Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-05-12
Religions Fanaticism and Murder---A
Father Kills his Daughter.
From the Troy On. " Times, May

From the Troy On. YJTimes, May ..
The quiet Sabbath was broken in upon yesterday
by the commission of horrid murder in the toE
Of Ssndlake, about fourteen miles from Troy Of
daughter by her father, and only surviving parent
of about sixty years Of age, named John
Bedding. The parties lived in a little house.
In which the father earned livelihood for him
self and daughter by following the trade Of shoe
maker. The daughters name was Christina. She
Is about nineteen years of age, and is described
by the neighboTs as quiet and well behaved
girl. She had been urwell for time, and
1t is said, had been under the care Of female
doctress residing in Berlin, in this county, named
Weaver. Her mind 1t appears, was somewhat
affected, but whether from religious excitement or
from some other cause, We are unable TO say. She
labOred under the impression that the devil had
possessed her, and used pray very frequently for
deliverance from his grasp. dsy or TWO before
the murder, the old man and daughter went over
TO the house of David Horton, who resided oppo-
site the Beldings, wheL Christina said she had
ken medicine of Mrs Weaver, aad il made her feel
as if 4" the devil was in her. and she would scratch
him of but that she had thrown the medicine
away, and drove the devil away, too" The old
man had not done much work recently, as it af-
fected the girls head, and it is supposed that in
consequence OF his care of her, want Of sleep, &c.
his own mind had become temporarily affected, and
while under the deusion that " Dena, as he calls
her, the devil, ne killed her.
The account which Bedding gives of the affair is,
that he the devil lying on the bed and he
struck it in the face. The girl, it appears, ly
ing down in the back room. Bedding followed her
from that to the front room, in which the
murder was committed with shoemakers ham,
mer. Her skull was completely smashed TO pieces.
Portions Of the hair we're scattered about the room,
aud pieces of the skull were lying over the floor.
Her face, too, was considerably bruised and dis.
figured but 10 marks Of violence were discovered
on the o.her parts Of her body. Bedding says he
thought she was the devil-that she appeared 70
him 10 be four times as large as Dena that
her face was too large for Dena and frem his
previous conduct there can scarcely be doubt
that the old man imagines he had fight with the
devil as he expresses it, with " three devils, and
he had all he could do 10 kill them they lived
alone in the house. Ii is supposed the murder was
committed about twelve and half o'clock yesier-
day afternoon.
The first person who discovered the murder was
Nicolas RyermilIer, who first saw the cid man out
eide the house. He appeared very much excited,
and told Byermiller that he had KILLED the devil
and it was lying in tbere'-pointins 10 his house.
RyeImiler looked in and discovered the dead body
Of the daughter. lie asked the old man if it was
not "DeHa" that he had killed? Bedding replied
that be did not thiuk it Belongs hands and
shirt sleeves were covered with blood Rycrmiller
testified beforehe coreners jury that the f4lher an
daughter had lived with him about six months pre-
viously 10 their residing IN the house where the
der Was committed, ami thsJ they always appeared
happy together, and as the witness expressed il,
''neveT had any crazy times" Christina was quiet
good girl
Coroner Madden, Of this city, was notified Of the
murder, and at o'clock last evening proceeded 10
the scene Of The tragedy. He fcsnd the neighbor-
hood in great excitement. B5lding was raving like
a maniac when the coroner arrived. Coroner Mad
den summoned a jury, and proceeded 10 investigate
the Several WITNESSES were examiued-the1
testimony being IL effect above given-aud the
Jury rendered verdict that, LIN Their opinion said
Christina Bedding came TO her death Sunday, May
l. 1852 from fractures OF the skull; and said ju
ries we're inflicted with hammer in the hands of her
father John Belding-he at the time abOring under
temporary alteration of mind" Coroner Madden
placed BeldIng under arrest and late last night
rived with him in this city and placed him in jail
here. dose Of morphine Quilted the nerves of the
old man, ana rendered his conveyance here compare
lively easy and safe.
The Grand Jury sits to day. The evidence in the
case will be handed for their action at
once. They viii probably authorize a commission
investigate the sanity OF the murderer, and If he
is declared insane will send him to the lunatic ssyN
lum OF they will indct him for murder, in their
opinion the evidence warrants.
The neighbors give both Bedding and the daughter
q good character. The old man was sober and in
dustrious, and his delusion the result of some
cause other than drink. DIR. Barber, OF Proesten>
kill believes have been caused by his incessant
care and attention TO his sick daughter.