The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-03-30
From the Philadelphia Age, March III
Wife Murder and Suicide I'm Phila
b.. 80 delnhfa. 49,

For some time past, our city has en-
joyed q perfect immunity from murders
and although, from the numerous
bloody deeds done within the past few
years, we have been led to believe tina
nothing could shock US, yet, on Satur
day, deed was perpetrated which il
the direct result Of the light manner il
which the marriage vows are treated
and which involved the death by vic
lence Of a young husband and wife, the
latter being shot in three places and in
stantly killed by the husband, who
then, with the same revolver. mortally
wounded himself by shot in the lefl
breast. The affair is one OF the mos
terrible tragedies OF the kind that has
taken place in the city for many years
and created intense excitement IN the
section of the city where 1t occurred
and shocked the community generally
THE VICTIMS.
AT No. 449 North Fifth street board
ed since last fall, one John 81. Murray
and his wife Mary. Up to within a
few months ago, they lived pleasantly
together. Murray was about twenty:
eight years of age, a native of New
York, and man Of fine muscular de,
velopment. Mrs. Murray (whose
maiden name was Fredericks, and who
was a native of Marietta, Ohio, and at
the time of her marrage) was a woman
Of progressing appearance, about
twenty one years Of age. y
THE DIFFICULTY.
Fol. q long time past Murray had sus-
pected his wife of inidelity, and, as Is
alleged, about q fortnight ago he learn
ed that she was visiting house of i'll
fame, where she took rooms. He fire.
1uently entreated her, through mutual
friends, to return to her home, but she
utterly refused to do so. On Friday
night he came home apparently much
depressed in spirits. He paced the floor
in one of the lower rooms for some time,
and then requested Mrs. Miller, the
lady. with whom he boarded, and her
niece. to 60 with him that he had a
to make to them which
was Of importance. They followed him
up stairs, and when they had reached his
apartment he remarked that he had
received bad news. A friend had told
him that Mary had returned to the city,
and had been seen in house of i'll
fame. She had been spoken to, and
had declared that she would not live
with him again. "If she does not
come back and act as a wife SHOULD"
said he, 81 inteEd to shoot her and my
self too" His manner was determined,
and they had little doubt that he meant
what be said. He exhibited revolving
pistol yesterday morning to the neice,
and remarked that he meant to carry
out his declaration in respect to his
wife.
THE TRAGEDY.
Shortly after 3 o'clock, on Saturday
afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. hurry came
into the house, and after stopping a
few minutes in the dining-room, went
up stairs. Scarcely had they reached
their room when four pistol shots were
heard, and Immediately after the voice
Of Murray was heard on the stairway
calling to Mrs. Miller, "For Gods sake,
come up| Mrs. NJ. on going up stairs,
and opening the door of the third-story
ront room, was Mortified at the light
hat met her gaze. ..
THE ROOM.
Upon the bed laid the dead body Of
Mrs. Murray, with open eyes and mouth,
or fonn 81 L~~c-, nveraA With hlocI
Beside her was the murderer and would
" o-iuide. Det~oon trunk, which
,te efe i nsaE 'bSgipd"Y lo8G:a GPohT The
door, near a washstand, was an open
razor, and at the foot OF the bed laid the
revolver, which had been used in the
commission OF the bloody deed.
The room was but scantily furnished,
4 scene of abject poverty. A physician
was called in soon after the affair be-
came known, but too late to render any
service to the wife. Her husband, how
ever, was still alive. An examination
disclosed the fact that the deceased had
been shot in two vital places. Murray,
after committing the deed, had placed
the weapon to his left breast, evidently
aiming at the heart, and fired, the ball
passing through the left lung. While
wing upon the bed, the husband fire,
1uenrly carressed his dead vile, and
gave utterauce to the following words :
{ It's a shame that this thing should
have happened, poor girl" One of the
present asked Murray why he
committed the crime He replied, point
ing to bis heart, ut is buried here
Believing that the unfortunate man
was at the point OF death, Father Crane
of.-St. Augustine's Church, called, and
administered the last sacrament.
LOVE STRONG IN DEATH.
In view Of the crime which Murray
had been guilty of, and the nature o.
his wounds, Lieutenant Bruerin, of the
Seventh Police district, had him re
moved to the st. Joseph's Hospital, and
detailed an officer to accompany him
When told that he was to be taken tc
the Hospital, he threw himself upon the
corpse of his wife and kissed her lips
then cold in death, o err and DER again
He frequently expressed a wish that he
too, might die. -
THB LETTER.
In the room in which the foul deed
was perpetrated was found "a paper
written by the murderer, Of which the
following is a copy;
PHILADELPHIA, March %, 1871.
10 my Fiends-When the bodies o
myself and wife are found, | would
most respectfully ask them il they viii
try and give us a respectable burial
because I have hot one dollar in thu