The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-03-27
BLOODY FRATRICIDE.
One Brother Shoots Another Dead
NJ the Feet of Their Aged Father
supposed Snfcide OF the Murderer.

One Brother Shoots ABother DPat
n the Feet ofTheir Aged Father
supposed Suicide OF the Murderer
| 10 this aye OF progress and enl'ght'
epment, when the sun Of mercy seemI
to pour fourth upon humanity its mos,
bene6 ent rays. furnishing man will
everything necessary to his happiness
it seems strange that hardly day pass
es without the press having to chroni'
Gle the bloody account ot some ont
sleeping his hands in the gore OF hi'
'elIow.man. Every day we record
stabbing. shooting, clubbings, etc To-
day we have the story of a horrible
Iratric de to tell-s tragedy appalling
10 its details, aud most unaccountable
because OF the relations OF the principal
parties.
About two and a half miles southeast
OF Bardstown, the county seat OF Mel
son county. KY lives Mr. George W.
Holtsh ouser, a farmer OF hign resPecta-
bllrty and standing among his fellow
citizens. During Lis hie he had reared
two Sons, John Crittenden and Daniel
Webster, both OF whom were the de-
light of their parents, who, in their old
age, looked upon them as the prop OF
their declining years, and the staff
which would ease their footsteps to the
grave. Both OF them had TOR the last
SIX or eight years sup rintended their
fathers business, aud as-i-ted in the
support OF their parents. 1t seems that
Ior several months past eud has eS-
listed bet Seen these two brothers, the
cause OF which is as yet unknown.
Last Saturday night the quiet little
city of Bardstown was thrown into
consternstion by the news that J. c.
Holtshouser had shot and killed his
brother D. w. Holt-houser, at his fa.h-
er's residence. Investigation proved
that the terrible story was but too true,
and that the murder occurred in the
following manner:
John C. Holtshouser had been IN
Bardstown during the day and returned
home about II o'clock tnst evening and
entered the room where his father and
brother were sitting by the fire. His
brother sat bv a small table r. adirg the
New York Ledger. His iather, being
At the right Of the fire place saw his
son John c. enter the room, and sup
posed be wa bringing in the mai from
the city; but instead Ct taking the mail
rom his pocket the latter drew out
large navy revolver, and, without utter
ing a word, shot at his brother, the bal
passing through the paper, entering the
let breast OF the victim, and lodging
under his shoulder b ad- The wounded
man attempted TO rI-e from his chair
when the fralricide fired again, the bal
this time entering near The shoulder,
and, as his brother tell towards the
door he fired the third time, sending
deadly ball into the crown OF his hear,
through the brain, and lodging under
the right eye.
Having completed his bloody and
fratrIcidal work, the wrelched murder
er, leaving the CORY remains Of his
brother lying proslrate in death at the
teet OF his father, started out OF the
door. closely followed b, the venerable
old man, who, 10 the agony o his griet,
begged that he might be shot also, and
thus have his troubles ended The
murderer then visi led the residence o
Mr.. Boone, his farher-in-law, who Iiv-
ed near by, aud giving his wife part
ing kiss, he fed across he country and
has not been heard rom SINCE. Shoril,
alter be lie Boones house D -tol shot
WAS heard IN the direction he hat
taken, and it is generally believed tna'
he took his life into his own hands, ard
ended it by the same means he mad en-
ployed in the commission OF his resrtuI
crime; but this report needs confrma-
ton.
The young men were highly respect
ed in tine community. They nal both
passed through the war, in the Con 'ede-
rate army, with great credit to them
selves as brave and good soldiers. The
murderer having been a Lieutenant in
John Morgans command The de-
ceased was unmarried II g brother has
wife aud Two ch 'ldren. Their parents
are both about seventy five years OF
aye, 8; p their grief can better be ina
giued than described They have the
sympathy OF the entire community in
their sad and terrible sffl ctlon. On
Sunday the excitement 10 toe neigbor-
hoyd was very great, and every eior
was being made to capture the tatri
eide.