The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1850-07-12
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. to Kiu.-The


couOty. The attempt was planned by
Rolin Harmon. a farmer cf that vicinity,
the victim was his wife, amiable. indus.
trious aud to whom he had been married
but three months. She brought him
some property and his object was to OBJ
tain that aud rid himself of her. This,
| it is said, was his sole motive. Tho par.
ticulars are horrible:
On Wednesday the 26th, Mrs. Harmon
noticed strangeness in the movements
of her husband. He seemed wrapt up
III Thought. and finally he came round her
told her he wished he was rid OF her,
aud looked al her 6xedly. He afterwards
placed his arm around her waisi, and
thsn round iler neck aud endeavored to
coax her out Of doors. He was perfectly
cool. He wished her to 90 out TO the
DeiI--said the bucket had fallen in--that
there was white cloth at the bottom.
He wished her to 90 out and help him at
the weH. She finally went out, but stood
on the side Of the curb opposite TO him.
But lie worked round--pushed her vin
lently, and she narrowly escaped being
precipitated in ohe then escaped to the
house. An evening Of great anxiety and
distress of mind awaited her. Her hus.
band was moody aud silent. He did not
90 to bed at his dsual hour. and befUre
her hnur Of going to resl;but he hung on
and wished her to go before him. She
finally retired. Through the night he
never slept. He got up--wem out Of
doors aud rolled on the grass in the door
yard-then went and rolled on the bed
till daylight-bul never closed his eyes
| Mrs Harmon had no one to consult with.
and the strange conduct Of her husband
bowildered her. His violence al the well
he explained to be done il jest, aud he
earnestly wishad her to go out there a,
gain. She refused His artifces to Ell.
lice her out, aud his maneuvres TO get
his hired man ont Of the way, show u
cold blooded perseverance in his fell pur'
pose unparal eled in the annals Of crime.
This was on Thursday morning. The
hired man was sent into the woods to
hunt up the cattle. Mrs. Harmon was
engaged AS far as her feelings allowed
her, in her household work. when her
8 husband again wanted her to go out tn
the we'll, aud on her refusal, he seized
f her suddenly-carIied her out by main
furce. in spite Of her struggles to escape
the death to which she now felt no had
doomed her. To stiAe her cries he placed
Q his hand firmly on her mouth--his ling
ers and nails. digging into and holding
the upper part of her face, aud lacera'
Q ting her eyeIids. He had her now al
q The well; but the death.siluggle was moi
= over. He could no, force her over the
curb. Suddenly he kicked away the
curb, and plunged her hcadlong down
g the well--thirty feet! The water wa:
. about three feet deep. He lookcd down
. aud saw that Mrs. Harmon was alive
. She had turned in her descent, and was
D standing there with the water tn heI
!. waist. Ho now called to her. and wish
T. ed to draw her out. She spoke, she
y fe arej it was but to th,ow her in a
e gain. He lowered the well pole, bu, she
e could not hold ON To it. He then wen
!. to the barn. and procured the cords usc'
J. in tying up the cattle. Mrs. Harmon
q was al las, drawn up alive her hus
!. band had not accomplished his purpose
. and now be was anxious for her To change
/ her clolhes. The hired man arrived al
5 this juncture, and was told by Harmon
. that Mrs. Harmon had fallen into the
we'll.
D He SOON after left his house and wen
to narrowing a piece of ground. Mira
Harmon escaped tot noigibur's, ,at whos'
s door she tainted. II was loug before sh,
recovered and could tell what shs hat
D suffered.
Upon complaint being made, war
h rant was issued aud Mr.Harmon was KEEP
e in custody through the night. He es
o capped from the person in charge anC
" went to the woods, where offer some tim
he was found and with much difficult
- arrested. He drew knife on one 9
:. the persons and threatened to "rip hin
a up" After an examination he was com
9 mitled. His bail is fixed at 5000.
Mrs. Harmon lies in preearious stat
4 at the house Of her father
fTYTho Iast Ns,v York Tr;hnhe hu