Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-11-12
From the Cleveland Herald.
A Terrible Tragedy-A Double mur-
har nd HnuCNAa.

A horrible tragedy occurred as Port Clinton,
Ottawa county, Ohio, on Friday last, the 3lst
ult., two young women having been murdered,
the life Of little girl attempted, and the mur-
derer terminating mis- own life by suicide Au
extra from the Ottawa Democrat gives the full
details Of the affair, from which we condense the
following account:
Early on Friday morning, Mr.. T. J. Kirk,
living few rods east of the corporate limits of
Port Clinton, went with his wife and two small
boys to visit friend at Elmore, intending to
stay few days. The house was lett in charge
of two daughters, Alice. aged Is, and Amy,
aged IL years, together with an adopted child,
Naomi knight, aged I9 years. A young man,
named Henry Riquarz, aged % years, who had
been employed during the summer, was also left
on the premises
About nine O'Clock in the morning after the
departure Of Mr.. Kirk, Alice, the eldest daught-
el, went 10 O dentist 10 have some work done.
On returning between one and two P. M, she
found the table prepared, and the plates having
Ine appearance that the three (the two girls
and the young man) had been to dinner, but no
person was to be seen about the house. Being
disappointed at finding the house alone che
went into the yard, called aloud for the girls,
but hearing no response. Hhe went into the barn
In search OF them; not finding them she again
returned to the house, at which time the young
man made his appearance from one of the cham
ber rooms. An inquiry was made as to the
whereabouts Of the other girls. Riquartz an
swered that he knew nothing about them.
An hour passed, and the girls not making
theie appearance, Alice again went to the barn
where the young man was, and again made in
quiries about the girls, receiving the same
answer as before, that he knew nothing about
them The two then returned 10 the house,
Riquartz repairing 10 his room, where he gath
cred up bis clothes and started toward the
village, Alice supposing that he was taking
some game IL, to the place where he usually had
his washing done, but which proved to be all
of his clothes When night came the girls had
not returned. Alice went to look after them
aud met Riqusrts, who then told her that he
had seen them at their uncle's house in the
village, and they would coon be home. Alice
went back to the house, and on the suggestion
Of Rlquartz she lit the fire and prepared for
supper, after which she said she would 20 and
accompany the girls home.
Riquaftz Immediately grasped her by the
throat and strangled her until che became un-
concious, He then bound her hand and foot,
a nd rem arked that he did not desire to murder
her, but only wanted to place her in such o
condition that she could not alarm the neigh
bors until he killed himself; then telling her
that the other girls would "never come back,
bid her good bye and left the house.
He was met at the door BY woman, who
was going to the house on an errand, and who
asked him where the three girls were. He re-
plied, up In the chamber. On entering abe
found Alice bound 90 described, released hers
and the two started TO alarm the village. K. N J