Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1843-12-23

about three months md returned with promis-
es of reformation. His father-in-law emgrateG
to Ohio, where he purchased for ell his chill,
drcn section of land. Ilellman received for
his wifes share a section in Carroll county, to
which he removed selling his property in Nir-
ginia for $4,000, though every one was asonsh.
ed at his possessing so much wealth by the
mere use of his needle. During the five years
of his residence in Ohio, the lot OF his poor wife
was every way miserable. lie left Carroll for !
Logan county, and then possessed two fine
farms, and resided near his two brothers-n-law, |
Gen. John and Mr.. George Abel, who were ,
comfortably conditioned with large families. |
Ilelman had three fine children, and about a
year after their residence in Logan, he attempt |
ed to poison his wife, which she discovered and !
prevented. For the year following this event
he apparently became more morose and sullet,
but his family had become used to it, and ex-
pccted nothing better.
In the month of April 1880, all three OF the
children were suddenly taken SICK and laid in
great suffering for about Is hours, when Louisa,
the oldest, aged II years, and John, the young
est, aged II years, died, and both were buried
in one grave, leaving the mother inconsolable
ior her loss. Her whole attention, however,
was still required for poor Henry, who laid
several days in great suffering, but he finally
recovered This was Il sad stroke to the heart
of the already gricf-strckcn mother which was
! - A.. i. i.
| entertained that their death had resulted from
/ poison, and that that poison had been admins
. tered TO them by the hand Of their father; by
that hand which should have brushed away
from their patk every thorn that could harm
| them The belief is now general throughout
the country that their blood is also on the head
of Andrew Hcllman, but whether true or false,
remains 10 be decided between him and his
God 1t would seem if the charge be correct,
to have been miraculous intervention of Pro-
vidence that poor Henry, the child of misfor.
tune, the one alone above all others that his ia
,her dslked and il-,reated, was the one that
outl;ved the effects of the deadly poison. After
protracted suffering we come TO the history of
her hard fate. On Saturday morning. the 2sth
ofSep'emher, 1899, Mrs. Rachael Abel, the
wife of Mr. George Abel, came TO the house
tered the door she was surprised TO see IlellmOn
lying in bed in the front room, with his had,
face and clothing covered with blood.-With
an exclamation of wonder, she asked him what
was the matter. lie replied, affecting 10 be
scarcely able TO speak from weakness and loss
ofbood, that two nights previous, 1T a late
hour, loud rap had summoned him To the door
on opening it, two robbers had entered, one q
large dark man, (meaning a negro and small
white man, when he had Immediately been
T levelleG to the floor with heavy club, How
he had got into bed he could not tell, but that
he had been lying there suffering ever since
unable to get out.
. On hearing his story, and from his bloody
appearance and apparent faintness not doubling
il, Mrs. Abel exclaimed, "Whcrc in the name
OF God, is your wife - to which he replied, al
DO not know 90 and Sec" On pushing open
the back room door, a scene of blood me. heI
view that it would be impossible fully to de-
? scribe. In the centre Of the room lay the man
t ged corpse Of the poor wife, with her blood
= drenchng the floor, whilst the ceiling, wall,
and furniture were heavily sprinkled with the
streams which had evidently gushed from thJ
numerous wounds she had received in the
: dreadful struggle At this moment Genera
Abel entered, and shortly after him coroGci
: and physician. Twelve men were immcd
? ately selected AS jury of inquest, t1 examine
. into the cause of the death of Mrs. llellman
! The jury being sworn, and having entered or
their duty, General Abel openly charged An
= drew Hellman with being her murderer. The
r Jury were struck with astcnishment as they
r looked at llnllman, lying Prostra,e on his bed
I and demanded OF the accuser what evidence hC
+. had to subsantiate such charge. The attic
I ted brother in reply stated that he unfortunate
: ly had no evidence, but desired that the ply
4 sician in attendance would examine Iiemani
2 wounds. The examination was accordip gl,
Y made, and the result was that not cut, or
d bruise, could be found in any part ofhis Gerson
y Not only morally, but practically, vas it thu
o established beyond the shadow ola doubt, tha
n "her blood was or his head" lie had evident
II y taken up quantity of her blood and throw
1t 1t on h;s heGd and shoulders, in order TO Civ
n e.edence to his story, which act alone served a
il a positive evidence of his guilt On a furthe