Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-02-17

HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.-A young man nam
ed DAVID F. BIvINs, engaged in recruiting at
Grafton, in this State, became eDamoured of a
young girl residing in that village. to whom be
passed himself off as a single man, and in or
der TO be able to marry her and to secure the
property owned by bis parents resolved to
murder bis young wife and his aged father and
mother, who resided near Woodstock. Michi-
gan He made three different trips to Michigan
for the purpose of executing his diabolicaI
plans, but his heart failed him. Finally, on
Tuesday Of last week. be accomplished the
fendish task, adding thereby to the list of
crimes one of the most horrible and unnatural
on record. The particulars of the affair are
given by the Cleveland Leader as follows:
The murderer Bivius arrived at Hudson on
Monday, and hired a horse and sleigh there,
with which he drove to othe home of his wife's
father, where she was living, and took her to
his own fathers home He remained there
over night, and on Tuesday returned to Hud-
son leaving his wife at his fathers house in
Woodstock, and giving her the impression that
be was going back to Ohio. On his arrival in
Hudson be returned the horse and sleigh which
he had been using, and, hiring another estab-
lishment at another stable, returned in the
evening to Woodstock His confession throws
a light on his actions on arriving a second
lime at his fathers house. He says that i'm
mediately on entering be drew a revolver and
took aim at his father. The cap snapped;
he cooked the pistol again: and taking aim,
shot the old gentleman through the head He
then shot his mother, who was sitting in
81, LII
to him, and plead that be would not kill her,
and be says she caught hold of the weapon
Determined on accomplishing his purpose, be
endeavored to wrench the weapon from her
grasp, but she succeeded in getting it from
him. A scuffie ensued, which ended in his
recovering the weapon and shooting her
through the heart. He then set fire to the
premises, got into his buggy, and started on
his return, leaving hehind him, in his agitation,
buffalo-robe aud strap, which led to his de-
lection.
The arrest was made at Grafton Station on
Thursday. Bivins was standing on the plat
form of the depot when the train arrived, which
contained the Sheriff and his assistant, and
their first at on jumping off the train was to
arrest and handcuf him. He took the matter
with perfect GOODNESS, not appearing alarmed
even when party of soldiers who were on the
train made an attempt TO lynch him. He con-
versed over the matter with perfect coolness
neither justifying or condemning il. He SEEM
ed to be rather proud of the excitement he
created, and suggested to Conductor Tyler
that he be put in a prominent position in the
car, as the people might want to look at him.
He gave a gentlemen on the train bullet sim
liar to that with which he shot his wife, and
freely distributed his autograph, written:
"David F. Bivins, murderer of his wife, moth
er and father"
The young girl in Grafton to whom he was
engaged, and whom he was to have married
within few days, at first refused to believe
his guilt, and was with difficulty restrained
from going at once to see him, when she heard
of his arrest.
Bivins says that he went to Michigan three
times with the purpose of committing the
murder, but his heart failed him on each occa-
sion, and be returned.
The age of his murdered father was fifty
seven, of his mother ffty-one, and of his young
wife, who was about to be confined, twenty.
Bivins himself is twenty-five years of age,
handsome in face, with slim, elegant figure
and stylish dress. He was lastidious and del
icate in manner. He is deserter from
Michigan cavalry regiment. Those who have
with him say that he is perfectly
sane in mind. He was well aware OF the aboli-
tion of capital punishment in Michigan,
and his GOODNESS was doubtless due in great
measure to that fact.