Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-07-31

Lady shot by her Lorer- Suicide of the
Young Aaa.-A terrible tragedy occurred in
Altoona, on week before last, which created
intense excitement throughout the entire
community. Thomas Mertlin, rather good
looking young man, about 25 years old, shot
and attempted to XIII Miss Ellen Seibert, and
afterwards committed suicide by blowing his
brains out Mertlin had been employed for
the past two years in the machine shop of the
Pa. Il. r. Co. at this place, aud during that
time became acquainted aud engaged to be
married to Miss Seibert. About the first of
June last he went home to his mother, who
resides IN Mechaniesburg, Cumberland coun-
ty and soon after received a letter from the
young lady, in which she broke off Che en-
gagement existing between them, alleging
the insanity of his father as her reason for
doing So Mertlin Immediately returned to
Altoona, and endeavered to induce Miss Sci
bert to change her resolution, but she steadi-
ly refused to do so, and as consequence he
began to drink to. excess. For the past few
weeks he has been making what, at the time,
we're unintelhgible threats, and as he was
generally regarded as a light headed young
man, no notice was taken Of them. On Sat
urday morning he told friend that he would
furnish him an item for the Police Ne1cs be-
fore dinner time, and the bloody sequel
proved how terribly in earnest he was. Soon
after be made two unsuccessful efforts to see
Miss Seibert, who resides with her mother in
the house on the southwest corner of Annie
and Harriet streets. A third attempt, how.
ever, proved more successful, as he met her
on the steps and insisted on having private
interview with her. She finally granted the
interview, after having asked her mother to
go into room adjoining the one into which
she and Merlin went. The latter now made
afnal effort to induce the girl to marry him.
and upon her refusal asked her to return
some trinkets which he had presented her.
She stepped TO the other room to procure
them, and as she returned he pointed pistol
at her heart telling her that if they could not
live together they would die together She
turned to run, when he fred, the ball striking
her on the top Of the left shoulder and pas
sing under the collar bone. She ran into the
room and her mother shut and held the door.
Mertln made a feeble effort to push it open,
and soon after fred second shot and fell
heavily on the floor. Drs Findley and John
ston, who happened to be in the neighbor-
hood, now entered the house and found Merit
lin lying on the floor, with buHet hole in the
side Of his head, and entirely hfeless.
l,r,fg E,@ III
Gazette some 25 or 80 years ago, but for the
last 20 years has been an inmate Of the in
sane asylum. 1t is supposed that young
Mertiin inherited the trait of insanity, and
that he had become so freDzied at the refusal
of Miss Seibert to marry him as to render
him entirely reckless il regard to what he
done. He had evidently determined for some
time to kill the girl rather than give her up,
and had been carrying the weapon for several
days for that purpose.
Miss Seibert's injuries, though quite Sc
we're, are not regarded as dangerous. She is
said to be very handsome, fascinating
young lady, and takes the whole affair very
eooly only regretting that she has been so
unfortunate as to get wounded.
Young Mertlin was excessively fond Of
reading ''yellow covered literature and 70.
mances of the Police Gazette style, and
doubtless these had much to do with forming
in his mind the terrible tragedy which had its !
dGuouement in selfmurder on Saturday,
Correspondence HoIltdays5urq Standard
To MASTER MUsoUIToEs. The LYnchburg !
(Ya.) Ne,os says: People who reside in
the upper sections of the city complain OF
and some persons now avail
themselves of bed nets to keep them at a re-
spectful distance; but there is a less costly |
remedy. BY saturating a small piece Of cot
ton cloth with the commonest whisky or al
cohol, and hanging it above the bed, our
readers can rest in peace, for mosquitoes can
not stand the fumes of intoxicating liquors"
That may, do in cold Virginny'' but some
parties in this neighborhood have another
way. They saturate themselves before going
to bed. Whether it keeps the mosquitoes off
or not we have never learned. is the
commonness of the whiskey that makes it
efectual, we are assured that the very com
monest kind is generally used in these parts.
VALUABLE.-Among the many good sugges-
tons we notice as offered for the relief of
sun stroke, we select the following from the
Philadelphia Ledger, contributed by pbysi-
clan Of that city. We hope if there is any
necessity for it or citizens viii give it trial.
''The writer says: LET the person thus
affected be removed to cool and private
place, his clothing taken off, and the body
rubbed from head to foot with large pieces of
ice, at the same time that pieces of ice are
kept in the arm pits. This simple treatment
if steadily persevered in, will save cases
which seem almost desperate; and there is
reason to believe, under any other treatment,
would prove fatal
OS Toua.-A party of tourists, consist
ing of John D. Stockton, Esq, Editor OF the
Philadelphia Morning Post, Cyrus Elder,
Esq, of Johnstowu, G. W. Allen, Of the
Morning Post, and G. f. Delcamp, Of Phila-
delpha camped near the Springs on last