Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-07-04

SHOCKING MURDER AND SUICIDE AT
CEDAR RAPIDs.- The Cedar Valley Times OF
the lst inst, publishes the following account
Of the most horrid murder and suicide on
record:
The citizens Of our usually peaceful town
were startled and shocked about six o'clock
last evening, by the occurrence Of the most
inhuman and horrible tragedy that We have
ever been called upon to record. A wife
was murdered in cold blood, without mo-
ment's warning. by her husband, who i'm
medlately after cut his own throat, and sent
his guilty soul into eternity.
The particulars of this sad event, as near
as We have been able to ascertain, are as
follows:
About eighteen months ago, Mr. Ambrose
s. Skeeles and his family left Cedar Rapids
having lived here few years, for the east,
where we believe his relations reside, and
while absent difficulties occurred which led
to separation from his wife-he leaving
her and coming to Michigan, and she with
the children, three in number returning to
Cedar Rapids About three weeks ago,
Skeeles, having ascertained d the whereabouts
OF his wife, came to this city for the pur-
pose Of effecting o reconciliation. Being
unable to bring about an understanding,
even by assistance of friends and relations
Skeeles became desperate, and, we under
stand, threatened her lite if she took steps
to procure divorce "a course she had de-
termined to take, on the grounds Of ill treat
ment On Tuesday, Mrs Skeeles went to
Marion. for the purpose of taking the nee
essary intiatory steps for q divorce suit,
and that probably led to the consummation
Of the tragedy Of last night, which has re-
suited in the death of both parties by the
hand of the husband.
The knife which Skeele used is very
large, new pocket knife. which he found in
the road about mile from town, a week or
two ago. 1t is thought that he sharpened
the knife during the day, and Wen: to the
house where his wife and children were liv-
ing, on Daniels street, between Adams ard
jefferson, with the determination of killing
his wife, and taking his own life.
When he reached the house Mrs Skeeles
was at the next door neighbor's. One Of the
children went over and told her that her
father was in the house, when Mrs. Skeeles
requested young lady present to go with
her to the house after the other children.-
dens, where the young lady remained |
while Mrs. Skeeles passed on to an outside
cellar door, about ten feet, and discovered
Skeeles In the cellar. Passing down a few
steps, she asked him what he was doing. |
and said to him that she had told him times |
enough to not come there again. lie made |
some reply, but it is not known what, and |
came out of the cellar. Mrs. Skeeles then |
shut the cellar door and was in the act of |
fastening it with paddock, when Skeeles |
seized her, threw her upon the ground and |
held her down with his knee across her
body, while he deliberately took the knife
from his pocket, and opening it, cut the
poor woman's throat in a horrible manner,
nearly seyering the head from the body,
and causing death instantly. Then rising
TO an erect position, he coolly gashed his
own throat.
Skeeles lived several minutes, and spoke
3 few words in relation to his children-de-
string them to be sent to his fathers, in
Lockport, n Y.
When we reached the scene of the trage.
1y, the bodies had been carried in, and were
ying side by side on the floor of the back
room. Such a horrid scene of blood as this
room and the yard near the door presented,
we never before witnessed, and we hope
never to see again. The poor woman in her
had wrenched the paddock of the
cellar door from its fastenings, and she still
,lung to it in death. From the appearance
Of her countenance. we should judge that
death was instantaneous; but Skeeles evil
IDENTIFY died hard, as the distorted features
md glaring eyes seemed to indicate-a strik.
hg contrast to the calm, almost unruffled
of his murdered wife.
Skeeles, we understand, came from Lock-
port, N. Y, and although not an intemper-
ate man, had an ungovernable temper.
Mrs. Skeeles, we believe, has relatives in
his vicinity. Of her previous history we
nave not been informed Her maiden name
was Bulah c. Vinton. She was much ess
leemed by her neighbors, as kind, amiable,
intelligent and good natured woman, and
her violent death by the hands of her hus-
band, has justly caused much sympathy for
The four orphans thus left destitute. The
eldest child, girl. is about fourteen years
Did. the youngest two years of age They
we're kindly taken in charge by the neigh
bOrg
Mr.. Skeeles was thirty-five years Of age,
and Mrs. Skeeles 49, They were married
fifteen years ago, and separated three years
after, but again lived together until about
seven months since.
The bodies will be inferred at five o'clock
this evening,