The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-22
FUNERAL OF MRS. BESSINGER AND HER chill.
DREN-INCIDENTS.

READING. Pa, Aug. 21.-Yesterday the funera
OF Mrs. Philip Bessenger and her three children
whose death by drowning occurred here Tuesday
took place in this city. The utmoss excitement
prevailed and very large concourse OF people
followed the bodies to the grave, the procession
| comprising over thirty CARR ages and not les:
than one thousand people on foot For an hour
before the time for the funeral the house was sur
| rounded by an excited crowd and a detachment
| OF police were required to keep guard on the
| premises.
The circumstances attending the death of the
| mother and children were such as to create the
strongest interest, which partakes largely of in
dignation. Bessnger is the keeper of q saloon
here, and his family consisted OF himself. wife
and three small Children boy and two girls
his mother also made her home with the family
OF late, it i, said, there has been considerable
unhappiness between man and wife, caused, so
say the neiehbors, by the treatment of Mrs.
Bessinger by her husband and his mother
The report commonly accepted is that Bessin-
ger had bestowed his affections upon an unmar-
ried woman from Philadelphia. who he frequent
ly had at his house, and who was boldly accorded
authority denied his wife. On Monday, 80 it is
stated, q quarrel took place between Mr. and
Mrs. B. on this account, and he ordered her (his
wife) ont of his sight.
He told her he would give her $4,000 to 20 away
and return no more; she to take the two girls,
and he to keep the boy, and, furthermore, he
threatened to kill her if she returned The pros
pect OF separation from one of her children.
added to her previous unhsppiness, manifestly
preyed upon her mind, and she was very much
depressed.
On Tuesday, accompanied by her thres chill
dren she left the house an entered street car.
in which she rode out of the city for distance Of
about two and a half miles, to point on the
bank Of the can l. she had basket with her.
and this she filled with stones, her children
assisting her to do so. Having filled it. she
bound it securely to her waist, and then, taking
child under each arm and holding the third
child to her breast, she jumped into the canal.
The cries OF the children attracted the atten-
ton OF man who could not swim, and before he
could get help all were drowned. The bodies
were recovered and removed to the house of the
husband, and he was no fled Of the occurrence.
receiving the news, it is said, while in company
with the woman who caused the unhappiness.
So great was the indignation among the people |
1t large, that detachment Of pol ce was kept |
guarding his house from the first until after the |
uneral 1t is stated that in the crowd in attend
lnce yesterday, not less than fifty men and
women were armed with pistols for the avowed |
purpose Of shooting Bessnger. He was guarded |
~ the police all the way to the grave and back.
md as further protection, the cofia contain.
ng the little boys body placed in the carriage
With him.
When the bodies had been lowered into the
raves, part of the crowd hooted at Bessinger.
nd number OF women endeavored to get at
Inn. One shot was fired at him without effect,
ie was instantly hustled into his carriage and
rlven off, Another shot was fired in passing
he gate, but is supposed to have struck him, as
70 was carried from the carriage into the house
treat indignation still exists, and lynch law con-
nues to be freely talked Of