The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-07-14
A PENNSYLVANIA HORROR

Father and Son Slain in the Harvest Field-A
Once Happy Home Rendered DesOlate-Escape
of the Assassin-Sad Results.
SoUDERToN, Pa, July S.-About five
years ago Braziia Mandle, thrifty and
reputed wealthy farmer, came from Co.
lumbus, Ohio, to near Coopersviile, in
| this State, here he bought an extensive
and valuable farm in that fine agricul
Uural region.
The farmers family consisted of his
wife, two sons and three daughters,
| whose ages ranged between eighteen
| and twenty-nIne years, the Oldest being
a son named James, VINO was his fathers
chief aid on the farm.
Two years ago Jennie, the youngest
| daughter, very pretty and handsomely
| formed, but giddy girl of eighteen, while
visiting iriend in Philadelphia, formed
| the acquaintance OF a young man OF good
address and easy manners, but depraved
| character, named Charles Watkins. The
acquaintance ripened into an infatua-
ton, upon the part of the young woman,
and many times she would leave her
nome under the pfetense OF visiting
trends in the city, but really to have
cIandesline meetings with Watkins.
ago, when Mrs. Mandle, suspecting from
her daughters actions that something
was wrong, closely questioned her, and
with mucn agitation and IL flo0d Of tears,
Jennie admILted that, under p oml,e
of marriage, young Watkins had ruined
her. and tuat she was encelnte, but there
would be no disgrace, as the promise o.
uer lover would be redeemed whenever
demanded.
The mo Cher informed her husband o
4 the situation. Mr.. Mandie, after re-
.uctant consent from his child, starteU
lor Philadelphia to lind the sedueer
Watkins, and make him marry his VIC
Tim.
Watkins was discovered, and willing
ly accompanied his prospective father
u ln-law home, and on Tuesday, Januar!
+, l1th. he and Miss Mandle were mad'
husband and wife, a minister from tn
neighborhood performing the marriage
| ceremony.
Soon afterwards, the newly made hus
band departed for Philadelphia, and dit
not return Tor several weeks. lie re
manned at the farm house a day or two
and then lett for CoopersyiAe, where h'
became acquainted with the dissolu.'
characters OF that place. One OF these
George Atkinson, started with Watkin
on the murning OF February 22d, TO
Philadelphia. On the following day
however, the farmer returned and told
, | somewhat surprising story about nj
ompanion.
He said that Watkins was an assoei
! ate OF the most notorious characters, ,dn
! tnat on the night of their visit to tn
civ, he had stabbed a man in a salool
J, ON SAMSON street, but had escaped.
. Nothing more was heard about Wat
' kins until TWO weeks ago, when he ar
peared at the home OF the Mandles in
wretched state Of lntoxlcatloT
), He was very abusive to tn
wife. FINALLY, the foul Language (
!, he man ,prov0ked James Mandle into
= fight with him. Watkins was worstet
% and left the mouse swearing vengeance
y During the trouble Mrs. Watkir
|, 1 faiuted and was carried to bed. Nv
days afterwards she died in prematur
IcuHfnemenE.
From the time of her burial there hf
e 4 been continual tyOuble between the fan
Itl ily and their son-ln-law, Watkins, wi
e remained in the neignberhood, indulgl
e 4 in MS drunken and brutal habits. II
Maudies warned him TO keep away fro
4 them, The son James threatened hi
J,with personal violence ii he neglectt
d i would be even with them yet, unle'
e. they gave INN the property that hs
lbeen bequeathed TO his wife by her q
g 4 ceased aunt, a Mrs. Bannon, Oh Danvil
), Pa.
dl The DISPUTE eliminated tragically {
FRIDAY, Oh that day. Mr.. Manaie al
u mis- TWO sons, James and Martin, wei
n harvesting la a field near the farm hous
IS when Watkins appeared and began d
u-I nouncing the whole family, especial
II his fathor-in-law. He was ordered ava
s, and u pom refusing to go, was attack'
,rIl Nv james with scythe. Watki'
all drew a-knife and stabbed his assaila
til to the heart. H.u
d. Old MIR. Mandle and Martin th,
all rushed upon the murderer with the
- soy thes, but Notwithstanding the seVe
I'd cuts thai they Inflicted upon .ditfere
parts of his body, Watkins managed,
Iklll the younger son and seriously W0ul
the father.
He then escaped, and is supposed
Ihaye gone either TO New YORK or t
e. mining country, where he is said 10 ha
as numerous friends.
70 Nothing was known about the traget
% until late In th9 evening, as Mr.. Miami
al and his sons were in The nabit Of renal
as ing in the harvest field until a late hol
iu and II was only alter MIS-. Mandle a.
IS her daughters had become uneasy
"a their absence, that search was made
,h the missing ones.
or The greatest excitement prevails
e. the region where tue murders occurrt
N. and had the iniuriated people captur
n, the assassin be would nave be
u lynched.
AT last accounts Mr.. MandIe, was d
Ling, while Mrs. Mandle, from exciteme
mt and prostration, was nigh unto death