Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-08-26
THE READING (pA.) TRAGEDY.


ger and her three children, whose
death by drowning occurred here, on
Tuesday, took place here. The utmost
excitement prevailed, and a very large
concourse of people followed the bodies
to the grave, the procession compris-
ing over thirty carriages and not less
than one thousand people on foot. For
an hour before the time tor the funeral
the house was surrounded by excited
people, and the excitement was SO
great that detachment Of police kept
guard on the premises. The circum
stances attending the death of the mo
Their and children were such as to Gre
ate the strongest interest, which par
takes largely Of indignation Bisslnger
is the keeper of "a saloon here, and his
family consisted of himself, wife and
three small Children boy and
two girls His mother also
made her home with his family. OF
late, it is said, there has been consider.
able unhappiness, caused, the neigh
bors say, by the treatment of Mrs.
Bissinger by her husband and his mo.
| tber
The report commonly accepted by
the community is that Bissinger had
bestowed bis affections upon an un-
married woman from Philadelphia.
whom he frequently had at his house,
and who was boldly accorded with au
therity denied his WIFE On Monday,
as it is stated, quarrel took place
between husband and wife on this &C
court, apd he ordered her out of bis
sight He told her he would give her
$4,000 to so away and return no more,
she to take the two girls and he to
keep the boy, and threatening to kill
her if she returned. This prospect of a
separation from one OF her children,
added TO previous unhappiness of her
position, manitestly preyed upon Ler
mind, and she was very much depress
ed. On Tuesday accompanied by her
three children, she left the house and
entered street car, in which she rode
out of the city for a distance of two
and one-half miles to a point on the
bank Of the canal. She had basket
with her, and this she proceeded to fill
with stones, her children assisting her.
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 attract
ed the attention of 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.
receiving the news, it is said, while in
company with the woman who had
caused his unhappiness. 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 yester-
day not less than fifty men, and even
women, were armed with pistols for
the avowed purpose of shooting Bis,
singer. He was guarded by police all
the way to the grave and back, and, as
further protection, the coffin contain.
ing the little boys body was placed in
the carriage with him. When the boz
dies had been lowered into their graves
part of the crowd hooted at Bissin
ger, and a number of women endea
vored to get at him One shot was
fred at him without effect. He was
instantly hustled into his carriage and
driven off. Another shot was fired in
passing the gate, and it is supposed to
have struck him, as he carried from the
carriage into the house. Great indig,
nation still exists, and lynch law con-
tinues to be freely talked Of.