Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-12-08
From the SYRACUSE Chronicle.
Terrible Murder In Jefferson County.
A Wife Killed---.A .Mother-in- Law sroundcd--
Suicide of the Murderer


Terrible Murder In Jefferson County.
Suicide Of the .Murder~!!
In the town of Lime, jefferson county, and
near the village of Chaumount. has long re-.
sided an intelligent farmer by the name of
James Ryder. His father was one of the first
settlers Of the town, and Mr.. Ryder, the son,
was thrifty, industrious, temperate, successful
farmer, good neighbor, a kind friend, and
man OF popularity, and integrity. year or
Two ago, he was the Supervisor of the town of
Lime, and has always had the respect and con-
fidence of the neighborhood IN which he re-
sided. For his second wife lie married the
daug liter of Mr.. Jackson who we believe. re-
sides or has resided in or near Syracuse. BY
her he had four children. BY his first wife he
had three Children who are now, We believe,
married and settled in life. For some time
back, Mr.. Ryder has not lived happily with
his wife. The rumor is that he was more at
tached TO a younger sister than quite prop
or, and that this attachment caused jealousy
on the part of the wife, and elimination and
rrcrinlnations have rlpened to the most fearful
consequences.
Mr.. Delano. who keepsa store at Chaumount
and from whom we have received our insorina-
ton, says that Mr.. Ryder came into his store
on Saturday last as cheerful as usual, and show
ing no symptoms of dsp pleasure or of unusual
,houghtiulncss; but it appears that he wen,
home with firm determination to take he life
OF his wife. La the evening he brought out
drk-knile and sharprned it before the family,
and Mrs. Ryder seems to have suspected that
he had evil designs towards her. However,
they all went to bed as usual, and on Sunday
morning. Mrs. Ryder arose and went down
stairs to build fire. She first built fire in
the parlor, and then proceeded to the kitchen
and was engaged in making the fire there,
when Mr.. Ryder appeared with his dirk-knife
in his hand, and seizing her roughly, stabbed
her in the abdomen, and cut her heavily across
the throat. Her screams brought the family to
her aid. and her mother who was in the house.
in attempting to interfere in behalf of her
daughter, received several severe stabs, which,
however, are not considered dangerous.
Mr.. Ryders daughter was also present, and
witnessed the agonies of her dying mother, who
sank on the floor, faint and bleeding, and soon
brea,hed her last. Mr.. Ryder. on seeing that
his work was efectually done, Immediately left
the kitchen and went into the wood-shed, bolt
ing the door carefully after him, and then drew
the knife across his own throat, from ear to ear,
SO thoroughly that when he was found a short
time afterwards, he was dead! There is every
evidence that the deed was fully premeditated.
On the day preceding the murder. Mr.. Ry-
der went over to his fathers, and said that he
desired to make a new disposition of his affairs,
as he did not expect to live long. Little atten-
ton was paid to these remarks OF the time but
it was found on examining his papers, that he
had willed his two farms to Miss jackson, the
young lady who is said to have been the cause
of all the calami,ies, and that he had for her
sake, cut off all his children from their right
full inheritance. This would seem to indicate
state of mind hardly compatible with the
usual feelings Of a father; but still there is
nothing to show that Mr.. Ryder was at all de-
ranged, or not in the possession of his faculties
to the full. This murder is one Of the most
remarkable that has ever occurred in this State,
and may well attract the attetion Of the people
in Jefferson County and throughout the State.
Awful ArrAm.-On the night of Sunday last,
a man named William Ewers, living at Graves
end, Canada, was engaged in dispute with a
woman, and, being at high words, expressed a
-. IL "a 70 L.