The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-11-06

ECeAAAuu ANu Gu y--~A AlaAu AZ
tempts 60 Murder His Whole
FamiIy---lAe Shoots His Wife,
Stabs Her, and Beats Her with
the Guu.-.IIe is Arrested.
A fearful tragedy was enacted in Clin-
ton township, in this county, on the night
Of the goth inst, wherein man named
Isaac Wiler attempted to murder his
whole family, and succeeded so far as to
inaict fatal Injuries on the person of his
wife. There ore several stories extant
as to the cause of the crime being CON-
mitted, and the true one will, perhaps,
only be developed on the trial of the
criminal. The case is one that has
shocked the whole community, and it is
hoped insanity prompted it. For the
present we only give the facts as they
ara reported to have occurred,
Wiler is farmer, probably forty FIVE
years of age, and is worth about thirty
thousand dollars. His wife is daugh.
ter of Jacob KeiSter, and from her was
derived considerable of his property
They lived two miles Northeast Of Shreve
ard ten miles from Wooster. Hereto
fore be has borne a good character, was
a sober man, and always conducted bus
mess well. Some, however, during the
last three years, thought they observed
evidences of insanity hi his behavior, but
not enough to mark it as arrangement.
On the night Of the crime, the chill
dren at home-consisting of two, boy
aged sixteen and girl of fourteen years
had retired to their rooms up stairs as
usual, observing nothing in the conduct
Of their father to excite suspicious that
anything evil would take place. They
had been in bed awhile, when, about III
O'Clock, they were aroused by the dis
charge of o gun in the room below, oc>
cupied by their father and mother
Alarmed at the unusual sound, without
putting on their garments, they hasten
ed down stairs. A horrible sight met
their eyes. The mother lay extended
on the floor weltering in her blood; she
was insenSible. having just been deliber-
ately shot by the husband and father,
who, after shooting his wife, had struck
her with the gun until it broke to pieces
in his hands, and, when the children ap.
pealed, was fendishly Stabbing the pros.
trate body with large butcher knife
The boy, affrighted at the horrible spec.
tacle, sprang to the door to break from
the house, but found that it resisted his
utmost efforts, it being fastened in On un.
usual manner: lie then ran up stairs,
seized his clothes, and jumped from a
second story window, and ran off to alarm
the neighbors, dressing as he WENT
The girl rushed into the room, scarcely
realizing what she saw, crying, "Oh |
father, what have you done?" and threw
herself upon the body of her mother =
Leaving. off the wurderous work, the
only reply he male was, "when | have
attended to Jake (his sony | will give
you the same fate" He then, with the
bloody knife and broken gun in his hand,
started up stairs in pursuit of the boy
Unsuccessful in the search, be returned,
went ont of doors, and examined the
yard for him then came in the house
and walked the floor of the room in which
his wife lay, and then again went up
stairs 10 renew his search. At this
juncture the neighbors came. Merely
glancing at the sight before them, they
sought the author of tito secure him be-
fore he escaped. They found Wiler up
stairs in his sons room. He endeavor,
ed to close the door against them, but
in SO doing his fingers were caught and
much bruised, until he forbore resistance
and gave them entrance. They then
seized him, when he threw himself down
on the floor, and asked the men to kill
him. He gave no reason why he want.
ed to kill his family, but remained silent
acting calm under all questions put tc
him.
Upon entering the house, the neigh
bors foand the daughter unhurt, weeping
bitterly, and endeavoring, as much as
possible, to staunch the fearful wound
of her mother, The appearance of tn,
room indicated that struggle had takeI
place between the man and his victim, a
the furniture was disarranged and som,
of the articles covered with blood. Mrs
Wiler was found to be still alive, but un
conscious. She was instantly cared fo
and medical aid called. The content
of the gun had taken effect in her arm
shoulder and neck, after which she haC
oeen struck on the side, back and heat
with the gun, and was then stabbed i,
the neck and side with the knife. Tn
wounds are all severe. and are pronounc
ed fatal by the physicians. Until thi
time she has remained insensible, and n
hopes are entertained of her recovery.
Wiler was brought to Wooster tn
same night by Constable Underhill, an,
lodged 10 Jail. A preliminary trial wa
held before j. II. Downing, Esq. mex
day, and the prisoner was bound over t
Court in bonds Of $4,000. He is no'
Jail awaiting Wayne Go. Dem
29th uH
4 Peace and Plenty
When the suffering multitude, wh