the evening an fnquest was held by James Powell, Justice of the Peace. Russell was arrested and held in $2,000 to await the action of the Grand Jury. A verdict that Mrs. Harriet R. Hurst met her death by the accidental discharge of a pistol, and that Horton Hurst came to his death by his own hand while temporarily insane, was rendered.—BasetiOe Cor. Philadelphia. Telegraph. „ A Pennsylvania coroner has petitioned the Legislature to abolish the use of stomach pumps in that State.