The New York herald., 1874-08-25
THE INDIANAPOLIS TRAGEDY.

as = Diss0lute Woman.
Especial despatch TO the Cincinnati Gazettel
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, August q, 1874.
The terrible tragedy Of yesterday is still the
alrabsorbtng topic, throwing the Tlton.Beecher
scandal far in the background for the present.
The Gazette this morning contained all the cs-
sential points, and little now remains to be
detailed. Al the advice OF his counsel MT Hard
ing refuses to make any statement as to why he
made the assault on MorItz. further than to say
that Moritz had seduced his daughter. and also
slandered hts wife. The confession Of his
daughter to the same erect win be brought out
In evidence at the proper time the condition Of
Morttz, the wounded man. Is quite favorable to
recovery, none OF the shots having taken eject In
the lungs, as was at first thought probable. He
denies the alleged intimacies with Miss Harding,
and asks Q suspension Of public opinion unit he
can have an opportunity Of vindicating himself Of
the charge.
now THE GIRLS MIND WAS AFFECTED.
The Ne,rs this afternoon has the following in re-
gard to the seduction
But few Of the circumstances In regard to the Sc.
duction of Miss Harding are known, but 1t Is un.
derstood to have been effected under circum'
stances that make It peculiarly atrocious and dia-
6olical some time last winter When Tor the pur; a:
boarding with German family on south New Jer-
sey street. The intimacy was Of short duration:
VotCSo
pOignancy of feeling aud the bitterest remorse,
which has found It's end In q terrible death. The
been Of long duration, but never attained the in.
timacy OF friendship. Moritz was companionable;
he liked the notorety which the acquaintance and
the fact or hts being an occasional contributor to
his paper gave him, and Harding accepted the
good will and attentions in friendly spirit, but
never reposed confidence in him but once, and
then to hts great regret There was little acauant-
ance between the families, Moritz never having
been TO the house but twice, and one OF those occa-
a
THE FUNERAL
services OF MISS Harding took place this afternoon,
street. large concourse Of sympathizing friends
and relations OF the deceased attended, and i0l-
lowed the remains. which were encased In a rose
wood coffin, taStefully adorned, to the city GEN.
etery. where they were deposited, temporarily, in
the vault. Hon. John A. Wildman, Col. George W.
Parker, Thomas F. Ryan. John ii. Holiday Col. w.
II. Holloway, and Gen. Fred Knener acted as pail
The features OF the deceased we're quite natural.
save,a slight swelling about the lace. Rev. Dr.
Baylss OF Roberts Park Methodist Episcopal
church, conducted the exercises, which were or
sixth Psalm and portions Of the fourteenth chapter
OF John were read as being appropriate for the oc-
and es s% rss9es S
the deceased. and dwelt upon the Importance Of
preparing ourselves for death while in life.
THE ALLEGED SEDUCER
covery. He feels more keenIy 1t is sald the state
Wenna in in en es na1e om ms the
severa. attempts to probe the wounds, but nave
not yet reached the balls. He still asks a suspen-
sion Of pubic opinion until he has sufficiently re-
covered physically to give hts version Of the state
ments connected with this sad affair. The people,
however, dlsbelieve all such assertions an in
credulity which is enhanced by his former ques-
tionabe character. v '. ~
MISS Flora Harding has been connected for the
past year with the Seventh District School as
teacher Of the German language. She has trans
lated nearly all the articles published in the Ger.
man papers of this city Tor use In the HERALD and
regarded
scholar IN this and other languages.
This afternoon Sol MOritz sent word to the
newspaper men OF the city tnat he was prepared
and sufficiently able to make statement con.
cerning what he knew IN regard 70 Miss Harding
house he was found lying in bed. After stating
that he experienced little pain from his wound,
compared to that suffered last night or this morn
DETAILED STATEMENT
OF mis- ACQUAINTANCE with the girl, his knowledge
of her character, the cause OF trouble between
them, and finally the reason why he believed she
swore upon him the crime Of seducing her. He
fatigue, finished hurredly, saying that when his
physical strength was regalned ne would be able
to furnish proofs OF his entire innocence that could
not fall to convince the most prejudlced mind. He
said he never knew the girl until last winter and
was at no time intimate with her, and certainly
never had criminal intercourse with her. BY her
wild and imm0dest manner he found that she was
attracting much attention rom young men OF dis
soue &c chaIsGrer ar LOT WHICH she was severely crit.
Dors subsequently he learned that she visited
houses OF bad character, and that while engaged
in teaching she formed the acquaintance or
NAN NAMED GUsTAvB MILLER, rt...
then bookkeeper IN the wholesale hardware house
Of Ktmball, Aikman Co., who mad ever since been
her man. That he several times advised her to be
more prudent in her conduct on the street, and
IN her selection OF company.
or three months ago, M0ritz says Harding took
him one side and informed him that he was much
o ne d mot LIKE
her accOunB. That he asked him (Morltz) to look
alter the GIRL to advise her prudenly, and, II pos
slble, to draw her away from that Miller. That
Miss Harding BY degrees became possessed of the
Information that Moritz was assisting her father
70 to oreaS @ up TINS dict connectlon accused him to
business and finally regarded him In the
light OF an inveterate enemy, so that she
know that on the night when sne took poison
MISS Harding had received bitter letter
rom IN mer ha renonnc,ng an connection with her.
Ihe only man she loved sne decioed upon suicide
and charged the crime Of her ruin upon one wnom
The statement abounds win names
of men ana women. places and incidents through.
dea that the girl was Thoroughly dtssoiute in her
and that he was ever trying to induce
Ter to forsake sucn life and live one OF purity and
'ice kindly she became highly indignant and went
70 far In her anger as to even threaten him. At |
low much truth there is in what Moritz saws.
ximball, Aikman Il Co. deny that any such man |
Is Miller was ever in their employ or that they |
new any such person. Other specific statements |
where third parties are mentioned, also lack cor.
0bOratiOn. lA'f
Mrs. Jennie Morris, Of Charleston. Ill.,. George |
iard1ng's first wife, from whom he was divorced 4
everal years ago. and mother of Flora Harding, |
aid. in an interview with her to-day, that the |
ause OF the girls suicide was matreatment on the |
art OF her stepmother and father; that some time |
go she tMrs. norrls) wrote Flora to meet ner at
ERE Haute. but that Mr.. Harding and his wife |
ot hold OF the letter, and ever afterward treated
he girl badly; that MISS Harding never made . |
oniesson, and that she did not beteve that Flora
Tas ever seduced. That Mr.. and Mrs. Harding |
rObably imagined such was the case, accused her |
1t, and took Flora's silence to mean guilt. Mrs.
l0rris' statements however, are nothing but the
hinnest Kind OF surmises as she has known |
othing OF the gtrPs lie or character for upward |
year. Both the statements are doubtless made
D influence public sentiment against Harding and |
J favor OF horitz. AS yet. however, there is no
mango. MOrttz's death would be hailed as good
ews, although further developments may repre-
.nt matters IN very different light
WILL OF T. O. 7. BUCKLEY.