The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-07-14

In behalf of our afflicted brother, the
editor of the Times, whose mind in this
dark hour of his life is lily fitted to the
task, and in behalf of his suffering wife,
we will give a short statement of the
sorrowful tragedy which so startled the
citizens of Eldorado, and so shocked
and Frustrated those that are near and
dear to us by the ties of nature. This
statement is published to the end that
unwise con- lectures and surmises may
be obviated, and that the people of But
Ter county, to whom he is SO Intimately
connected as editor and publisher, may
not be compelled to give ear to rumor.
Our words "iil be few-the duty sad
one:
AT Emporia, on last Monday morn
ing, as we were leaving the bedside of
sick father, preparatory to returning
to our own home and duties, q telegram
was handed us which contained the pain
full intelligence that our brothers babe
was dead-his wife in dying condi-
ton. There being just time for us to
catch the morning train west, we, in
company with younger brother, start
ed, reaching EldOrado at sunset, when
from eye witnesses all the details of the
previous days sad history was given
US, and which are briefly these:
The family of our brother consisted
of himself, his wife, a little niece of IL
years whom they were raising, a little
daughter between three and four years
of age, the babe about fourteen months
old, and young man employed in the
Times office, j. w. Hart by name. They
had temporarily moved into a small
house opposite the Court House about a
square from the main part of the town.
Upon the arrival of the mail between
the hours of II and L O'Clock, on Sun
day, the father and husband stepped
down to the post Office, on the main
street for his mail. In returning he
met Hon. Sidney Clarke and Governor
Sharp, who were on the corner near the
hotel in full view of his house, with
whom he stopped and conversed for a
short time, then started for home, which
he had almost reached when he heard
| his little girl and niece scream. just
as he got to the corner of the house the
bloody form of his dying child on the
ground near the other corner of the
house caught his gaze. Flying to it,
where he could see the back part of the
house, his wife, PROSTATE and bleeding,
but alive, was next seen. Taking her
in his arms he carried her to near the
front door where he laid her down and
called for help. DIR. McClaran was
called at once, who sewed up and dress
| ed the wound in a few minutes. Mrs.
Murdoch had, with razor, first cut her
| child's throat and then her own. The
arteries of the child's neck had been
| severed completely and it died without
a struggle. In the attempt upon heI
own life she had horribly mangled heI
throat, almost severing the windpipe bui
failed to sever the important blood YES
sells, cutting too high, although an artery
was grazed. AS soon as the decd was
done her powers of reason returned
and while the doctor was sewing up the
cash she signaled for pencil and paper
with which she told her distracted hus-
band what to do with the little daugh-
ter, together with other things of minoI
importance, winding up with the, charge
or prayer for him to lead Christian
life. This she wrote under the convic-
ton that she was dying.
Without dwelling further upon the
details of this doubly sad tradgedy We
will give the causes that led her abera
ton of mind, and the committing of the
deed, as told b V herself and corroborat
ed by the family. And in the contem
plation of the principal cause of thii
dark cloud which so suddenly destroy
ed hope, happiness and life, comes Il
our breast the emotion of indignation
The next morning, 1t being Monday
our afflicted and suffering sisters mint
was as clear as it ever had been anC
: then she told her agonized husband all
Upon the heads of the fiends, at bes
unprincipled Williams, who wrote tina
letter dated Douglass, but mailed a
) Augusta, and signed Committee rest
. the blood of that sweet, promising boy
whose bright form we helped to la
away on last Tuesday upon the mounC
l that overlooks Eldorado, and the val
= ley of the Walnut. From the date anG
reception of that letter, she says her lif
has been a constant dread of ''vigilant
ers." The letter spoken of Ordere,
the editor of the Times to take bacl
what he had said in his paper or leav
/ the county within ten days.l Sleep flet
q from her eyes and all desire for foo
p left her. Hourly she was expecting
!, that the ones who had threatened +
} take her husbands life would execut
Q their threat. Nights she sat by tn
n window a sentinel and guard over hin
). she loved better her own life, momen
9 tarily expecting to see him dragged b
= murderers from her presence, until rea
i son toppled and reeled from its seat.
/, Of all this her husband had not tn
V least suspicion, as he had on several oC
| caS1OHS, In answer 10 her QueStlOnS, en-
deavored to satisfy her that he appre
hended no personal danger, until Las
l. week, Wednesday, upon his retur
from Leavenworth when from the man
i ncr of his reception and from the IN
q rest of her eye, the dreadful reality {
the condition of her mind flashed upo
him. Immediately communicating hi
e fears by letter to his parents and friend
n IN Emporia, he assiduously by ever
power of his love and mind endeavore
to soothe and comfort her, not leavin
: her day nor night, but for few mir
II utes at any time thereafter. UnfortT
C nately, the letter 10 his parents was nc
N received until too late. OF course, tn
n late political and county-seat contest
which his paper took prominent par
L together with the fearful storm, the ter
i rible effects of which we now see upo
o every hand about this beautiful tow
y all went to intensity the fear of tbs
poor mothers and wife's heart,--ths
> fear, which she says herself counsele
her to hide the razor with which sh