Delaware State journal and statesman., 1869-07-06
Pursuit of wife-A Tragic Scene


Says the Anderson City correspondence Of
the New Albany Commercial.
shooting affray took place at Anderson
City last week. which has caused great excite-
ment among our citizens. One John Able,
living in Dubois county, forty.fye or fifty
years old, came to Crawford county, and mas
ried the daughter of Patrick Dewitt some two
years ago, the girl being about seventeen when
married After living together some two years
the wife became dissatisfied for some cause,
and left her husband, Able, the husband,
pursued her, and ON going to her fathers did
not find her there. The father told him he
would go with him 10 where his daughter was,
and if she was willing to go back and live
with him all right; but he was not willing that
harsh means should be used. So they started,
Able having procured his brother, Hampton
Able, to help him in his emergency They
proceeded to the house of Thomas Houston, in
Anderson City, and there found the wife. The
family Of Mr.. Houston invited them in, and
when they entered John Houston solicited his
wife to 60 home with hita. She was afraid to
( go, saying sue was AFRAID OF her life. Able
still coaxed but the wife refused. Able then
told her he wanted to talk to her privately.
They stepped outside the door. He talked to
her privately for awhile and then caught and
kissed her, saying, "Now you will go, won't
Your eNo will not,' she replied Able
then said 81 will take you, dead or alivef"
Upon this sho sprang into the door. Mrs.
Houston caught hold of her. Able then
dragged them both out of the house into the
yard. Upon this Patrick Dewitt the father of
the wife, told Able to let her alone. Able
drew his revolver on Dewitt and snapped it at
! him. Dewitt knocked him down. Able got
up and was again knocked down by Dewitt.
They had quite scuflie, when Able called to
his brother Hampton, to take the wife and
start with her. The brother seized her dragg-
ing her, and she screaming for help. Able
then got loose from Dewitt and started on
run to overtake Hampton and his wife, swear
ing and threatening her life at the same time.
Dewitt procured revolver from Houston's
house, overlook the two Ables trying to force
his daughter upon horse, and she resisting
by pushing against the horse with her feet
and hands. Able, seeing Dewitt coming, told
his brother to make haste and get away with
his (Abe's) wife, and he would fight Dewitt
back, and on Dewitt approaching, Able told
him to stand back or he would blow his id
brains out, presenting the pistol at the same
time and swapping the trigger. Dewitt drew
his revolver and fired two shots at Able, and,
having one load left, deliberately revolved the
cylinder till the remaining load came under
the hammer and again fired, one Of the shots
taking effect in Abes left arm, near the elbow,
/ the ball passing down and coming out near
. the hand, shattering one of the bones in
I dreadful manner. Dewitt then returned to
: the house and got revolver, and overlook the
three, John and Hampton Able, and the wife,
: about one hundred yards from where he left
:, John. John was on his horse, and Hampton
:, !, had hold of the woman trying to put her on
:, ~ the horse behind John. The woman at this
p" time was completely saturated with blood from
= head to foot from the wound on her husband $
~ arm. Dewitt, on seeing Hampton have hold
of his daughter, raised his rifle to his face and
was just in the act of shooting him, when he
u threw up his hands and told Dewitt not to
W shoot him, and he wonld do anything he
u would tell him. Dewitt said, "D-n you
u u take 10 the bush or 1 will shoot you dead upor
w. the spot" Hampton then ran away. BY
~ this time John was of his horse and had holt
~ mao of his wife again. ''Now," said Dewitt, .
NJ NJ say, John, let her CO." John swore that h
THFa XIII her not DtR sRqs sG sns aa anew nsS
bead at Johns breast, saying, "NOw, this
-, the last time I'll tell youi let her so or | wi
p,l, ,n, shoot you" Able then relaxed his hold, 60
',,s 'Ss upon his horse and galOppsd away. Up t
,ns tile latest accounts Able was in a precariou
l ias condition. He will lose his arm and perhap
'u' his life. The parties have not been arrests
-, yet but writs have been issued and are in th
W, Oiicer's hands.