Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1857-03-04
Shocking ,Tragedy--A Woman Murdered
and Her Body Burned.

From the Toledo Commercial, 18th inst
On the evening of the Sd inst, Mrs Ward,
the wife of Return j. NJ Ward, in Sylvania,
disappeared in a very mysterious manner
The ensuing morning her husband visited
Mr. Aliens grocery, in tl,e village, and ia
formed him that he and bis wife were going
away, and desired Mr. Allen to tell those who
might wish to see him that lie had left the
place On the Thursday following Ward
again visited the grocery, and had another
conversation with Mr. Allen lie this time
said that his wife had left him again [She
had once, in consequence, as il is believed, of
i'll treatment, left him for brief period Al
len asked him, - u hen did she leave -
Ward replied, =" On Tuesday night last
She took the cars hero, saying that sue was
ment to a number Of the citizens, and il was
so much at variance with his previous state
mcnt at Aliens, that suspicious OF foul play
were Immediately excited
These suspicious were furthercd by other
| circumstances, and it was determined that the
affair should be thoroughly sifted. Ward
was arrested ard examined before Mr. JUS
tice Clark. 1t was proved at the examina
ton that Wards last statement at Allen S
was untrue, bat the evidence was rot suffi-
cient to warrant thc Justice in committing
him. Some OF the citizens, however, were
/ by no meanss satisfied OF Wards innocence
| aud they endeavcred 10 still more thoroughly
| solve the singular affair. They thoroughlY
| searched Wards premises. and found most
| indubilable evidence that the woman bad bccn
| fouliy mlrdcrcd, aud that her body had beer
burnt in her ow.. house In pile Of ashes
near the house human tones were fouud, an
| upper jaw almost entire, and pieces of a
scuIl. Two finger rings were also found
| which were recognized those worn by Mrs.
| Ward
The citizens who mad the search found
| abundant evidence. as they thouglt that the
| effects of Mrs Waid had been ali burnt
! The lock Of her trunk, pieces Of dresses
| hooks and eyes, anl other articles, were
louud. The bel clothes in the Aouse had
the appearance of having been recently wash
! ed. On opening the bolster and bed the
! feathers were found covered with blood -
! Blood was also found or a nat in the upper
part of the house. a minute search reveal
ed traces OF blood in other parts of the house
Whether the woman had been stabbed CT
shot they could not tell; but that she had
! been ioulIy murdered, and her corpse burnt
they were satisfied and at once proceeded to
cause thc second arrest of Ward. He was
arrested ami again ex xamined before Mr. Jus
tice Clark. and was committed to the Jail in
this city TO await trial before the next term o.
the Court OF Common Pleas for murder in the
| first degree.
| During Wards trial the Justices Office was
crowded to suffocation, and tie excitement is
tremendous throughout the township.
| Ward is tailor by trade. He has been
married three times lie married the deceas-
ed in Adrian some time last Summer, and
carried her to Sylvania. We are told they
did not live pleasantly together. Once, as
before stated, tue woman temporarily left
him, in consequence, it is supposed of bad
! treatment.
Ward is about 40 years old-of medium
height. thick set and forid- faced. aud his
! head is somewhat bald We saw him in Jail
yesterday. He was lying on a rough bench.
apparently in deep sleep.