Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-11
AN ATROCIOUS MURDER.
A Man Shoots His Wife.
HIS ARREST AND STORY.

! We seldom have to chronicle more
/ atrocious murder than that Of a Mrs. o.
I BEIEN who was shot by her husband, JAMES
OBmEy, Thursday evening, in the old
cavalry barracks on Whites Creek Pike, in
North Edgefeld. The following are the
circumstances connected with the murder:
About Z o'clock in the evening JAMEs
OBErEN, the murderer, returned from the
city in rather a pettish mood and under the
influence Of liquor. On entering the room
he ordered his stepson, lad Of some four
teen years Of age, to 60 20 the well, which
was near, and bring him some water. He
brought the water as directed; but as it was
muddy his father abused him in a most
shameful manner.
Mrs. OBRIEN demonstrated with her
husband and endeavored to get him to de-
sist from his abusive language. This seemed
to exasperate him, as he cursed and de-
nounced her in the most disgraceful man
ner In few moments however, every
thing was quiet and the difficulty supposed
to be at an end, at least this was the suppo-
sition Of the youth, whom we mentioned, as
he left the premises and went to the river
for some purpose. During his absence the
quarrel was resumed with the fatal conse-
quences alluded to. O'BRIEN says that
after his stepson left, his wife went into an
adjoining room and got pitchfork which
she attempted to kill him with, by throw
ing il at him. Failing in this, she seized
large bottle and struck him several
times with it. This he took from her. Fooled
in her designs with this, she went into an
adjoining room and procured a Springfield
muslet, with which she struck him several
times, and in wrestling it from her the ham,
mer Of the lock caught in his clothing,
causing the discharge Of the gun. Circum-
stantial evidence contradicts his story. Per
sons occupying other portions Of the build
ing say that he chased her through several
rooms before they heard the discharge Of the
gun and it is evident that she had taken
refuge in the room, and was standing behind
the door with It closed when the shooting
occurred. The three balls, shot from the
gun, all passed directly through the door,
and not obliquely as they would have to have
done had the door been even partially open
as alleged by OBRIEN. The balls entered
the right groin Of Mrs. OBRIEN, and as the
door opened insideth room, and to her right,
it is additional evidence Of the intent Of the
shooting.
As soon as Mrs. O'BRIEN was shot, she
requested her husband to 60 for physician.
He carried her out Of the room and laid her
down on the porch, saying to her, that he
hoped that she was not seriously wounded.
This was heard by persons who came up
Just at the moment having been attracted
thither by the discharge Of the gun. Seeing
that the wound was fatal, the main artery
having been cut by the shot, he walked
across the street to the nearest magistrate,
J. 4. CowAN, and gave himself up, &C
knowedgeing that he had MORALLY wounded
his wife.
After examination he was Immediately
sent to Jail.
Mrs. 1OBREN survived only about ten
minutes after being shot
An inquest was held over the body by Es-
uuire CowAN, who rendered verdict that
she came to her death by wound inflicted
with gun in the hands Of her husband.
O'BRIEN is said, by those who know him, to
be an honest Woodworking and industrious
man his greatest fault-too fond Of whisky.
Bv occupation he is gardener and was in
the employment Of Mr.. COMBS. He has
been married 10 Mrs. OBRIEN some six
years. His stepson says tina: his mother
and O'BRIEN had lived very unhappily to-
gether ever since some three months after
their marriage; and that he had made fire.
quent efforts to beat and maltreat her
before this occurrence The family are
originally from New York Mrs. OBRrEN
was buried yesterday morning. Her hus-
band is still in Jail.