Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-06-09
HORRIBLE TRAGEDY In ONE.
A D3scaEded koVer shoots Down O. GIFTS
= n In n. Mother and Brother-sho
Escapes by LeApIne frcna q window
From The Cleveland Leader, Nav %,

been perpetrated in Northern Ohio, an APP
propriato orowning horror, was perpetla-
ted on Saturday 81 ernoOn, In Richtield,
Summit county, about twenty two miles
from this city. 4 young man named Han
Ter. while living AZ his hCme IN Michigan,
became acquainted with and enan ored OF
young lady named Chloe Gargett, IF
Richfield, Summit county. She Was about
% years of age, he %. She returned to
this State something over year ago, and
last fall be paid her visit, being well re-
ceived by the family. His visit in the
family was prolonged, the attachment be-
tween him and MIS- Gargett streugt hened
and intensified. When be returned home
to Michigan he kept up q correspondence
with her, and endeavored to obtain the
consent of her parents to his marriage
with the daughter. The Winter passed,
and la the Spring he was informed that
THE MARRIAGE WAS IMPo sIBLE,
peremptor;ly ordered to desist from all
further correspondence, and to give up
whatev er professions ho had to Miss Isr-
getts hand. This aroused the demon in
his bosom. He swore he would Lave her
or STAY her, aud used every means in his
power to execute his threat. Last week
he concluded that all endeavo!s to obtain
her IN marriage would be uselt S. and he
set about to take her life. He came to this
city and stopped at the City Hotel, where
he took the stage for Richield Saturday,
Arriving at his destination in the after
noon. he repaired INN ediately to the house
of Mr.. Robert Gargett ard asked where the
daughter was. cit makes no difference
where she is" answered the father, "yCu
cannot see her" & will seq her," said
he, " or I'll kill all of you" The father
hereupon ordered him to leave his premi
ses, and Hunter drew revolver and fred.
hitting the old man in the head. The
old man fell rendered insensibe by the
wound, and the mother, who was standing
near by, cried cut to her daughter
'HE HAS KILLED YOUR FATHER, FLY ! FLY -
TIE daughter ran up stairs and the MUIR
derer aimed at the mother, shooting her
in the head and causing instant death. AS
the last echo OF the report Ofthe pistol
mingled with the moan Of the dying moth
er and ceased vibrating in the air, the
fiend shrleksd that he would kill all Of
| them, and rushed forward toward the stair
case where the daughter had disappeared.
| The lady's brother, Rodney, here Crap
pied him, and violent struggle eDsued,
one employing every energy to iberAte
himself to slay q 0efenceless and loved
woman, the other bending every energy to
save life Of sister. In a minute the
bloodtLirsty man tt1umphed. He leaped
fer. h from the clutches Of the brother.
AID raising his revolver, fred at him q
shot that put him beyond the power OF
interfering. Rodney rushed into tue
street frantic from his wound, and ran
about filing the air with ehrieks and
screams, the life blood trickling from his
wound. In an instant he WAS good dis
lance FROM the scene Of the tragedy, A
large crowd gathered about him totally
unable to comprehend the meaning OF Lis
cries, and soon moved toward his house.
where the bloody truths became bat too
apparent. In the meantime, the daughter,
hearing the second report of the pistol,
and seeing her brother ktagger through
the streets,
LEAPED FROM 4 SECOND STORY WINDOW
into the street, and sought refuge in a
neighboring honss. An cid lady, in whose
house she entered, secreted her in Il cellar,
and then returned to her front door, Just
Ia line to meet the bloody murderer on
the threshold. He demanded admission,
and was refused. The brave woman stood
bafore her door, barring the passage way
and stou. ly refusing him admittauoe. He
here again declared his purpose to kill the
young woman, mingliug his threats with
the most unseemly oaths, and say ing that
she should either wed him or die. The
crowd gathered around, and be then said
he would shoot himself, and then raised
the revolver to his head, to let it fall harm
less to his side. He then aimed the wea-
pom at young man in the crowd, utsering
a threat, but did not fire. He reeled about
for moment or two, pointing his revolver
at every one who came near, and finally
moved from the house. Il became evident
now that Hunters plan was to assume in
sanity, and he at once began to play this
part az a closing scene in the dire tragedy.
A mother lay dead bathed in her blood, q
father was mortally wounded, q son was
rendered wild and insane from O shot, and
the author of Ill this crime now began 10
enact the role Of a mailman. With the
saven-shooter in his hand. four barrels
loaded, he mingled with the excited thrOng
calling himself murderer, and extending
his bIood-stained hand to all he met
''Shake hands with me, said he: ''sse how
it seems to shake the hands of q muir
derer." ST was determined to kill or marry
her." eff you don't shake hands with me
III shoot you
'HURRAH FOR A MURDERER"
With these and other cries, he stsgeer-
ed about the streets, compelling every one
80 shake hands with him, and finally WET.
dered back 10 the house where lay the
dead mother and the wounded father
Several attempts were made to arrest m,
but to all who approached him be present
ed the deadly barrel, an they shrank
back. Here, in front of Mr.. Gargett's
house, man from the crowd slipped be-
hind the murderer and threw him to the
ground. An instant later he was bound,
the revolver wrenched from his hand, and
all power of doing harm taken from him.
In this position the murderer asserted
that he had drank great deal, and was
even then under the influence of liquor
He tried to vomit, and said he had taken
poison from remorse, and wanted to kill
hims self. Neither assertion was listened
to, for it was clear that he was not under
the influence of liquor. and if he had de-
sired self-destruction, it could easily have
been obtained by the loaded revolver
The excitement existing among the crowd
was intense, and strong disposition was
manifested to hang the murderer at cnco,
without trial. The friends of law and or
der, however, prevailed, and Hunter was
placed in confinement to await judgment
for his damned crimes from twelve Jury
men. The wounded son, on behold |
ing him, and understanding the terrible
crime that agitated the bosoms of those
around him, ATTEMPTED to