Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1854-11-18
A Distressing occurrence,


WearneSs DecsptiDH and ProGtGLe.
Nurder.-The Cincinnati Enquirer naII
rates the following Distressing affair, that
occurred en- Thursday week last, near
Osborne, Ohio:
+ Ii appears that about three years since
4 ,,rnsr named William Rickels left his
family TO seek his fortune IN the gold
mines of California. About seven months
since Mrs. Il. received Information FROM
A person representing himself as coming
direct from San Francisco that her has
band had died Of chronic darhwa. The
wife believed The story and manifested
much distress of mind upon the receipt ot
the intelligence. Her informant. whose
name is William Il. Gaylord, manifested
much sympathy for Mrs. Il. in her bereave
menr, and frequently visited the house to
Icondole with her in alllction. The un-
snspecllng wife, approaching the kind
ness of GaVlo rendered hlm the hos
p,alities of her house and home. Gay
lord, with an appearant indifference, de-
cTned the offer, but finally proposed to
accept the same on condition OF marriage.
The astonished Mrs. Il. at first declined,
but afterwards agreed TO let the matter
stand open unu Gaylord should call
aoain. In the nterium, Gaylord abstrac-
ted from the posl-oilice all letters directed
to Mrs. Rickels, and one from her hus-
band he opened, perused and then de-
slruved. The letter stated that he did
not intend to return home for three years,
hut was very anxious TO see his wife.
Gavlord AGAIN called on Mrs. Rlckels,
and insisted upon an answer To hls Propo-
si,ion. Mrs. r., after few moments
reflection, consented to the union, and the
time for their marriage was set The day
came, they were married, and by their
marriage, Mr.. Gaylord came into posses
sion OF 4 farm valued at several thousand
dollars.
Soon after their marriage Mr.. Gaylord
proposed to his wife 10 sell out and move
TO Kansas, and there locate for life. The
wife consented, and the farm was adve:-
tsed for sale al sacrifice. The adver-
tsement appeared in the Dayton and Gin
cinnati papers, aud much was said in re-
gard to the sale of the "Rlcket's estate"
The advertisement, as II appeared III one
of our weekles, was seen by Mr. Rickcts
in San Francisco. Enraged and chagrin-
ed, Mr.. r. took the first steamer aud ar
rived in Osbnrae on Wednesday evening
last Mr.. Il. made diigent inquiries,
and learned the facts as above stated.
Aiming himself with knife and brace
/ of pistols, he went TO his house about 10
o'clock at night. AIl was quiet. Rckels
raped at the door several times. 1t was
finally opened by Mrs. Gaylord, and
Rickets entered. Mrs. G.. threw on her
dress, and, Lighting the candle, turned To
look upon the stranger who had come at
such an unreasonable hour Of the night.
A shrek, and the expression Of Great
God Rickets, is lhat you F.! followed,
and the aslonished wife fell insensible 10
the floor. Gaylord, who was IN an adjoin-
ing room, rushed out to see what had
happened. Rlckcis Immediately seized
him by the throat and plunged the knife
into his side, and then went 10 where
his unfortunate wife was lying, cut her
on the shoulder and neck, then left The
premises, ,aud has oislnce been heardlrOm.
The wife, recovering, informed the neigh
bors OF what had transpred, aud immc-
dIate search was made for Rickets. CAV
lord was lying very low when Mr.. Fos-
dick last heard from him. and the proba-
bilty Is that he must die. RIckers had
undoubtedly made a successful escape.