The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1857-1858, 1857-07-29

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eaocEne HunnRR AnD eUtcfDa IA n. Ford
writes the Editor of he Iowa City Republican
- account Of the murder Of his wife and the
taking Of his own lie BY man named Hurt in
Johnson County. Of which the following are the
most important facts:
About mile north Of me there II Tor vas. \
living family by the name Of Hurt: consisting
Of Hurt, his wife, his wife's mother, and four
children Friday morning Hurt went TO the
city Tor the purpose Of ascertaining the truth ct
the report in circulation, which was, that his
wife had succeededin obtaining bill Of divorce.
dc came home little before sunset, went TO
the well, got drink Of water, then picked up
An axe and drove hie wife from the house. Over
taking her in the yard, 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 Elost
shameful manner; cut her right hand nearly of,
snd sunk the bit Of the axe several times in her
back and sides. He then left her for dead, and
took after his m0therin-law, who was running
through the field to one Of the neighbours She
had got 30 far of that he left her. went up stairs
and set the beds on FIRE. In half An hour the
house, ana every thing in it, was in ruins Two
OF his sons-young men-were present at the
time. but dare not make the least resistance.
While the house was burning, Hurt was seen
going through the field towards 4 thicket A
bout dark, some thirty Of the neighbors collect
ed around the burning ruins. Mrs. Hurt was
found in potatoe patch, senseless. She was
carried to neighbours house, and it was arran-
ged to meet at daylight the next morning, to
hunt for Hurt. The search was short. He went
about twenty rods to the edge of thicket, and
stabbed himself twice with 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-destruction. One man
was despatched to the City for . 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 RICH. boot, fastened it with pole
with his handkerchief, and got water from the |
yen to drink. As soon as it was light he saw
tue gun, and placing the muzze to his left ear,
ne discharged the piece, as is supposed with his I
toes. he was found lying upon his back with
his left arm around the gun.
hurt was drinking, shiftless, and evidently
desperate man. His wife was Woodworking
industrious woman. The family were left with
out shelter, or y change OF clothes. Mrs. Hurt
had lived in constant fear of her life for the last
four years, and suffered thousand deaths.
The family formerly lived in the northern
part OF Ohio. Some fifteen years ago, Hurt
killed neighbor Of his in drunken fray, and
ASO w SaHaua. Sue renamed IN OnlO until
about four years ago, when she received letter
rom him from Michigan, stating that he had
and there, and wanted her to sell out and join
am. Her children being anxious to come west,
ne did So Hurt was in debt for grog aud
BOARD bill, when she found him. She paid it,
or she had about 81, 500 with her. She bought
place here; and not seeing any reformation in
he man, she secured the title in her own name.
A FUGITIVE WIFE ARRESTED AND SENT HOME.
"A Geographic dispatch was received here on