The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-07-08
A Fatal Domestic Tragedy.



George Eugene Hendricks. aged 81
years, was lodged in Jail at this place YES
terIay. 10 await trial for the Killing of his
4 brother in-law, William III. Dildine, near
Troupsburg, on Sunday last. The killing
was the elimination of feud that had eX-
listed between Dildine and his wife's family
tfOr some years past, and was brought
about by his own conduct. The details OF
the tragedy are as follows:
Six years ago Helen Hendricks, then
aged 20 years, and an accomplished and
beautiful young lady, married William H..
Dildine, contrary, to the wishes of her
family, which is one of the most respeeta-
bic in Stsuben County, being farmers,
living about four miles from Troupsburg
Dildine was young man qualified to oc-
cupy high position in society and bust
ness, but his habits were such as TO make
him virtually a social outcast. After mar
rying Miss Hendricks be removed to
Wellsville, Allegheny County. Two
years ago his abuse and neglect of his
! family having become a public scandal,
( MIR. Hendricks went to Wellsville and
took his daughter and her two children
back home with him. Dildine, a few days
afterward. compelled her to return TO his
house. The family feud, bitter before,
] then became still-m0re intense, and during
/ tue past two years several buildings be-
| longing TO the Hendricks family have been
4 burned down under circumstances leaving
no doubt that the fires were the work OF
an incendiary. They suspected that Dill
dine was insrumeHtalin having the build
ings fired, but never took any measures
I tfat.would lead TO his detection. -
When Dildine took his wife back from
her fathers in 1873, he forbade her to have
/ any communication with them, and in
creased his abuse. On Saturday last he
! took offeRse ar something she said at the
breakfast table, and hitting her en- the
! head with plate, knocked her down, and
Selling her'by the hair, battered her face
against the floor until she was rendered
insensible. He then left the house. When
she recovered, she took her children and
started for her fathers, reaching there
Saturday night. During the evening she
confirmed their suspicious of the cause OF
the frequent fires, by revealing to them de-
clarationS her husband had made in re-
gard to firing the buildings, which she
had never dared to diyulge before.
Sunday afternoon. between ) and 6
O'Clock, the Hendricks household was
startled to see Dildine drive up with a
horse and carriage, and alight. He came
into the house, and, seeing his wife, at
once commenced to abuse her for leaving
him, and demanded private inter, lew.
She refused to grant it, and he attempted
To force her into another room. Her ia
ther and mother interfered, and he did
nor succeed. He then swOre that he
would take his boy back home with him
The child had climbed into its mothers
lap when Dildine entered the house. The
latter seized the boy, and tearing it, de-
ifa -
started to leave the house. George Hen
bricks, the brother of Mrs. Dildine, now
arose from his chair, and drawing a revolv-
er, charged Dildine not to leave the
house. He paid no attention to the young
man, however, and hurried out into the
yard toward the wagon, followed by Mrs.
DIldine, begging for the return of her
child. Young Hendricks also went out,
and, without another word, fired. The
shot plainly took effect, but Diidine did
not stop. Two more shots were fired.
when Dildine turned about, attempted to
take step forward and fell to the ground
with the child in his arms. His wife
stopped down and took her child from
him, and ran into the house. Young
Hendricks went up TO Dildne, and saw at
once that he was fatally wounded. Hend
ricks is a leading church member and
local preacher IN IroupsOurg. lie look
Dildine's hand, and, leaning over him,
asked him If he had any hope in Christ.
Dildine replied that he had none whatever,
and in few seconds expired. Hendricks
at once proceeded to North Cameron and
told Coroner Ellison of the shooting. The
Coroner took charge of the case, and on
Monday held an inquest. The jury found a
verdict TO the effect that Dildine had come
IN his death at the hands of GpOrc,. +
Hendricks. He was taken into custody
and yesterday brought to this place and
lodged in Jail.
Dildine was shot in three places. One
ball entered beneath his left shoulder,
passed through his right lung and his heart,
and lodged in his left lung Another struck
him in the right hip, and the other in his
left leg below the knee.
Hendricks says he does not feel that he
has committed crime, and that God will
hold him UuiltlesS for his act ....