Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-11-25
SHOCKING TRAGEDY.
A Wife Shot Down by her Husband in
Edgefield.
She Dies Almost Instantly,

shocking tragedies thdt his ever been en-
acted in a civilized community. For two
wears past, Conrad Kessler, a German, has
been keeping bakery and confectionery
on Main street, Edgefield, his family living
in the same house, two story brick, few
doors east of Tulip street. During that
period, Kessler and his wife have had fire.
quent quaITels, and on two or three ocea-
sions have been arrested for disorderly con-
duct and disturbing the peace of the neigh
borhood. At the time above indicated, an
other quarrel ensued and the alteration
which occurred in the store-roOm was dis
timely heard by persons in the neighboi-
borhood. A few moment after the quarrel
commenced Mrs. Kessler made
her appearance at the front
door, and just as she stepped out on
the pavement was heard to use abusive ep-
ithets TO her husband. She then left the
door suddenly and hurriedly, and to all ar-
pearances like a person who feared some
bodily harm. From her position at the
door, she walked in a brisk pace to a front
window just beyond the door, and while in
a slightly STOPPING attitude, one arm rest
ing on the window sill, and peeping
through the pane of glass, the report of
pistol was heard. After the firing, Mrs.
Kessler gave shrek, and ran about four
teen steps to point opposite the side door
of Weakley's store, where she fell, the
blood oozing quickly from the wound she
had received. A minute afterwards she
gasped several times, and life was extinct.
Two physicians were on the ground almost
instantly after the occurrence. Upon an
examination of the wound, it was found
that the ball had entered just above the
nipple Of the left breast. ranging down.
wards and piercing the heart.
City Marshal Miller and Deputy Marshal
Green were on the street when the firing
occurred, and less than hundred yards
from the point where the tragedy occurred.
With all possible haste they repaired to the
spot, and fearing that Kessler would at
tempt to escape, ran around Tulip street
and entered the alley leading to the back
premises of Kessler's bakery. They found
him in the act of hitching his horse to the
wagon. Miller told him that he had killed
his wife, and he replied that he reckoned
not, and he would go and see. In company
with the two marshals, Kessler came
through the house to the front pavement,
where the wife lay weltering in her blood.
Looking down upon the lifeless form Of the
partner of his bosom, he remarked: "Well,
it's done now, and it can't be helped; told
her to let me alone" He then said to the
Marshal: II surrender myself" at the same
time drawing out a Colts navy from his
person and handing it to the officer. The
body was then removed from the pavement
to the room in rear of the store. The
officers were then in the act of
conducting Kessler to Jail, when he
remarked, excitedly, ''IS there nobody here
to attend to herr" A gentleman said that
two doctors had been in attendance. One
of the physicians standing near him said,
.'She's dead, and no attention is necessary
now" Kessler, in passionate manner, re-
piled, ''She's not dead-you're id liar"
The Marshals then took him in charge and
started for the Jail.
While proceeding down Woodland street
toward Nashville. kessler saw John Orr, of
the firm of Orr Bros, standing at the door,
and called upon him to come out. Mr..
Orr came out. and in cool manner Hess
| Ter told him what had occurred, and pulling
out his pocket-book, he told Orr that he
owed him for six barrels of -four, and also
was indebted to Phillips, jackson 4 Co.
for two barrels, Immediately counting out
| SOS which he handed Orr to pay for the
same. Reaching the suspension bridge, he
again pulled out his pocket-book, and said
he had no further use for it, and threw it
over into the river.
The particulars of the tragedy spread IA
pidly throughout Edgefeld, and in a short
| space of time, large crowd assembled on
Main street, discussing the heait-rending
| occurrence until after dark, when Coroner
RCan
rived. RYAN reached the house a short
time before Brantley, and proceeded to hold
the inquest He selected jury composed
OF W. r. Cornelius, W. NJ. Murray, j. b.
Garfield. X. S. Miller, Joseph Meyer, Geo.
I. Weakley and james I. Bell. Several
witnesses were examined before the jury,
the first being the son of the deceased and
step-son of KeSsler. His testimony gave
the position Of Kessler when the pistol was
fired, and showed him to be standing in the
back part Of the store, near door leading
into the back room. Other witnesses de-
tailed what is already noted above. The
jury then repaired to the adjoining room,
and returned a verdict that the deceased
came to her death from pistol shot fired
by Kessler, and that the act was wilful and
intentional, and that the wound received
by the deceased from the evidence of the
examining physician was necessarily fatal.
Kessler has been a resident hereabOuts
for some fourteen years. He was member
of the tenth Federal regiment during the
war, and afterwards one of the Metropoli-
tan Police. He was an excellent baker,
and hard working man, but Of the most
violent passions. Had it not been for the
domestic difficulties alluded to above, and
terminating in such shocking manner, his
business would have made him indepen-
dent.
Mrs. Kessler was widow when he mar
ried her, with several children, including
grown daughter, the latter being very much
affected by the tragical occurrence.
Mr.. Miller as prosecutor, obtained war
rant yesterday morning from Esq. Camp
bell, and returned the same before Justice
CaSsetty, the trial being fixed for the 10Th
inst. at 10 o'clock.
"a Fashionable Young Lady on Her