Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-12-03
THE CARDINGTON TRAGEDY.
Correspondence Delaware Gazette.
CARD1NaToN, O., Nov. so, 1860.

! Core spOndence Delaware Gazette.
CARDINaToN, O., Nov. so, 1869.
! Editors Gazette :-On the 25th inst
/ our little town was thrown into fevel
of excitement by the shooting o
| Thomas McCurdy by his father, Maj
/ a. T. McCurdy, The murder occurred
at high noon on Thursday, 25th instant
Current reports allege that an alter
/ cation occurred between Thomas and
| his father at the breakfast table on the
/ morning of the fatal day +; that Thomas
| charged his father with keeping 1ewd
/ women about his store. The Major
| became very much exasperated, and,
I it is said, told his son that he would
/ fix him after this.H The Major short
! ly afterwards opened his store and
began the business of the day. Thorn
as went down to the store about eight
o'clock, but on going in was ordered
out by his father and told never to
come near the store again. They both
met on the street shortly afterwards,
when abusive language passed between
them.
At the fatal hour in which the muir
der was committed, Thomas again
went to his fathers stora- this time
however, intoxicated, and assumed to
enter the store, but was again ordered
not to come in. Thomas at this time
was standing with one hand on the
door-knob, his left foot on the step,
the QOOT DelnR partially OpEns he
asked his father for his hat and gloves;
these he denied him, repeatedly order
ing him to ''clear out" The Major
during the interview was standing be-
hind the counter engaged in cutting
out clothing. But finding that his son
still persisted, came from behind the
counter, drew his pistol, walked with
in three PAGES OF his son. took deliber-
ate aim and shot him through the
breast Just above the heart, severing
all the important arteries leading to
that organ. Thomas turned round,
ran into an adjoining grocery and al
most instantly expired, without utter
ing single word.
Billy McCurdy, son of Milton Nc
Curdy, was in the store at the time the
''fatal shot'' was fired, but not sup
posing, nor even dreaming that bloody
work was at hand paid little or no at
tentiOn to the conversation of the par
ties. After the Major had fired he re-
marked to Billy, 81 shot him in the
breast he's dead" So instantly and
unexpectedly was the rash act com
mitted, that Billy failed to comprehend
the situation before the terrible tragedy
was at an end. The Major, after haV-
ing thrown his pistol into the mill
race, hurried home and, it is said, told
his wife that he thad killed Thomas
and he now guessed his neck would
have to stretch" He was shortly af-
forwards arrested and brought before
Mayor Nichols, and having waived an
examination he was manaeled and
placed in the custody of Marshal Gar
ner.
Later in the afternoon of the 25th,
having occasion to transact some bust
ness at his store, he was conducted
thither by the officers, and on passing
the grocery wherein lay the dead body
OF his murdered son he requested the
bystanders 'tto bury him decently,
that hewOuld pay all expenses"
At 6 p. M. after the fearful tragedy
we called on him at his room in the
Benson House. Up to this hour he
had not assigned a single reason for
having committed the most extraOrCin-
ary deed. He only remarked that 1--WE
could do him no good, neither did he
believe any one else could.'' He was
dressed with scrupulous care. His
splendid gold chain conErasted largely
with the heavy iron manacles upon his
ankles. His haggard, fOrlorn features,
even at this recent hour after the deed
had been committed, too clearly indi-
Gated the terrible ordeal through which
he was passing.
At 10 A. NJ. on the 26th the prisoner
was again brought before Mayor
Nichols, when two of the witnesses on
the prosecution swOre positively that
they saw him shoot his son. The pris-
oner was remanded to jail on a charge
of murder in the first degree.
The prisoners health is very bad
verging on the last stages of consump-
ton. 1t can hardly be presumed that
he will long survive either the tOrtures
of his crime or the pangs OF his disease.
WIN. $. COYNEB.