River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1873-02-21
A BRIDE MURDERED.

A Hcartless Outrage--A Party of Ruff
asfia nshsret ensiingt 10 ISeren ada A Newly
Wcdded Couple In West Vfrgfnia|
shoot the Bride as She Appears at the
| ments.
Correspondence New York Herald
RICHMOND, February 8, 1879 L am
in receipt Of dispatch from Fayette
county, West Virginia, which states
that most shocking outrage and ter
rible tragedy occurred in the neighbour
hood OF Mountain Cave, in that county,
few nights since. Nearly eighteen
months ago the people of the same
county were shocked by fatal ARRAY,
which took place near the same To-
cality, between two citizens named
John O'Coleman and Madison Neal, in
which the latter was killed It is I'M
fortunately my duty now to record the
murder of sister of Madison Neal, not
more than one-half mile from the spot
where her brother was sent, without
warning, to an untimely grave. ~
1t appears that the lady, who was
buxom and charming mountain maid,
was woed and won by Mr.. Potter, a
very respectable, industrious aud wor-
thy man. Thursday, the 23d nlt., was
the day set apart for the wedding, and
the twain were united in the holy bonds
of wedlock. But then the course of
true love does not always run smooth,
and so it was with the newly-married
couple.
THE MARRIAGE WAS CELEBRATED
with all the usual ceremony and festiv-
ity. The neighbors ate and drank and
danced to their hearts content, until
midnight, when the welded two were
left to retire. They had scarcely retir-
ed when they were disturbed by the
hideous sounds of a charivari that
were waited towards them by breeze
so still that it scarcely disturbed the
floating white mountain mists. AS the
serenading party neared the residence
of the married pair. the discordant
sounds of blowing horns and the beat
ing of tin-pan tambourines were occa-
sionally interrupted by the more shrill,
sharp and e,T f@e
OMNIBUS CRACK OF MUsKETS,
shotguns and rifles. Soon the party
arrived at the house, and then the
noise of their horrible instruments,
coupled with the intermittent dis
charges of the firearms, produced
most alarming effect on the bride and
bridegroom. 1t was found that the
serenaders numbered eight persons, so
disguised, however, that they could
not be recognized from any point of
observation within the house. Just at
this juncture it occurred to the bride,
who fearing that their intention might
be more hostile than complimentary,
to ask the party in to take some refresh
ments, and thus appease any animosity
they might entertain. She accordingly
advanced to the door, accompanied by
her step-daughter, and opening 1t she
stood on the threshold with lighted
candle in her hand. Almost simultane-
ously with her appearance there was a
voLLEY FIRED FROM FOUR GUNS
at her, the contents of one striking the
door post, glaneing and entering the
brides (Mrs. Potter's) ear, and lodg-
ing in the centre of the brain. With
shrek and cry of agony the unfortu.
nate bride of a few hours fell to the
ground, from which she was shortly
afterwards removed by her husband
and daughter to the wedding bed. The
villains who perpetrated this cowardly
and barbarous outrage disappeared in
the darkness, but in a more sudden
manner than that in which they came.
Mrs. Potter, after suffering the most
excruciating agony,
EXPIRED TWO DAYS AFTER
the outrage occurred. A physician who
was called probed the wound, and gave
it as his opinion that Mrs. Potter's
death was caused by hard tow wad
discharged from gun in the hands of
the serenading party. 1t is gratifying
to announce that the parties have been
arrested, and three of them were COM
mitted to the Jail of Fayette county for
trial. The citizens in the vicinity ex-
press the greatest indignation at this
shocking occurrence, and universal
wish prevails for the prompt and severe
punishment of all concerned