The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-10-20
A PENNSYLVANIA TRAGEDY.
A Double Marriage Followed by
A Double Funeral.
ADaughter's UncOnquerab1e Oh
jections to her Fathers Choice
"A Fathers Hatred of His
Daughters SuitOr - The
Killing of a Wife and
the Suicide of a
Husband.

five years ago William Russell, far
mer, living a few miles from this viii
lage, was left a widower with one
child by the accidental death of his
wife and a second child. they being
thrown from q wagon by q runaway
horse. The care OF the farmers
house then devolved upon his daugh-
ter Harriet, aged 19 years. A girl
named Mary Stokes, about the same
age, was employed to aid in the
household work. This girl had lived
in the house about eighteen months.
when Miss Russell discovered that
her father was paying the attention
of lover to the girl, and that close
intimacy existed between them.
Naturally shocked and indignant at
this, the farmers daughter dismissed
the girl from her situation in the
family. When Russell learned of
this proceeding he Immediately
brought the girl back, and told his
daughter that she was to remain
there as long as she chose. The
daughter thereupon left the house. |
and went to work at sewing in the
neighborhoOd. The affair created |
great scandal in the rural social cir
cles. Mary Stokes finally left Rus
sells and returned home. A few
days afserward MISS Russell resumed |
her old position in her father house,
and the scandal soon ceased to be
the subject Of gossip.
MISS RUssELL's LOVER.
Living in this village was highly
respected young carpenter named
Horton Hurst. His father owned q |
farm adjoining that of the RusselFs.
Some years ago difficulty arose be-
tween the two farmers about the
proper location of a line fence. A
long, bitter, and expensive lawsuit
followed. Farmer Hurst was finally /
successful in the suit, and died two /
years ago. Russell hated the name
of Hurst, and when, some three wears /
since. he made the discovery that
his daughter and the son of his old
enemy had formed an attachment for
each other. and were actually engag-
ed to be married, he threatened to
disown Harriet if she did not at once
renoGnce the idea of wedding young
Hurst. She made the sacrifice in
obedience to her parent. When she
left home on account of the differ
ence with her father and Mary Stokes.
she and her old lover met again. and
renewed the VOWS that had been
broken. This did not come 10 the
ear Of her father until some months
after her return home. lie then re-
iterated his displeasurc at her choice,
and declared that she should never
take The name of Hurst so long as he
lived.
TIE TWO WEDDINGS.
About three months ago Russell
astounded his daughter by telling
her that he intended to soon marry
the girl Mary Stokes, and bring her
back to the farm house. Harriet was
firm in her opposition to the old man s
folly, as she termed it, and assured I.
him that when he brought his wife /
home he would find his daughter |
gone from the house never to return. |
The early part of last week Rus
sell made known to his daughter that |
he was to be married on the follow
ing Friday. She made no reply. but |
went TO work at once in perfecting
arrangements that had been pending |
between herself aud Hurst for some |
weeks, in view Of the marriage of her |
father. Friday morning the old far
mer. first telling Harriet that he
would return with his wife in the az |
ternoon, drove away toward the home
of Mary Stokes. The daughter plac-
ed the house in readiness for the re-
turn of her father, and about noon |
started for RosevilIe. She left be- |
hiEd her. on the bureau in her room,
the following letter addressed to her
father.
DEAR FATHER II have always !
tried to be dutiful daughter to you,
but the act you intend to do to-day
is more than l can submit TO, as / !
have more than once told you. You
choose a companion above me.
hope she will be as true to you as /
have been, and that you will both be
very happy. Do not think l am
writing this with light heart, al
though in leaving the home of my
childhood 1 go to find a home with
one l have long loved and whose wife
I expect to be in few hours. God
bless you. father, and goodbye.
Your onee-loved daughter,
HATTIE.
Upon reaching this village Miss
Russell was met by Horton Hurst.
They proceeded to the hoose OF Mrs.
William Filiey, a sister of Hurst's,
and about 3 o'clock in the afternoon
were married by the Rev Mr.. Young
of the Methodist Church. Afterward
they went in company with Mrs. Fill
ley and yonug gentleman, friend
of Hnrst's, to the village tavern,
where it had been arranged to take
dinner. They were nearly through
the repast, which had been very lit
tie like a wedding feast, when the
door of the dining room was burst
in, and farmer Russell, pale with
rage, and a singular glitter in his
eye. sprang into the apartment. His
daughter arose hastily and ran to-
ward him with outstretched arms,
but he threw her aside and sprang
upon her husband.
THE TRAGEDY.
lyon id scoundrel = he exclaim-
ed. "You set my daughter up to
leave her home -
He grasped Hurst by the throat,
but the young man threw him off anG
commenced backing toward the door.
Russell seized q knife from the ta-
Lie nal 81 Aa..n. I,..t .rnnn LInraf and