The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-11-11
From the Wooster Wayne County, o. Dem
ocrat, Oct. 29.
Fearful Tragedy-A MAN At
tempts to Murder His Whole Family-

Shoots His Wife; Slabs Her and Beats
Her NTH the Gun-Hc Is arrested
a fearful tragedy was enacted in Clin-
ton township, in this county, on the night
of the 10th inst, wherein a man named
Isaac Wiler attempted to murder his
whole family, aad succeeded so far as to
intiict fatal injuries upon the person of his
wife. There are several stories extant as
to the cause of the crime being commit
ted, and the true one will only be devel-
oped 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 are reported to have oc-
Cured.
Wiler is farmer, probably forty five
years of age, and is worth about thirty
thousand dollars. His wife is a daughter
of jacob Keister, and from her was de-
rived considerable of his property. They
lived two miles northeast of Shreve, and
ten miles from Wooster. Heretofore he
has borne good character, was a sober
man, and always conducted himself we'll
Some, however, during the last three
years, thought they observed evidences of
insanity in his behavior, but not enough
to mark it as arrangement.
On the night of the crime the children
at home, consisting of two, boy aged
sixteen, and a girl of foruteen years, had
retired to their rooms up stairs as usual,
observing Lothing in the conduct of their
father to excite suspicious that anything
evil would take place. They had been in
bed awhile, when, about eleven o'clock,
they were aroused by the discharge of
gun in the room below, occupied by their
father and mother. Alarmed at the un-
usual sound, without putting on their gar
ments they hastened down stairs and into
the room. A horrible sight met their
eyes. The mother lay extended on the
floor weltering in her blood, and insensi-
bic, having just been deliberately shot by
the husband and father, who after shoot
ing his wife had struck her with the gun,
until it broke to pices in his hands, and
when the children appeared, was fendish-
ly stabbing the PROSTATE body with
large butcher-knif The boy, aHrighted
at the horrible spectacle, sprang to the
door to break from the house, but it re-
sisted his utmost efforts, it being fastened
in an unusual manner He 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, faith
er, what have you done?" and threw her.
self upon the PROSTATE body other moth
er. Leaving of his murderoas work, the
only reply he made was, "When / have
attended to Jake (his SOM I 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. Unsuc-
cessful in the search, he returned, went
out Of doors and examined the yard for
him, then came into the house and walked
the floor of the room in which his wife
lay, and then again went up stairs to re-
new his search. At this juncturc the
neighbors came. Merely glancing at
the sight before them, they sought the
author Of it, to secure him before he es-
capped, They found Wiler up stairs in
his sons room. He endcavered to close
the door against them, but in SO doing
his fingers we're caughta and were pounded
aud much bruised, until he forebore re-
sistance and gave them entrance. Thet
then seized him, when he threw himself
down on the floor and asked the men to
kill him. He gave no reason why he
wanted to kill his family but remained
silent, acting calm under all the questions
put to him.
Upon their entrance into the house the
neighbors found the daughter, uuhurt,
weeping bitterly, and endeavoring as much
as was in her power to staunch tho fearful
wounds of her mother. The appearance
of the room indicated that struggle had
taken place between the man and his vic
tim, as the furniture was disarranged and
some of the articles covered with blood.
Mrs. Wilder was found to be still alive,
but unconscious. She was instantly cared
for, and medical aid called. The contents
of the gun had taken effect in her arm,
shoulder and neck; after which she had
been struck on side, back and head with
the gun, and was then stabbed In the neck
and side with the knife The wounds are
all severe, and are pronounced fatal by
the physicians. Until this time she has
remained insensible, and no hopes are en-
tertained of her recovery
Wilder was brought to Wooster the
same night by Constable Underhill, and
lodged in Jail. A preliminary trial was
held before j. H. Downing, Esq, next
day, and the prisoner was bound over to
Court in bonds of $4,000. He is now in
Jail awaiting trial.