The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-12-28
SHOCKING TRAGEDY NEAR GIN.
OINNATI.
Horrible Murder and Suicide.
The chastity and slokenlng Dst.l!s.

CINCINNATI, Dec. q.
A terrible family quarrel took place
at Westwood village, about flve miles
from this city, In Green township, last
evening. which resulted In the fatal
wounding Of the wife and the sslf-des-
truCLion OF the father. The particulars
arc as follows:
CordelIa Wilder, wife OF John II.
Wilder, is known in this city, Chicago
and 81. Louis az woman whose busl.
ness has been for years to furnish
houses Of prostitution. She taking
mortgages on property for money
advanced at enormous rates Of Interest.
During her frequent absences from
home the husband look after the fam.
lily, consisting Of some 10 or l2 children.
Her legal adviser, Nicholas Byrd, a
young lawyer Of this city, about year
ago began to pay attentions TO the old
eat daughter OF Wllder's, being en~
couTaged therein by the mother, the
father objected, and ut one time COW.
hlded Byrd on Fourth street, the affair
at the time created good deal OF talk.
About three months since Byrd and
the daughter wers married, and II quar-.
rel yesterday grew out OF this matter,
During its progress sotnsthing WAS
said which enraged Wilder, who ats
tackled his vile with hatchet, strik.
Ing her on the head and cutting her
~ NnaRlNF ~ n
u sharp instrument intlicting wounds
In the neck and shoulders, which
were pronounced fatal by the sur
geon. The children ran to alarm
the neighDots, but when help arrived
It was found that Wilder had taken
refuge In an adjoining room, and bar :
red the door. He gave notice that he
was armed, and would kill any one
who attempted to enter the room.
While the neighbors were debating
how 10 effect an entrance, they heard
the report OF the gun, and bursting
open the door, they beheld the most
appalling and slckening sight. Wilder
had taken advantage OF the hesitation
OF the people outside, to load both bars
rels Of the. shot gun with heavy shot,
remove the barrels from the stock, and
placing the butt end In the crate, he SO
adjusted string on the triggers 50
that both loads would be fired ut once;
30 terrific was the force tina; the top OF
his head from below the right eye dl.
agonGlly across. hiE forehead was blown
completely oil, and thrown some ieet
distance Into nm open trunk, back 10
which the man staggered and fell, with
his neck just aCrOss;the edge. The CELL
Ing walls we're despatched with brains
and blood, presenting ulOst Hickeniug
sight on opening the door OF the room, ,
Wilder had written au explanation
OF the tragedy, Rttributiug all the din
cultiea between him and hls wife 10 his
son-In law, Byrd. On his person were
found u newspaper giving Hn account
OF cow-hldlng scrape, a correspon.
dence between himself and Byrd on the
proposed marriage and II letter from
the mother 10 the daughter advising
her 10 marry Byrd. He also addressed
few lines 20 his children, stating TINT
he had come to.t the conclusion that they
had better be orphans than live with
such parents as they hRd. and said he
did not intend previously 10 Kill his
wife. On tho bed In the room were
found bowie knife, razor aud u strong
cord, and In another place shot gun,
musket and pistol, showing that he
had contemplated suicide.
The children evidently sympathl zed
With their mother, for when the neigh.
bors attempted TO prevent the escape of
Wilder by the back way, they ex.
pressed a good deal Of feeling against
their father. A ramfGd becoming fas.
tened In musket In the hands or some
person In the crowd, ono said, Damn
the ramrOd; shoot IL through him II he
attempts to escape.' The latest account
lrom the scene OF the tragedy reports
Mts. Wilder still alive, but her death IL
munIUnlHrtly expected.