Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-08-28
The Rending (Pa.l Tragedy.

HEADING, A, august Ii eSlei-
day the funeral of Mrs. Philip Bissinger
and her three children, whose death by
drowning occurred here on Tuesday,
took pace here. The utmost excite
ment prevailed, and very large con-
course of people followed the bodies to
the grave, the procession comprising
ov er thirty carriages and not less than
one thousand people Oh foot. For an
hour before the time for the funeral the
house was surrounded by excited PEG
! pie, and the excitement was so great
that detachment of police kept guard
on the premises. The circumstances
attending the death of the mother and
children were such as to create the
strongest interest, which partakes large
.ly of indignation. Bissinger is the
keeper of saloon here, and his family
consisted of himself, wife and three
small childreu-a boy and two girls.
His mother also made her home with
his family. Of late, it is said, there has
been considerable unhappiness, caused,
the neghbors say, by the treatment of
Mrs. Bissinger by her husband and his
mother.
The report commonly accepted by the
community is, Bissinger had bestowed
his affectionsupon an unmarried woman
from Philadelphia, whom he frequently
had at his house, and who was boldly
accorded with authority denied his wife.
On Monday, as it is started, a quarrel
took place between husband and wife
on this account, and he ordered her out
of his sight lie told her he would
give her $4,000 to go away and return
no more, she to take the two girls and
he to keep the boy, and threatened 10
kill her if she returned. This prospect
of separation from one of her chill
dren, added to previous uuhappiness of
her position, manifestly preyed upon
her mind, and she was very much de-
pressed. On Tuesday, accompanied by
her three children, she left the house
and entered a street car, in which she
rode out of the city for distance OF
two and one-half miles to point on the
bank of the canal She had basket
with her, aud this she proceeded to fill
with stones, her children assisting her.
Having filed it, she bound it securely
to her waist, and then, taking a child
under each arm, and holding the third
child to her breast, she jumped into the
canal. The cries Of the children at
tracted the attention of q man who
could not swim, and before he could
get help all were drowned.
The bodies were recovered and re-
moved to the house of the husband, and
he was notified Of the occurrence, receiv-
ing the news, it is said, while in COM
pany with the woman who had caused
his unbappiness. So great was the
Indignation among the people at large
that detachment of police was kept
guarding his house from the first until
after the funeral. 1t is stated that in
the crowd in attendance yesterday not
less than fifty men, and even women,
were armed with pistols for the avowed
purpose OF shooting Bissinger. He
was guarded by police all the way to
the grave and back, and as further pro
lection, the coffin containing the little
boys body was placed in the carriage
with him. When the bodies had been
lowered into their graves part of the
Gro wd hooted at BissiDger, and num-
Der of women endeavored to get at
him. One shot was fired at him with
out effect. He was instantly hustled
into his carriage and driven off An
other shot was fired in passing the gate,
and it is supposed to have struck him,
as he was carried from the carriage into
the house. Great indignation still
exists, and lynch law continues to be
freely talked of: