The New York herald., 1873-10-14
TWO TRAGEDIES.
A Husband Stays a ParamOur--.A
Paramour Stays a Husband.
An Unfaithful Wife Decoys Her Husband
to His Death-Shot and Buried in
. Lonely Field-A Dog
Discovers the Body.

CHICAGO, H., Oct. 8, 1873.
within the past week two terrible tragedies
have been added to the long list already reported
In Illinois within the past six weeks In each
case Illicit love has nerved the hand that did the
deed OF murder; but in one the husband slew the
betrayer OF his honor and In the other the dis
honorcd husband fell by the hand OF the paramour
OF his wife. The circumstances attending upon the
commission OF the latter crime are OF SO traglcal
character that some account OF them will not be
without interest 20 the readers OF the HERALD.
Al Benton a co,ored barber named Wesley
Johnson, boarded az the house OF white man,
named John Sheppard. Mrs. Sheppard did not
i've happily with her husband and exhibited o
decided preference for the good looking barber.
The scandal became public and rum0r had II that
she and
HEB Dusty PARAMoUR
had on one occasion at least, been captured In
fagrunte de,icto. The husband. as husbands will,
came TO learn the facts and conclude, with Iago
that the Moor had usurp,d his ONCE, and still
bitterer quarrel arose between him and his wife,
ending In their separating and Johnson leaving
town. 30 strongly, however, did she assert her
innocence that finally her husband believed the
rumor untrue. reconciliation took place and the
barber returned 10 board with them. Everything
went along smoothly for some time, and Sheppard
and Johnson seemed the best OF friends, but on
Monday last the quarrel was renewed and Shep-
pard drew bis revolver 10 kin his vie. Af two
O'Clock on Tuesday morning he left their room,
vowing that he would never again live with her
aud declaring his intention OF going to Du Quoin.
lie was not again seen until about ten O'Clock,
when he reapp Jared on the street, walked to
Johnson's shop, drew his revolver. and, without
word OF warning shot him through the heart, Kill
lag him instantly. sheppard has been arrested
and loaged In jail.
Just one month ago a wcll-to-do and highly re-
spectcd farmer and cattlc-breeder, named Mac
Wood. living at Mulberry Grove. Edgar county,
disappeared mysterlously. The country there
prairie ana bells o. black Jack and plum trees. To
one OF these thickets MIR. Wood, accompanied
by his wlie. young and handsome woman, though
OF not yeTy strong mind, went on sunday, the 7th
oi september, TO pick piums
THE WIPE RETURNED ALONE,
saying that her husband had left her to go TO pas
ture at some distance and inspect his cattle. Night
came on aud passed, bat he did not return. Next
lad parted with him. she found ut It's loot a pool
OF blood and locks OF hair strcwn along CORY
trail. seeming TO indicate that he had been slain
there and tnat the BODY had been tugged by the
hair TO another clump OF trees at some little dis
tance. where II had been hidden in some brush.
Was given. aud shortly several hundred
farmers were searching for the corpse OF
their murdered friend. Rewards amoun ting nearly
TO $1,000 were offered by the county authorities
and the friends of.the murdered maa. Greeks were
dragged, Old wells searched, groves and swamps
explored to their nmost recesses, detectives were
employed; but oil TO no purpose Mrs. Wood still
kept declaring what significantly II was
the farm; bat she gave no reason ior the express
sion OF this singular belief Al last the search was
abandoned; and what the detectives had given up
a mystery too deep and dark Tor them was,
under Providence,
little giri was sent ON an crrand TO neigh
bor's house. Tue dog accompanied her. she took
2 shortcut across tue newly plSagned ned. Tne
,N3 irc and began g bark and scrape up the
% was sleHsnsd BY Is'0sn the stencil f' Of ascaying
nesh, and returning homo told her parents
minutes had uncovered the body OF Mr. Wood,
which lay under hollow iurrow Of newly turned
II was not many hours ere jury was enipaneIed
ana a post-Incrtcm examination held beside
brush IRE which was kindled beside the body, AM
cast weird light upon the naked corpse, mangled
by the murderer, at which the doctors were hack
ing and carving IN toe interests OF justice. the
grave Jurors aud the assembled crowd under the
gloomy boughs aud the quiet. starry skies. IL was
found that the unhappy man bad been pierced ~
three bullets, one passing through the head,
another breaking his jaw aud taird trayersinf
the lett yentricc Of the heart
FAMILY .FEun.
Previous 20 tins the brotherln-law OF Mr. Wood,
q man named Williams, hal been arrested also
Lon Iiaplon. hired nan, who haa been employed
them by various causes. There had been a lamily
ieud oi long standing between Williams aud an
other brother-inIaw, Davidson, aud Neod. On
the Monday after the murder Williams was out
ploughinq at day-dawn In tue rcd where 1
the body was afterwards discovered; aud
IL was noticed by some Witnesses az
distance that MS horses sheercd aside at the |
very point where the body must have lain, bat he
compelled them with the whip 90 pass and throw
iurrow over it. Further. Williams lent Hsnson A
revolver. which, amer Hanon returned II ON that \
Monday. he declared he had lost by threats he
was induced TO ma II where he had hidden n, En
der heap u rubbish and refuse near his barn. He
still asserts his innocence OF any compiciy IN the
planning execution OF the deed OF blood.
want OF evfdencc before the body was discovered.
He had been IA Mr.. Woods employ and had ALLEN |
DESPERATELY IN LOVE WITH MS MISTRESS,
ana there was reason Tor believing that his passion
had been returned. Mr. Wood had been aware of
the scandal, but had striyen 10 cover t by as /
charging Hanion and keeping hls secret Eanion !
alter his dicharge vanished and has not since been
found, though person answering his DESCRIPTION |
appeared somewhat mysteriOusy AZ the catltn I
Fair few days after and tod a gentleman there I
tina, Mr.. Wood had left home-so h.s people
thought-hut that nc had really been Killed by
Williams and Davidson, Detectives. backed by
ample means, are after MIN aud expect 10 and hin
ere long.
wo0i 10 enable himself 10 enjoy the love o! the
widow without hindrance. aud that he took al
vantage OF the family quarrel 10 secure weapons
aud opportunity. Mfs " ood seems To have served
as dccoy and 10 have led the unsuspecung victim
to the spot where he was butchcrea