The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-04-07
HILLSDALE, MICH, TUESDAY, APRIL 1857.
From the Aubu-n A ivertissr.
Horrible Tragedy.

Horrible Tragedy.
MURDER AND sUICfDE-A YOUNG WOMAN SHOT
THE AFFAIR EsvELoPKx IN MYSTERY.
We are callad upon to record another
strange and horrible case of human butchery
in our immediateviciuity. Mr.. Dennis Gree
map came into this city in haste on the after
noon of Wednesday, the 25th., in search Of a
coroner, to sit upon the case of Albert Wood,
who lies dead at the house of VIM. Clark, in
Moravia, near the head of Oswego Lake.
The facts, as We CLEANED them from Mr..
Greenmsn,-zwhom he accidentally met, and
from whom We received but hasty state
ment-were as follows:
A young man by the name ofAlbert Wood,
has for the last three months, resided with
Mr.. VIM. Clark, who is a thrifty farmer of
some wealth, residing in the town of Morayia.
There has also resided at Mr.. Clark's for
M Shaw. These person have been in the
family in the capacity of "help."
Yesterday morning, while Mr.. Clark was
absent from home, this young man (Wood)
WAS in the kitchen, where Mrs. Clark and the
hired girl, Mandana, were engaged in con-
versation. He left them moment-went
up stairs and returned with pistol in his
hand. He playfully asked what he should
shoot, and proposed to fire at the wood-box
to which Mrs. Clark objected. He then said
he would shoot block but did not; and then
again, as if in sport, said, "What shall l
shoot?" Miss Shaw replied, "shoot Chubby"
(meaning Mrs. Clark. To this Mrs. Mrs.
Clark replied, "no YOU shant" Then turn
-. 20 h.ss Ckoxy ha e..l { x,sn aIao
She replied, every we'll, I don't know that l
have anything to live for but shoot me thro'
the heart, so that shall not be long dying"
The same instant Mrs. Clark heard the re-
port Of the pistol-hcr back was turned-and
on looking, saw Miss Shaw running toward
the lounge; she assisted her to the lounge;
and turning to Wood, exclaiming, "you have
killed her!' He replied, II will in minute,
if havo not" and proceeded to reload his
pistol.
Mrs. Clark then hastily seized her bonnet
and started for the neighbors. As she was
leaving Wood called to her and said, "Here
Mrs. Clark are two letters" but as we under
stand it, she did not stop; and had only pro-
ceeded few steps from the door, when she
heard q second report of the pistol.
On returning with the neighbors, among
whom was our informant Mr.. Greenman-
Wood was found dead upon the floor, having
been killed, rs was supposed, by the pistol
shot, the report Of which Mrs. Clark heard,
on leaving the house.
The girl still lives, or was alive at the time
Mr.. G. left, but there was no hope of her re-
covcry-a ball having entered within two in
chcs of the centre of the breast, as ascertain
ed by the surgeon who was called.
A degree of mystery hangs over this whole
tragedy as yet, but the opening of the let
tcrs will doubtless throw some light upon il; /;
one of which was addressed to William Clark,
the man at whose house they were, and the
other to Hampton Wood, an uncle Of the
young man..
The young woman could speak, and said
to our informant, that she thought Wood
shot her by accident; but from the fact that
she had, for day or two, been in frequent
and close conversation with Wood, and only
fifteen minutes before, they had held a long,
private conversation in The pantry, taken with
the before mentioned facts-of her wiling:
ness to be shot-of his saying he would kill
her if he had not-his leaving letters and
then killing hlnsclf-the impression seems
to be, that it was concerted plan, that they
both determined to die together.
Wood had never been regarded as des-
perate character and his conduct has excited
general astouishment. He had been to sea
during the past summer. The girl had once
been marped, but her husband, for some
cause had not lived with her. Sho had liv-
cd for some years with Mrs. Clark. q, =,
Wood was heard 20 say recently, ave got
Bill Clark just where want him now;" but
what he referred to is not known.
The coroner will doubtless read Woods
letters, which will probably help to uuravel
the mystery. The letters were in safe keep
ing.