Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-07-30
Murdered For Money.

Murdered For Money.
An Aged Lady Clubbed to Dcath--Iler
Husband Almost killcd-- Nine thousand
Dollars In Gold stolcn--Arrest Of the
Brutal Murderer.
In ono of our tolegraphic dispatches
yesterday morning brief reference was
mado 70 the murder of Isabella Nc.
Bride, an aged lady, several miles from
Williamsport, and tho terrible beating
OF her husband. Since then we have
obtained the following particulars Of
the horrible butchery and the object
which impcllcd its pcrpctration In q
farm house near Linden, about four
miles and half from Williamsport.
equi-distant from the Philadelphia
and Erie railroad and a public road
resided a couple aged about seventy
five years. The building is located
about 800 yards from the railroad and
can DO plainly seen by passengers on
the various trains which pass that
point The house is reached from the
public road by lane, and no habita-
iion is within 800 or 400 yards of the
place. The couple were known as
quiet and unobtrusive people and pos
sesscd no social qualities. They had
fcw visitors aud ubstained from call
ing on others unless absolutely neces-
sary. They had lived at the spot for
many years and wore tho owners OF
two largo farms in the neighborhood.
Beside it was generally believed that
they had secretcd in the house large
quantity of gold-some placing the
figure as high as s25, 900.
1t was known that two wealthy
bachelor brothers Of the wife had died
ut tho place and bequeathed their pos
sessions to the aged couple which ad-
ded to their frugality and other circum-
stances caused them TO be regarded
as among the most afliuent residents
of the country. The knowledge that
the house contained but two occupants,
and they old and feeble, and that
thousands Of dollars Of gold woro sup.
posed to be in their possession, was
communicated to brakeman on the
Philadelphia and Erie Railroad, named
Nelson Wade years ago. and on Tues
day evening he carried into execution
the diabolical design which he had
doubtless nourished for long period.
The man and wife were just making
preparations to eat their supper, the
edibles having already been placed on
the table; when q visitor suddenly
made his appearance.
Mrs. MBride had gone toward the
cellar on the outside with crock Of
milk, and the door leading to the base
ment being closed she placed the
earthen vessel on the doorstep. As
she proceeded to open the cellar door
she was violently assaulted with q
club by the stranger, and although
pleading for mercy the monster con.
tinucd his brutal and cowardly attacks
on the unprotected woman until she
lay weltering in her blood and death
ensued. This ficndish act accom-
plished Wade took the club with which
he had murdered Mrs. M'Bride and
with the blood dripping from it rushed
into the house and applied it to the
head of the husband until he had sup.
posed he had killed him. He was
now master of the terrible situation
and commenced q search for the gold
which he thought was in the house. -
He succeeded in obtaining, 1t is said,
about $4,000, when he quit the scene
Of bis terrible work.
THE SITUATION DISCOVERED.
Although tho murder was commit
ted on Tuesday evening, it was not
known by any person but the assassin
and robber until near noon on We'd
nesday, when some one had occasion
to 20 TO the house and fonnd Mrs. Nc
Bride covered with gore, her skull
fractured, her features generally dis
torted apd her inanimate form lying
where she had been stricken down by
the murderer. The crock of milk
which she had placed on the door step
seemed to have been untouched. The
startled aud horri6ed discoverer of
the woman's fate then entered the
house, where he found Mr.. M'Bride
still breathing but perfectly uncon-
scious. His head bore abundant evi-
dence Of having been violently beaten,
and his face, hands and clothing were
stained with blood, while the floor
contained considerable quantities Of
coagula,ed gore.
THE TERRIBLE NEWS SPREADING.
Soon after the nearer neighbors
were informed of the tragedy, and by
afternoon hundreds of people on foot
and in carriages were hurrying to the
scene. The mos. intense excitement
prevailed, and those who witnessed
tho bloody corps of Mrs. M'Bride and
her almost dead husband were filed
with indignation against the murderer
and threats of lynching were freely
made. The country for miles was
secured by parties in scach of the as
sassin.
THE TELL-TALE GoLD---TnE MURDERER
CAUGHT IN A BRoTHEJ.
On Wednesday night man-appa-
rently intoxicated and with swagger-
ing air entered a house Of prostitution
in WilIiamsport and was very cxtrav-
agant in the expenditure of his money.
He exhibited more gold coin than is
ordinarily possessed by individuals,
and the mistress Of tho house, having
been informed Of the murder near
Linden and Of the supposed robbery
of gold, began to suspect the visitor
as the guilty party and slipped to the
outside and communicated her suspic-
ions to the police authorities Of Will
liamport. They soon made their ap-
pearance at the house and took tho
man into custody. Ho was examined,
and in his pockets were found about
1000 in gold. Hc offered no resist
ance to the officers, and after brief
interval confessed that he had com.
miltcd the murder and stolen tho gold