Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1857-08-05
THg RAE TsMAN's JOURNAL.

HORRIBLE TRAGEDY IN 1owA.-A most hor-
ribIe tragedy took place in johnson county,
Iowa, on the 18th July-a drunken, shiitless
fellow named Hurt having Utterly cut his wife
to pieces. The family formerly lived IN the
northern part OF Ohio, where Hurt some 10
wears ago. killed a neighbor in a drunken fray
and fed to Canada. The family remained IN
Ohio until about four years ago, when Hurt
wrote to his wife that he had land in Michigan,
and wanted her to sell out and join him. Her
children being anxious to come West, she did
So Hurt was in debt for grog and board bill
when she found him. She paid it, for she had
about $500 with her. She bought place
here and not seeing any reformation IN the
man. she secured the title in her own name
They lived together as man and wife but a
short time. He came nigh killing her some
two years ago. She swore her life on him,
and applied for divorce. He has been living
| in the family ever since, terror to them all.
Hearing that the divorce had been granted,
! Hurt went to the city on the 18th. TO ascertain
! the truth of it. Finding it true, he came home
| little before sun set, went to the well, got a
drink, then picked up an axe and drove his
wife from the house. OvertakiDg her IN the
ward, he struck her with the axe in the back OF
the head. She fell to the ground, and he then
| hacked her up in the most shameful manner
| cut her right arm nearly off, and sunk the bit
| of the axe several times in her back and sides.
! He then left her for dead, and took after his
mother-ln-law, VINO was running tnrough tne
| field to one of the neighbors. She had got so
| far off that he left her, went into the house,
! took some fire, went up stairs and set the beds
| on fire. In hall an hour the house and every
| thing in it was in ruins. Two of his sons.
| young men, were present at the time, but
dared not make the least resistance. While
| the house was burning, Hurt was seen going
through the field toward a thcket. About
| dark, some thirty of the neighborS collected
! around the burning ruins. Mrs. Hurt was
found in potato patch, senSeless. She was
| carried to a neighbours house, and it was ar
ranged to meet at daylight the next morning
| to hunt for Hurt. The search was short. He
| went about twenty rods, to the edge of a thick
| ct, and stabbed himself twice witha pocket
| knife. He was heard moaning and crying all
| night by some of the neighbors. He had lost
his knife in the grass, and had no other weapon
with which to finish the work of self destruc-
tion. One man was despatched to the city fol
! doctor. He had double barrel shot gun
with him, and in leaving for the city he left
the gun standing under the shed. Hurt left
the thicket in the night, came to the house
| or where it stood, pulled off his right boot
! fastened it to a pole with his handkerchief and
got water from the well to drink. As soon as
it was light he saw the gun, and placing the
muZzle to lis left ear, lie discharged the piece
as is supposed, with his toes. He found
| lying upon his back, with his left arm around
| the gun. His wife was hard working, indus.
trious woman. The family were left without
shelter change of clothes. Mrs. Hurt
had lived in constant fear Of her life for the
last four years.