, 1869-03-24
THE TRAGEDY NEAR FORT
WAYNE.
m17. Snean mp prdef.d IN Her Own
Huu1s.

Mr. She MI hu Fdef. d IN Her Own
Huuse.
From the Fort Wt}Ee Gazette, March 20,
We have learned the following particulars
Of most atrocious murder, which WAS per
petrated ln Eel River township, this county,
yesterday morning, 1y some villains as set
unknown, but whom We hope the svenying
hand Of Justice will soon oEeftake, aud make
terribly expiate the dreadful crime.
TIE VICTIM
of this most deptorahle affair was Mrs. Jerry
Shoaff, who resides Oh a farm not tar from
Wesley Chapel. In Eel River Township, ahoat
twelve miles from this city, her husband be-.
inH the sou OF John P. Shoaf, for several
years Representative In the State Leg1sla-
tnre IRON this county. Mrs shoatf was the
eldest daughter Of Robert WORK. one Of the
oldest 1rhabi.auss In the county, 1geusle.
man widely known aud universally esteemed
IN this vicinity. Mrs. Sho.E ~as a Lady OF
most amfahle dispoAtfou and exemplary yir-
Tue, beloved by sill who knew her, and her
untlmely and Tragic fate has cast = gloom.
not only over the immediate ue!ehborhood
where the crime vas committed, but In the
city, where she has wide circle Of relatives
and frients.
A WRONG HCMoR
obtained currency on the street yesterday af-
teInCor, to the effect that Mrs. Shoad had
been killed By the &C c1denlsl discharge Of
gun, which she had occasion to move while
eue ras putting suh41 ~ 11Alss tne Ham-
mer Of the gun having, In some manner, BEEN
raised rs she wes dlawiug 1t toward her BY
the bsrrel, md droppiuE, discharged the piece,
the contents entering her breast IN the region
OF the hesrt, producing instant death. Tols
rumor, the investigation Instituted by the
Coroner, ard the facts elected, which We ap-
netd below, prove to have been entifels in-
correct, and that Mrs, Shoatf met her death
az The hands Of SOME mlscreant, who had en-
tered the house with the intent Of robbing
l., who was discovered By her, and the hide
Gus crime committed by him to secure A1ui-
stH IRON beng identified By her.
TIE sCESs OF THE MCaDER
was in one Of The most comfortable aud
commodiOus faim-houses In the county,
el1uated In one Of the most fertile regions IN
this vicinity. Mr.. shoat Is one OF the most
prosperous and thrifty farmers, aad IRON
The knowledge OF This We suppose the vii
lain, being coguizant Of the unprotected
state OF the house, was induced to attempt
the robbery, being prepared to add that Of
crlme.
TIE PARTICULARS
OF the terrible adaH, which We hare learned
from reliable source, are as follows:
In the morning Mr. shGatf, accompanied
by boy employed on The premises, at
to haul some legs on the farm to saw mill
In the Delghbcrhood, which occupied them
SOLE three hours. When Mr. Snoafr re-
turned he entered the house, and not seeing
Mrs. shoaH, he, alter 3 wks1e, looked through
the house tor her, but NOT finding her,
aEainn Tst'ed for time, supposing abe
ontside the house. Not making her
appearance, he then became uncasy, and
looked through the house, md through
the out-houses on the premises, bnt did
lot discover her: Pc then became
thoroughly alarmed, the only suppcsl-
tlou he could entertain for her dlsap-
pearaace bling that she Was visiting some
Of her retGhbors, which he felt was nnrea,
senable. and she would certainly have re-
tulEcd before II had become so laie. A pre-.
Ecntinent Of something dread;nt having hap.
pened to her filled bis mind, and once more
entering the house, he souna his worst fears
! more than realized by The discovery be then
Il bdc- Frum closet attached to tue SIT
| ting room, The door of which was partially
! cluteu. and which he had hitherto passed IN,
| hoticsd. be saw Protrudiug baud, and upon
opening the door, found the body Of his wife
lying as though she had tallen ID IT. Call
! respoIse, he raised ler from the hoor, aud
nsde the ternrie discovery that she va!
dead. A, CHASTITY round through be-
bssast made apparent the fact tha'
she had been sh~t. A gun was fount
lying on her person, ffom whlch. lac
grew yesterdays 1umor Of her Academia
death. THIS gun was slrglc-baEreiIed one
which Was kept IN the house, and which VA,
known BY Atr. ShoaH to h!vc been unload
| ed iot three moplha. aud that there wks n
ammunition OF any kind in the house, pre-
cludes tho possibility of an accident. Fur
ther discoveries put the theorS Of an acci
dental death entirely out Of the question. A
slug was found smbedded Ia the floor ,mu,e
dlstely in {tolt OF whsre she must have besz
| Etaudlrf wEtr she was shot, which Was eFi
dcntly t1rvd from the weapon With q down
ward direction, is though Il was premature,
| II discharged while the murderer was ele
| waiting It 10 kill hts victim. There having
been two hots .ired shows concIu.iy.ly thai
the e1nele-barreltd gun bad TO agency in The
| matter.
| coS1ECTUREs.
Various conjcctuEes a.r nt1oat ns to thu
manner In whlch the deed was committed
| and explaI etory Of The presence Of the gul
en- the h dv Of the murdered woman. IN
mort plausible theory is that Ars. shoat,
tblnking to intimidate tue TohheE. seize'
the gun, which WAS kept In di1erent pss
Of The room FIN where her remains Wer
discovered, and 1ctreated to the c]osei
| Wit re she xa& killed by the m!sc7eant, 6
the VILLAIN. after the murder had been COT
dummated, to make 1t appear as the feaol
oi an accident
| Of Mrs. Ahuatf took place this afternoon, or
was In, cclr attended by friends OF the tamil
from this city, atd fIc m rcr immediate nclth
borhood, where she WAS 50 universally b
| lived. -..
CoRoEER's vEnn1cI-
We append the vcrdl-t Of the Coroner
jury, which Was tmpsn.flcd aud visited III
tccIe Of the murder on yesterday alter. oon
and hwo1n By John 2. Waters, Coroner c
allen County, Indiana, to inquire into tn
death Of Martha f. shoaf, deceased, afle
hearing the testimony, do fnd that she cam
10 her ceath 5y 3 gun or pistol shot, d,:
charged b. some person or persons unkaow
! ~ rho }urr y