Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-06-29
/ [From the Columbus (MichJ Journal. juno 19.l
Horrible Murder-A Husband
Butchers His Wife and Step
daughter With an Axe. .rY


daughter With an Axe. g.l
We are called upon this evening to chron-
icle one of those terrible cases OF crime,
which from time to time startle our peace
able community, and make US question our
individual safety when such crimin Is are
abroad in our midst.
Yesterday afternoon, man named Isaac
Van Aucken, residing in the township Of
Medina, killed his wife and her daughter
with an axe. The particulars, as we learn
them from the criminal himself, are sub
stantially as follows:
! He claims that a number of relatives of
his wife are leagued together as band OF
thieves, and that he has been made to suf-
fer from their depredalions, having lost
horse. harness, and other valuables, and
having been severely punished by his wife's
brother about two weeks since. That at
times his wife would appeal to favor him,
and then again to seem linked In with her
friends to complete his ruin. Things had
been going on in this manner for some time,
when yesterday afternoon the subject was
broaehed in conversation. High words en-
sued. He censured his wife for turning
from him to assist others in robbng HIM of
his possessions. Hiswife replied insulting
ly, and he made some demonstrations to-
ward Offering her personal violence, but
two of his sons were present. who entreated
of him not to injure her, and he desisted for
the time The boys then ran out of the
house to call for assistance to prevent any
harm being done, leaving Van Aucken
alone with his wife and daughter, a young
girl about eleven years of age. Two wo-
men soon after started for the back part Of
the house, closely followed by the criminal.
The conversation still continued, and upon
reaching the woodshed, in reply to some
complaint other husband, Mrs. Van Aucken
said: "phere is the axe take 1t and finish
mep Van Aucken replied, II have been
hammered once on your account, and
won't suffer it again" AS he spoke he
sprang forward aud dealt his wife blow
on the head with the axe, telling her to the
ground. Hethen started in pursuit. of his
step-daughter and struck at her, but she
didnOt receive the full force of the blow
and he passed on for few steps, impelledl
by his own momentum. He returned TO.
the girl and struck her upon the head, kill
ing her instantly. Fearing lest the blow
administered to his wife had not been suf-
ficient to cause death, and that she had
either tainted or was shammiDg, and being
Determined onher destruction, he went to
the place where she lay, and buried the axe
inner THROAT, almost severing her head from
her body % 102 9 Ht Is gai
The prisoner is about forty years of age,
rather below the medium stature, with dark
hair, gray eyes, and sandy whiskcrsa He
was well-to-do farmer, having fine place,
under good state of cultivation. A man
Of rather ordinary education, but indus
trlOnsand enterpFising, he was highly es-
teemed by his nei9hbors who were not eon-
hected withthe family on his wife's side. q
afQa 4corfaaaea IN having cOmmitted tho
murder saws he is tired oflife, and cares
not what they dOiwith him. He could nor
bear to feel that he was victim to the